Hoist~~~
Great writeup in that other forum about converting to a Convertible Tim! But that's what you do, great writeups!
Thank you Hoist....I appreciate your comments!!!.....In the beginning of my Harley experience I was on the other end, the "guy" wanting information.....and so often as it turns out only half of the info gets written about so my goal is to at least provide the entire "concept".....it does make for "long" posts but perhaps it's helpful to someone like me down the way.....lol
Had a '95 Dyna Convertible. Bags mounted very similar on the fender struts. Not sure on the FXR Convertibles, but the Dyna came deraked at 28 deg, taller front forks and rear shocks. Bike sat very high, but had fantastic lean angle. Best lean angle HD ever offered next to Sportsters. Bike handled fantastic, especially after I had a special set of WP shocks made for it. Have a friend that went to convert his '00 Dyna to a convertibe (bags only like you did). He got the parts list and found the parts, but they changed stuff from the '95 to '00 and it still doesn't fit. He's looking now at what he can modify to make the stuff work. He had to buy a new rear fender and struts too. Turned into a hornet's nest of a project.
Actually what your friend is trying to do is something I wouldn't even attempt....the three points of contact that the FXRS-CONV Low Rider Convertible are truly "specific" to that particular frame, the Dyna is a different frame as we are all aware of so without huge amounts of modification it would INDEED be a difficult project. I am not saying it would be impossible because with enough creativeness and detail and welding techniques anything is possible....but he is attempting to do something while quite interesting is going to find some extra work to accomplish as you HAVE already noted!!!!!
I guess the FXR's are the same enough to just add the convertible option to it. You barely notice it on your bike with bags off! Nice job!
Actually Hoist, the key is the FXR frame and specifically since the FXR frame throughout the life of the FXR has never been modified by HD then making the modification or alterations from a 1988-1992 FXRS-CONV Low Rider Convertible is only a matter of acquiring the parts and making some alterations to the turn signals....In fact if you look closely to the turn signals for the 1988-1992 FXRS-CONV Low Rider Convertible bikes, I have never liked the turn signal set up....it's a bit "funky" for me they are in my opinion attached to, too long of a light bar which makes them hang out too wide...so the alterations I made are a huge improvement, @ least in my mind lol.... NOW FOR A PERSON such as George or anyone else that owns the FXR3 or FXR4 model that wishes to run this set up will require another alteration....and that is purchasing a second set of "plastic" side panels as the FXR3 and FXR4 side panels are of course much larger than those of an FXR2 or for that matter of an 1988-1992 FXRS-CONV Low Rider Convertible and as we all realize would require some modifications or perhaps going back to a set of FXR2 "type" side panels....With enough detail I would imagine that one could alter a FXR3 or FXR4 plastic side panel appropriately and make it work....if you look closely one of the three points of contact would actually be beneath the cover panel of an FXR3 or FXR4, requiring one to drill through a plastic cover. Because these three points of contact remain stationary even while the bags are off the bike, in order to use the larger plastic side covers of the FXR3 or FXR4 would indeed require manipulation of the surface to allow such to occur.
So without a doubt yes indeed that's why I can use the "specific" set up of an 1988-1992 FXRS-CONV Low Rider Convertible because the frames are identicle....It should be noted that the bags are difficult to find, not impossible but difficult indeed, the hardware is quite easy to find......but with enough tenacity and desire as well as patience the project can be successfully completed....It should be noted also with enough ingenuity one wouldn't be limited to the above such project either, as one could find or make any bags if they so desired....it's just that I was after sort of keeping the "theme" of the FXR intact with what HD did during the years of the FXR being built....sort of like taking "elements" of certain aspects of history and implementing them....
By the way the bags go on in 7 minutes total and come off in 7 minutes.....but once they are on...it's like...well I have a coat, I have rain gear, I have some tools, I have a bottle of water, I have etc.....and pretty much they just stay on....thus it becomes "function" over "form" lol......
Pssst if anyone decides they are motivated to do such a project send me a private e~mail for one or two additional tips....which at this point wouldn't matter if you weren't interested in doing them but would matter if you chose to do the project....just some safety tips with the bags.....
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Topic: Value of a 1999 FXR2 (Read 84384 times)