Install saddle bags

Normally one bolt in the back and the pillion slides into the driver seat. Pulling back on the pillion after removal of the hold down bolt usually releases it

if there are bolts holding the rear fender to the frame at the side of the seat (2 on each side), remove these 4 bolts and offer up the saddlebag brackets. the bolts then go through the ends of the brackets and then back into the frame of the bike and then on in to support the rear fender.
It might be an idea to purchase longer bolts as they may not be long enough with the added depth of the saddlebag bracket.
make sure they are tightened up as the bolts also hold the rear fender to the frame of the bike and if the rear fender is allowed to move it will crack the plastic.
hope this helps

A bolt is underneth the driver seat at rear. Hard to see. Maybe pull off driver seat first the rear seat - be sure you are using a soft saddlebag
support. Don't get bags caught in wheel

Two bolts on the rear fender will need to be removed.
Also remove the passenger Pillion(Seat). Normally one bolt in the back and the pillion slides into the driver seat. Pulling back on the pillion after removal of the hold down bolt usually releases it.

The brackets to hold the saddlebags straight and away from the rear tire/ brake disc. Mounts with shims to the two bolt holes on either side of the bike. (remember those bolts removed earlier?) Center the saddle bags by eye. Sometimes it is best to have someone hold the bike straight and center from the rear. If the bike is on the kick stand, it will not be easy to center the saddle bags.

Next put the passenger pillion back in place.
Check the bracket clearance and make sure no part of the saddle bags are touching any moving part. You can bend the brackets to adjust but usually not necessary. Just be careful with the chrome fender flares.
Those curved chrome rear fender shiny things. :)
You can scratch the paint very easily while working with them.
Use a cloth/towel where you can to prevent marring of the paint.
Really simple to do with minimal tools. Some of the saddle bag bracket kits come with longer bolts. Use them!

My 1100 Vstar I used the twist rods from a set of Shoe Stretchers.
Screwed directly into a kuryakyn foot peg adapter. Black with a triangular tip worked great. Heck of a lot cheaper too!
Nice thing about this arrangement, only had to remove the foot peg bolts. Then the rear passenger seat. Easy to adjust the angle of the bracket by loosening the foot peg either side. Pull up, push down or bend out to get proper position.

Good luck!
Hope this helps!

Yes you will need brackets. You can find them at your Honda dealership. They mount to your fender where the two fender bracket bolts are located. You take the two bolts out, line the saddlebag brackets up with the holes, then replace the bolts. It should take about 5 mins.

Hi,
We ride the same bike as you and had the saddle bikes fitted when we first bought the bike new. Yes, you will definately need a fitting kit, you do with all the bags, however be very careful about what bags you buy. We have the original 'money bag' shaped bags which were particularly designed for the bike and to match the saddle. The were very expensive and were the biggest waste of money ever! They are so impractical if you have a set of wet gear in each side they are full to bursting and the small opening at the top makes them very awkward. Just last year Harley bought out a new, bigger, set, I don't know what the top opening is like but it has to be better than the ones we have, we are even considering swapping to the new ones as we tour quite a lot.
Hope this helps.

nstructions Difficulty: Moderate Things You’ll Need:

• Saddle bag set
• Power drill
• Screwdriver
• Ratchet set
• Measuring tape
• Scissors

Step1 Determine what type of saddlebags you will be installing on your motorcycle. Saddlebags come in hard and soft styles, with each installed in basically the same manner. Hard bags tend to offer more security for your items but are a bit on the bulky side, while soft bags offering a little more flexibility. Step2 Check to make sure that your fender bolt area is clean and prepped for installation of your saddlebags. Both hard and soft saddlebags on Harley Davidsons are installed over the fender bolt area on the rear of the motorcycle, so clearing this area of debris and grime will keep it free of scratches and blemishes. Step3 Install any spacers or lifting brackets before you try and place your bags on your Harley Davidson. These spacers will keep you bags from resting against your exhaust pipes and will avoid damage to your motorcycle and to the bags themselves. Make sure they are installed tightly and spaced properly before mounting your bags. Step4 Open the saddle bag packaging and lay out the included hardware. The hardware will be necessary to properly mount your saddlebags to your fenders, so be sure that you do not misplace it. If your saddle bag comes with a fender mounting bracket, install it along the fender before proceeding. This bracket will be used to hold and stabilize your saddlebags, so it is essential that it is properly tightened and installed. Step5 Hold your saddle bag up to the fender and align the bolt holes in the saddle bag with the bolt area on the fender. Your saddle bag will have mounting holes in the side of the bag that will align with the mounting bracket. Place one of the bolts in the hole and tighten to hold it on. Put the remaining bolt in place and tighten them both securely once they are aligned correctly. Step6 Repeat this process with the remaining saddle bag. The bags should align evenly and be attached straight to avoid any imbalances or shifting while the motorcycle is in motion. Try and wiggle or move the bags to be sure your bolts are tight enough to prevent movement. Step7 Take your Harley Davidson for a short ride. Stop and check the fitting on your saddlebags and look at your bolts. Make sure nothing has moved during your ride and that all of your fittings remain tight. With just a bit of effort, your new saddlebags will make your Harley Davidson the envy of the neighborhood.

I bought some cheapo leather bags off ebay that just hung over the seat/fended and tied off to the rails on the bike. I unbolted my stock seat and put them across the fender underneath and they worked well. When I changed to a solo seat that setup did not look all that good so I cut the web between the two bags and attacked them to the rails using rubberized clamps I got in the plumbing section at ACE hardware. I don't really like having saddle bags on the bike as far as looks but its nice to be able to carry a pump rain suitsbungie cords , tools and various other things with ease. Of course these are not readily removable but that can be a good thing. I kinda would like canvas bags with removable clip action to attach them to the bike, but I went cheap. ,,,

I bought some cheapo leather bags off ebay that just hung over the seat/fended and tied off to the rails on the bike. I unbolted my stock seat and put them across the fender underneath and they worked well. When I changed to a solo seat that setup did not look all that good so I cut the web between the two bags and attacked them to the rails using rubberized clamps I got in the plumbing section at ACE hardware. I don't really like having saddle bags on the bike as far as looks but its nice to be able to carry a pump rain suitsbungie cords , tools and various other things with ease. Of course these are not readily removable but that can be a good thing. I kinda would like canvas bags with removable clip action to attach them to the bike, but I went cheap. ,,,