All I can think of saying is......WOW! I got YJ back from Schraders Custom Cycles (the ONLY work that I did not do on YJ) where Mark Schrader custom modified the saddle bag brackets to Fit YJ. Theres some good news and some bad.
First, the good.
The job is done. He did a fantastic job and it looks better than factory. The way he worked the brackets to fit the bike makes them look like they were made for it. It ended up being a much bigger job than anticipated and it may be a while before I can afford a new back tire...or anything else, but I think it was worth it. If I had anyone else do the job, I would have probably died on YJ because of something I did not know about. My frame was cracked. Yup, right under the seat covered up by the rubber bumper for the tank. I knew YJ had been a little loose and thought it was due to a swingarm bearing which I planned to do when I replaced my shock.
He ended up bracing and welding the frame and you pretty much can't tell. He primed and painted it too.
As for the brackets, he did an interesting thing. He took the forward mounting pieces off each bracked and swapped them to the opposite side. That gave each bracket about another 2" of clearence from the frame adn allowed him to mount them without having to cut my plastic rail covers under my seat. Everythign including the wiring is done so I can remove the brackets if ever need to. I can still ride without the bags though if I need to as well. He also cut the rear tabs off and moved them forward about 4", rotated tehm 45 degrees and put a 90 degree tab in them (I think I got the math right) so the mount directly to the grab rail mounting holes under the seat. Again, it looks perfectly stock.
The bad news is that it cost almost 3 times my original estimate of 100 to 120.00!! Most of the cost was due to the crack in the frame becasue he has to strip off most of the seat, tank, fender, battery and everything else. He's one of the only local shops that insurance companies will let do frame repair and I have a lifetime (not sure if its mine or the bikes) warranty. YJ is in it with me for the long haul.
Heres some pics for your viewing pleasure:
David
First, the good.
The job is done. He did a fantastic job and it looks better than factory. The way he worked the brackets to fit the bike makes them look like they were made for it. It ended up being a much bigger job than anticipated and it may be a while before I can afford a new back tire...or anything else, but I think it was worth it. If I had anyone else do the job, I would have probably died on YJ because of something I did not know about. My frame was cracked. Yup, right under the seat covered up by the rubber bumper for the tank. I knew YJ had been a little loose and thought it was due to a swingarm bearing which I planned to do when I replaced my shock.
He ended up bracing and welding the frame and you pretty much can't tell. He primed and painted it too.
As for the brackets, he did an interesting thing. He took the forward mounting pieces off each bracked and swapped them to the opposite side. That gave each bracket about another 2" of clearence from the frame adn allowed him to mount them without having to cut my plastic rail covers under my seat. Everythign including the wiring is done so I can remove the brackets if ever need to. I can still ride without the bags though if I need to as well. He also cut the rear tabs off and moved them forward about 4", rotated tehm 45 degrees and put a 90 degree tab in them (I think I got the math right) so the mount directly to the grab rail mounting holes under the seat. Again, it looks perfectly stock.
The bad news is that it cost almost 3 times my original estimate of 100 to 120.00!! Most of the cost was due to the crack in the frame becasue he has to strip off most of the seat, tank, fender, battery and everything else. He's one of the only local shops that insurance companies will let do frame repair and I have a lifetime (not sure if its mine or the bikes) warranty. YJ is in it with me for the long haul.
Heres some pics for your viewing pleasure:
David