Damn it (Saddlebag lid)

[GrandpaDenny]

Went for a 150 mile ride to Delaware and back in a big loop yesterday, picking up a guitar, amps, and various accoutrements. Here's a pic of Gertrude loaded:

Isn't it cool how the electric guitar fit right into the saddlebag? Notice how the lid isn't in the way at all? Well... when I made my first stop, to pick up a guitar stand, as I walked back to the bike I noticed that the left saddlebag lid was missing. Again. I give up. This is the third one (including the one that was missing when I bought her). I don't know if it's an inherent problem with the latches; the lid was latched down tight and locked (part of my preride checks is to make sure all of the saddlebag latches are tight and locked). The tethers failed :(

This is so annoying. Turned my $90 adventure into who knows how expensive, if I can find another lid. It took me four months to find the last one. Of course this had to happen two weeks before my Florida trip.

[cushman eagle]

My left lid tried to leave 2 weeks after I put tethers on,but the tether held it on
Peg had packed the bike for the Nashville rally,and we had just gotten on I 70 west of Columbus,and she told me the left lid was gone ,we found a place to pull off,and the lid was there,but hanging on with the tether turns out she locked,but did not latch the lock.

[Nails]

They can fly off even when latched and locked. I had to unlock my (retrieved) one to put it back on. Lock them, and leash them. Use non-pissant leashes.
(Besides leashes, bend the tabs so that they latch for reals.)
Honestly, any motivated 6th-grader with a claw hammer could be in any hard bags, within seconds.

[ekap1200]

Bad luck Denny, I'll look and see what I have out in the back shed when I get home today. I would like to look your bike over and see why you keep loosing them... 106K and I have never installed tethers and have not ever lost one. Are the bag mounts loose ? I would like to know why I have never had an issue. If I have one it will be for a 2000. I remember having two but one may need a paint job. I will let you know tonight and perhaps you could ride down to Williamstown to pick it up this weekend.
Gene Kap.

[cranky]

.... you KNOW what you did, eh????? hope not +GBG

[ekap1200]

Well as bad luck would have it... I have both a spare left and right, but both have been spray canned ... you can have it if you want , if you can't find a lid for the 2000.
Gene K

[GrandpaDenny]

Well as bad luck would have it... I have both a spare left and right, but both have been spray canned ... you can have it if you want , if you can't find a lid for the 2000.
Gene K

I *think* the problem might be that the latches have fatigued over time, and from being bent back into shape. Do you have any latches? I would certainly love to come over this weekend. When's best for you?

BTW saw two '86 VXIIs on Facebook Marketplace this morning, one's in Berlin, NJ. $1500, from the pics looks really good. Just an FYI for the Jersey guys

[Nails]

I *think* the problem might be that the latches have fatigued over time, and from being bent back into shape.

You should still have the latches. Are they re-bent or broken? Pretty unlikely the lid part would be damaged -- it's the part you still have that probably isn't yet bent tight enough.

Mine haven't flown since I bent them back right. Some folks think you have to lock them (and I do), but I really don't think that's the problem either. If the latches are bent loose, they'll fly whether locked or not. Mine did -- I had to unlock it to put the lid (after I found it) back on.

And I really don't think it's necessary to get crazy with the leashes -- mine are about 1/16" braided nylon cord. But dunno -- mine haven't flown (again), so haven't really been tested.

Just bend the latches so the tab thing fits all the way into the lid part.

[GrandpaDenny]

I *think* the problem might be that the latches have fatigued over time, and from being bent back into shape.

Just bend the latches so the tab thing fits all the way into the lid part.

And I really don't think it's necessary to get crazy with the leashes -- mine are about 1/16" braided nylon cord. But dunno -- mine haven't flown (again), so haven't really been tested.

I've rebent the latches a couple of times, that's why I think they're fatigued. One of them has a crack in it, too. For tethers, I used 16ga. stranded wire with crimped on ring terminals. The ring terminals didn't stay on. I'd redone the tethers a couple of times because of that. I even tried epoxy on top of the crimp. So that is a fail. The tethers were a little longer, too, maybe ten-11 inches. I've got to get a soldering iron!

Making sure the latches are all locked and tight is part of my pre-flight checks.

Even the right side one, which is really tightly latched, has come at least partly loose. It's GOT to be the roads around here. There are bumps and seams that bounce me out of the seat.

Maybe when I change the fork and shock oil that will help. Judging by the condition of all the other fluids I've changed (the final drive oil looked like a melted pink milkshake)(why the kronk was it pink?)... There's just so much has to be taken apart, and I live in an apartment building, so I don't have the facilities to do a major disassembly. Gotta do something soon, this really sucks.

[cbrfxr67]

I need to tether the lids. I checked them Sunday and they seemed ok but in the back of my mind I picture them flying off and bouncing to a broken death!

[tsayles]

I’m on the way to LA from NJ and guess what. The lids for my 1997 voyager xii flew off while I was chilling to my tunes down the highway. Am I hearing that you have some extra lids? Let me know. Thanks

[GrandpaDenny]

I’m on the way to LA from NJ and guess what. The lids for my 1997 voyager xii flew off while I was chilling to my tunes down the highway. Am I hearing that you have some extra lids? Let me know. Thanks

You lost BOTH? Yikes! I don't have any extras - every time I've lost one it's been a royal pain to find another. Right side ones seem to be fairly plentiful; most of us lost the left side lid, and they're about impossible to find. I found my first two on eBay, the last one another member had stashed. Carl Leo in Florida has a VXII junkyard, but last I spoke to him he didn't have any left side lids, only right.

[GrandpaDenny]

I’m on the way to LA from NJ and guess what. The lids for my 1997 voyager xii flew off while I was chilling to my tunes down the highway. Am I hearing that you have some extra lids? Let me know. Thanks

Check the Voyager XII Facebook group, someone has both complete bags available.

[tsayles]

I ended up getting them sent to me from someone from facebook like you said. Thanks for the advice.

[Bonnie and Clyde]

When I bought my voyager and managed to ride it home some 2,500 miles with out loosing a lid. I decided to keep my lids if at all possible. This was my solution. I put one quick release buckle with strap on the front lid rail and the other half on the crash bar. ITs a pull tight cam buckle so it snugs up tight and the bag doesn't wobble. This should work to keep the lids from flying off.



https://photos.app.goo.gl/iw556G2Wk2vFTmG38

[surlybiker58]

I just lost my left lid heading down I40 through Knoxville last week. Both latches were locked but it came off anyways. It was toast after a semi ran over it. Ordered a replacement and it is supposed to arrive today. I was thinking of wrapping bungie cords around them , Has anyone tried that ?

[GrandpaDenny]

Most of us have fashioned tethers. Do a search and you'll see. Lucky you finding a replacement!

[Bonnie and Clyde]

When I bought my voyager and managed to ride it home some 2,500 miles with out loosing a lid. I decided to keep my lids if at all possible. This was my solution. I put one quick release buckle with strap on the front lid rail and the other half on the crash bar. ITs a pull tight cam buckle so it snugs up tight and the bag doesn't wobble. This should work to keep the lids from flying off.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/iw556G2Wk2vFTmG38

If its not working let me know
see attached picture link
https://photos.app.goo.gl/iw556G2Wk2vFTmG38

[Nails]

This is an old topic, and sorry if I already said this in this thread ... but I think the lids fly because the hinges are bent too loose. Mine flew and I installed tethers, but nothing has come off since I bent the hinges to bite stronger.

[Bonnie and Clyde]

This is an old topic, and sorry if I already said this in this thread ... but I think the lids fly because the hinges are bent too loose. Mine flew and I installed tethers, but nothing has come off since I bent the hinges to bite stronger.

what part are you bending?