Suzuki Volusia Forum banner

C50 Bagger

14K views 28 replies 20 participants last post by  bipestuff 
#1 · (Edited)
Installed harley hard bags on my c50 this weekend I used the harley hardware so that they would be quick release. I used some scrap aluminum and stainless I got out of our local recycle place. All the work was done at my dad,s house using mostly hand tools,he does at least have a drill press. Most parts were made with a side grinder useing a cut off wheel to make the big cuts,and a grinding wheel to do the rough shaping . The finle shaping was done with files. so most people should be able to do this mod with very few tools. Sorry i do not have any measurments right now most every thing was done by fit and try. The photos were taken as we went along and we only had the weekend to get it all done as my wife was visiting her son giving me limited time. since the pictures I have made a couple of adjustments. When we first finished the bags were a little low in the front and from behind the bags looked as though they were leaning out. the adjustments I made were done with spacers to acheave the look I wanted. I need to go back and remake one of the mounts as i do not like the way it looks with the spacers. also last weekend we took the stock exhuast and turned it into a two into one. It is only short term untill i can aford a after market two into one. i know all about changing the back preasure and all but as i said it is only short term.



this is a peice of aluminum i picked up from the scrap yard it was covered in powder coat and was a pain to clean up



this is the rear bracket i made it was cut from a peice of aluminum squar tubing it was the best way to make a 90 since we di not have a break and no other way to bend anything other then clamping it in a vice and beating it with a hammer. There are two threaded holes in the bottem of the finder strut I am not sure what they are there for but the worked out perfect.



this is one of the front brackets that we made out of a peice of the 1/4" aluminum plate that was coated in powder coating we put the square hole in it so we could use 5/16 stainless carage bolts so there would be no bolt head showing.



Rear bracket in place



Front bracket in place we some what polished the aluminum just so it looks half way presentable i will most likely have the parts chromed.



Close up of the front plate mounted. I had earlier done the rear foot peg mod so i bolted the front bracket on over the extentions that were added at that time. I also have to pick up some longer bolts so i can put the foot pegs back on. The bolts that were there were not long enough after the plate was added.



a photo with the bag mounted as i said you can see the front of the bag is a little low.

I have a couple more adjustments to make and i also have to tie the two bags together at the bottom i hape to have it all done in the next week and i will post pics as i go.

Also just a side note to this post.

The harley bars I used I bought from a dealer in Morristown TN. They were take offs i gave 75.00 for the both but i learned a big leason we started making all the brackets on one side and just made copies for the other side. When we mounted every thing on the other side things did not seem to line up well. As it turned out the bar for that side was bent and was un usable i went back to the dealer and he perty much told me to bad. i had to buy another bar for that side and he charged me 50.00 for that one. Just my opion i have no problem buying a used part that might be scratched or dinged but if it is completly unusable i belive he should have exchanged the part for me or at least discounted the other one not raise the price on it.Just a rant and a warning be carefull when buying used parts.
 
See less See more
7
#4 ·
Really really nice job!!

I've made a 1/2 dozen sets of HD bag mounts and only recently have been satisfied with the last set.

That puts a whole new spin on things, I gotta think your weigh at least 1/2 of what mine do.

Great job.
 
#13 ·
If you mean the bolts holding the saddlebag support and the backrest..... I think its M8. I had to get 110mm coz i have cobra saddlebag supports and stock brackets for stock backrest. Bike had 60 mm screw and i got 80mm screws with the stock bracket and backst. But for the supports i needed even longer screws. 110 is a bit longer than what i want so i put screw caps on the inside. Hope this helps


Sent from my iPad using MO Free
 
#14 ·


this is the rear bracket i made it was cut from a peice of aluminum squar tubing it was the best way to make a 90 since we di not have a break and no other way to bend anything other then clamping it in a vice and beating it with a hammer. There are two threaded holes in the bottem of the finder strut I am not sure what they are there for but the worked out perfect.
Hey thanks. But unfortunately I didn't mean the M8 Bolt that go through the fender.
The ones I was trying to figure out were the 2 under the strut. You can't see them in the picture but I have the same holes on my 08. And figured I might add some extra support similar to the bracket you made.
 
#15 ·
Grape ape i do not remember the size lol i got them at lowes i will look and see i know it is the same size as the button head on the side cover i took it with me to lowes and checked it in the tread board that they have beside the specialty bolts i will check it and let you know. What i want to know is what they are there for i have the c50t and i do not know of any more options that they offer for the bike so why are they there
 
#17 ·
Yep those are the ones. Same as the Side cover bolt huh. That's what I needed, thanks. I'll take one of those to ACE and size it on the thread board.

For the life of me I can't figure out what those holes are for. I thought maybe was for reflector mounts, (like the newer models have) but I doubt it.

Sweet bike by the way. Love the pipes first time I saw them, even better with the bags. :applause:
 
#16 · (Edited)
naga77777

the exhust change sound drasticly running them both together it sounds good the only thing i am worried about is if increesed the back preasure to much. so if i ride it this way for ony time at all i will probaly gut the muffler. maybe someone with more knolage about that sort of thing will post an answer. the only reason i did it that way was to get the top muffler out of the way. if it will not do any damage to the moter i may leave it that way.
 
#18 ·
Ok got the bags where i want them all leveled off I am very happy with the way they turned out all I have left ti do is make a cross over to connect the two together and stabelize them. I would like to make a fender rail of some sort to connect them i will have to look at an aftyermarket one and see if it might work out. Also I am going to make a panel to fill in between the fender and bags. Here are a coulpe more pics





 
#19 ·
Hey C50tnc, just found this great thread - super job man. love it!
If you're still running the pipes joined like this have there been any ill effects or have you made any further refinements, changes? Would like more info on how you modified the pipe if you don't mind. Where the rear pipe looks like it's darker on top, is that left stock and you fabricated the lower half? (and how?) However you did it, pretty ingenious.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top