M50 Saddlebag Mounts

[Ext1jdh]

I recently got a set of OEM saddlebag mounts for Winona. Now, being a computer tech, I've got some technical aptitude, but I suck at doing anything on a car or motorcycle. That being said, I found a few problems with the mounts.

The instructions sucked. The diagram provided was (imo) pretty poor and caused much consternation in the 90+ degree heat while attempting to install said mounts

The parts provided were not correct. The kit comes with a set of longer bolts for attaching the mounts. 1, they are way too long. They could provide bolts about half an inch shorter and that would work perfectly fine. Also, the kit said they are 6mm hex heads, when in actuality they are 5mm hex heads. I can tell you from experience that this also caused much consternation and visitation to Home Depot for the correct allen wrench (the one in your toolkit is a 6mm, btw).

The next is most likely nothing to do with the mounts, bolts or wrenches, but everything to do with my inability to do anything correctly. I can't get the right-side front bolt into place. Apparently the nut located on the inside of the fender has become stuck and is about 2mm off center. I'm having some trouble getting it moved into place to pass the bolt through it.

That however is perfectly fine, since I now have to take the entire thing apart. You see, I'm very stupid. I did not use the billet spacers provided with the mounts (because I couldnt figure out where to put them based on the diagram). When riding alone, this does not cause a problem, but when riding 2-up the bike sits low enough for the bolts to rub against the right side of the tire. My girlfriend has already thrown out the box I kept the parts in so I gotta get a bunch of washers now...

So don't do what I did. Put the spacers in between the mount and the fender, and do it before putting a 3" lowering kit in place, or lift the bike so you can get behind the tire.

The Midnight Express Drifter Slants look awesome though.

[jpwM50]

The aftermarket blues...I think we all been there.

[RicoChet]

on my bike, the previous owner had to make his own bolts to make the bags fit on... I understand your problem

[Ext1jdh]

They're OEM's so I kinda thougth that they would work out better. I guess Suzuki is farming out the small stuff to a cheaper manufacturer. Good price on Oneidasuzuki though - about $20 less than most other places.

[vhmike73]

I see your point Ext...the Easy Brackets I added have bolts that seem about 2 inches longer than they need to be, and like you encountered, the Allen head is bigger than the factory bolts were. Now when I hit a real solid bump, I get a bit freaked that the bolts will gouge the rear tire...

[BlueMax]

I agree with all that you have said, I would like to know why the bolts are so long. And I am afraid to lower my bike because there is a strong possibility that the bolt threads will rub against the top of my tire.

[Ext1jdh]

The existing bolts arent long enough when you've got the mounts in place. I do believe they would use slightly shorter bolts and still have sufficient pressure to keep everything together.

[old new biker]

Same problem here.
The Easy Bracket mounting bolts were mutch to long, so out came the old saws-all, and the problem went away.
I simply cut off the excess length of the 4 bolts, and there are no worries at all of puncturing a tire.
NOTE: Remember to have a nut on the bolt inboard of the point of the cut, before actually making the cut. This way, when you remove the nut, afterward, it will chase out the damaged thread making it much easier to put the nut back on. After making the cut, file the cut end flat, and file all around the tip at approx. a 45 degree angle to remove the excess burr around the thread. Remove the nut, and try to restart it on the bolt. It should work fine.

I also had a spacer problem with my Bestem Backrest mounts. There were spacers to put between the back rest legs and the large flat plate bracket that mounts to the fender, but they provided no spacers to put between the main fender support and the fender mounted back rest bracket. I called CruiserBackrest.com, and they told me that the bracket is supposed to fit tight against the main fender support. Most back rest mounts come with spacers so that you do not end up with a closed crevice, between the two parts, that can hold dirt and other stuff that could eat away at the crome and cause a big mess. Also, the main fender bracket curves inward from front to back, and with the back bolts tight, the front ends of the bracket stick out a full inch away from the main fender bracket. Forcing that 1/4" thick,chrome plated, metal fender mounted back rest support bracket to make this curve did not look wise.

Stainless Steel washers from Home Depot did the trick. Also with washers you can put more on the back mounts and less on the front mounts to keep the finished assembly paralell from side to side, front to back (As I mentioned above, the main fender support curves inward from the front bolt to the back). I used 5/16" St. St washers that are approx. .045" thick. I put 4 of these washers on the front mounts, and 9 on the back mounts. You can put how ever many you want, but a differential of 5 more washers on the back bolt than on the front bolt made mine come out paralell.
NOTE: You will want at least two washers on the front mount, so that you can get past the indent in the main fender support, and then have a bit of space between it and the bracket.

I hope this helps..............

[droopy170]

Mounting bolts are longer for use with other accessories ie back rest. When I had mine on the worked very well.
Droopy

[old new biker]

Originally Posted by droopy170

Mounting bolts are longer for use with other accessories ie back rest. When I had mine on the worked very well.
Droopy

Even with the extra backrest brackets and spacers, the Easy Bracket bolts were too long, and I simply cut off the excess.