Side pannier lids flew off again

[Stan]

In a way, you know, I'm kind of relived that they are gone.

Well one flew off and got run over by a car. Got dragged underneath it, so you can imagine what that looks like now. The guy said he thought it was something soft that's why he decided to let it tun underneath the car.

And the other pannier I lost a couple of days later, riding during storm Denis. I had to ride across the North York Moors. I had ridden around there during my youth in all sorts of weather and gale force winds, so I thought I would risk it. But I had never experienced winds like this. I could barely stay on, I was so exhausted! Then on the way back it started to snow as well. Well the second lid must have got blown off during all this, never to be seen again.
Good riddance to it. I'm sick of having to constantly check that they are still on. And then the times that I have had to go back tens of miles looking for them! It's got to be the worst design ever.

But I would like to ask you if there is anything that can be done as a replacement now? As I do make constant use of the side panniers.

[Nails]

I understand they're like hen's teeth, but occasionally come up on Ebay &etc.

I had one fly off, even though the latches were locked -- had to unlock it to put the lid back on. It was mangled from the 80MPH off; and I had just painted the bike. But that turned out to be a good thing since I still had everything out for the repair.

I know that train left the station, but I think the only solution is leashes.

[cushman eagle]

I understand they're like hen's teeth, but occasionally come up on Ebay &etc.

I had one fly off, even though the latches were locked -- had to unlock it to put the lid back on. It was mangled from the 80MPH off; and I had just painted the bike. But that turned out to be a good thing since I still had everything out for the repair.

I know that train left the station, but I think the only solution is leashes.

The leashes I just made saved my left one about a week after I made them

[Stan]

Ye, I too thought of latches when I first got the bike. But you know how stuff gets put off...
So anyone reading this who doesn't have latches put on their side panniers go and do it as soon as you can!

I was just thinking that as common as this issue is maybe someone out there has had a good idea about using something else for a lid. I don't know, I had the thought of maybe some type of fabric on Velcro or something.

[Nails]

Ye, I too thought of latches when I first got the bike. But you know how stuff gets put off...
So anyone reading this who doesn't have latches put on their side panniers go and do it as soon as you can!

I was just thinking that as common as this issue is maybe someone out there has had a good idea about using something else for a lid. I don't know, I had the thought of maybe some type of fabric on Velcro or something.

Leashes (tethers), not latches.

My first thought also was some Naugahyde cover. But I have an industrial sewing machine. Irrelevant, but here's a photo of some bags I made for the passenger floorboards.

[cranky]

... go to the classifieds and click on mirror extenders and message
Kevin Wanner, he sells tether sets for the lids, after much warning,
I put a set on.... I think the rubber seals must fail and allow play
to exist under the latches... JM2C

[ekap1200]

AND , if you talk to Kevin, ask about his turn signal /cancel time extender module. His addition of plug/play connector makes it an easy modification.

[Stan]

Leashes (tethers), not latches.

My first thought also was some Naugahyde cover. But I have an industrial sewing machine. Irrelevant, but here's a photo of some bags I made for the passenger floorboards.

floorboard bags.JPG
[/quote]

It's certainly a big plus having a practical skill like that. That's a lot of extra stuff that you can carry in those.

[Stan]

... go to the classifieds and click on mirror extenders and message
Kevin Wanner, he sells tether sets for the lids, after much warning,
I put a set on.... I think the rubber seals must fail and allow play
to exist under the latches... JM2C

You could be right about your theory about the rubber seals wearing away. Still just a horrible design
As for the tether sets, well I have nothing to attach them too now. There in is my problem.

[madmax]

Hi Stan, so you are in the UK by the sounds of it. Same here.
I had the same thing happen to me when leaving a rally. I just got onto the A5 express way on Anglesey when one went bouncing down the road. Trying to get parts for a XII is a problem. I can buy Gold easier.
Try D&K for parts. Otherwise, eBay.com not eBay.co.uk
You probably know this already.
I found a top for a 1989- XII eBay.com. Number: 324067501182. They don’t say if they ship to the UK but it’s worth asking.
I’m still rebuilding my bike at the moment.
I bought a couple of stainless steel fishing lure wire trace to stop it happening again. Most fishing shops sell them & they come in different lengths & have a built in swivel. What year is your bike? The reason I ask is if you do find a lid it’s bound to be a different colour. I found this UK firm OK if you need paint.
( http://www.rsbikepaint.com) they have the XII listed in there colour chart.
They are not cheap, but are good.
Good luck to you.

[Stan]

Its just I really don't want to go spending money on more of those lids. I'm just so sick of those damn things!
Thats why I was hoping to find an alternative.
But the information you gave is really helpful. Especially about the fishing lure wire. I think it would be really helpful to those who have not yet lost there lids.
Mine is an 86 model. The lid you found is actually the same colour as mine.

[Nails]

SS leashes sound nice, but I don't think they need to be that strong. I just used some nylon cord, not much more than 1/16" diameter. (Excuse me -- "maybe 2mm".) I'm obviously of Scot extraction.

Note that with a leash on each end, when you take the lid off you can let it hang instead of having to find some place to put it down. The latches certainly are pinoche ("peench-eh", to express some Spanish extraction), but the basic lid design seems sound. It has to come clear off. Unless ... I dumped the trunk. I'm looking for hinges to replace the front latches.

I think the Dollar-for-Dollar section lists some generic stuff to replace a worn-out rubber gasket. I know I did it cheap, and it definitely helped. I've never had water get in, despite riding in stupid-serious rain.

[madmax]

I’m surprised no one has had a go at making a mold for these lids. Many years ago I had a friend make a mold of the front fender. The one on XII at the time had a bad crack in it.
So my friend who makes surf boards for a living, said he would have a go.
Two weeks later he came around with the mold & a replacement fender made from fiberglass. I still have the mold.
The fiberglass fender is still on the bike now. Fiberglass is easy to repair.
I think the problem is the latches. The ones on my zn1300 are far more substantial. Never had a lid come off on that.
There must be a market for these lids even on a small scale, so does anyone know of anyone who has made any? That is the question!

[Nails]

The fiberglass fender is still on the bike now. Fiberglass is easy to repair.

I had a fiberglass/kevlar kayak that I had to repair all the time. ABS plastic is a LOT easier to repair -- get the glue at any hardware store.

Last summer, the super-rough WV roads shattered my front fender. I'm surprised it didn't fall off. (Really surprised that I didn't blow a fork seal.) On the road, I bought a cheap dremel to cut a kerf through the paint, and then used a toothpick to get the glue in. I also filled with glue where a small triangular piece was missing. It's still on the bike, apparently holding up fine.

When I lost that freshly-painted saddlebag lid, it got deep abrasions that I filled with ABS cement. (Needed a little body plastic to finish it right.) After repainting, I can't tell which lid flew.

I'm just saying that I kinda like ABS because it's so easy to work on. But fiberglass might be more durable in the first place -- as long as you aren't continually cranking it into rocks.

There must be a market for these lids even on a small scale, so does anyone know of anyone who has made any?

And maybe lids without those ugly, useless pockets. Someone else removed his, and I like the streamlined look. And I don't like leaving a hole in the crap I stuff into the saddlebag, making room for that oversized pocket.

I think the problem is the latches?

Check that the hasp on the latch isn't bent too flat. It's thin metal that's easy to bend. This tightens everything up.

I wonder whether some sort of hook affair might replace the front one. I mean, something to push the lid backwards onto, and then latch it only at the back.

[Stan]

That's actually good to know. Because I'm in Scarborough now so there are definitely people around who deal with surfboards