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So, I've always liked the tall sissy bars that were found on bikes of yesteryear, and I've considered putting some sort of taller sissy bar on my '93 Convertible. Not super tall, but taller than what I typically see on FXRs, which are 16" or less I believe.... on the few that still choose to keep one. AS tough as this year has been, and not really being in financial position to make great progress on major improvements to her this winter, I have had this sissy bar project in my head about daily.
Mind you, I know this is all a matter of taste, and in the scheme of things.... it's a pretty small thing. I'm just rambling.... maybe putting it down in black and white will help me see it from another perspective and/or help me decide on the direction would be best to go.
First, this is how she sets now...., and I have a pad for that sissy, it's just not on at the moment.
![20201227_125152.jpg]()
I have the LeatherPros detachable bags also, but am leaning towards only using them on longer road trips (more clothes than I can pack in the backpack), and grocery runs. My favorite tote bag though has become a 5.11 Rush 72 backpack. It has plenty of compartments and size that I can easily set it up for whatever my day holds.... lunch, drinks, gym clothes & towel/s, clean change of clothes, swim fins & paddles, etc., etc.
Another backpack I use most days is my Kline Tools tool backpack. Now, this backpack does not usually move job locations often. It goes in with me on the first day of the project and remains until I get a lay off for job completion, or I drag up and move on down the road. Even then, I have the pickup I can use for that, unless they lay me off on a day I'm on the FXR. So, I "could' need to carry the tools with me on the bike, but it's not likely/ It would be more of a desire to be able to comfortably carry them, should I decide I want to.
I am a 'Union' electrician, and have spent many of my years traveling from local to local for work, all over the US. Being 'Union" means I have to show up at a local and sign a list, then as jobs come available, they are offered to the 1st on the list, and they keep going down the list until each job is filled. Come this spring, I can easily see myself going on a book signing trip on the FXR, instead of the Tacoma. No tools needed. Just the 5.11 and maybe the LeatherPros, depending on how long of a trip I want to take, & where the good projects are likely to be this year. Anyway, I am rambling....
If just the tool bag is loaded.....
![20201230_125051_LI.jpg]()
Not much support from the current Sissy bar.
![20201230_125243.jpg]()
I assume setting the tools towards the passenger seat is better than setting it further towards the rear, on the luggage rack itself.
![20201230_125803.jpg]()
With the 5.11 Tactical bag.
Ya, I'm pretty sure I would not like cruising the highways and/or turnpikes loaded up like this.
As I have thought more and more, I am now leaning towards just removing the sissy bar, so I can lay and strap whichever or both of the bags down horizontally, instead of vertically (as pictured above). That would have to give a better load / weight disbursement, right? Less wind resistance as well?
So, it would be closer to something like this (when no bags are loaded)...
![20201230_123651_LI (2).jpg]()
Functionally, I think this is likely a good solution....
As far as "Form"?? I'm not so sure.
That luggage rack looks fine, in my opinion, as designed with a sissy bar. Without the bar though, it leaves a pretty decent gap between the seat and itself. Also, one would have to figure what to do with the little slots where the sissy bar slides into. Without the sissy, the rack also seems just very 'square (rectangle)' and comes to an end abruptly. It might look better with one of the bobtails this way??? That would be a less than cost effective way to deal with issue.
There is the stubby backrest, but that would still be too tall, an would interfere with laying the bags down.
I very much like the rack V-STRUM used on his, however that does not offer even a hint of having a passenger while running about town, and I like having a rear seat also, just in case....
Maybe I am overthinking it, and a tall Sissy would be the better way??
Anyway, I am up late, thinking too much, and just thought I would throw it out here...
Mind you, I know this is all a matter of taste, and in the scheme of things.... it's a pretty small thing. I'm just rambling.... maybe putting it down in black and white will help me see it from another perspective and/or help me decide on the direction would be best to go.
First, this is how she sets now...., and I have a pad for that sissy, it's just not on at the moment.
I have the LeatherPros detachable bags also, but am leaning towards only using them on longer road trips (more clothes than I can pack in the backpack), and grocery runs. My favorite tote bag though has become a 5.11 Rush 72 backpack. It has plenty of compartments and size that I can easily set it up for whatever my day holds.... lunch, drinks, gym clothes & towel/s, clean change of clothes, swim fins & paddles, etc., etc.
Another backpack I use most days is my Kline Tools tool backpack. Now, this backpack does not usually move job locations often. It goes in with me on the first day of the project and remains until I get a lay off for job completion, or I drag up and move on down the road. Even then, I have the pickup I can use for that, unless they lay me off on a day I'm on the FXR. So, I "could' need to carry the tools with me on the bike, but it's not likely/ It would be more of a desire to be able to comfortably carry them, should I decide I want to.
I am a 'Union' electrician, and have spent many of my years traveling from local to local for work, all over the US. Being 'Union" means I have to show up at a local and sign a list, then as jobs come available, they are offered to the 1st on the list, and they keep going down the list until each job is filled. Come this spring, I can easily see myself going on a book signing trip on the FXR, instead of the Tacoma. No tools needed. Just the 5.11 and maybe the LeatherPros, depending on how long of a trip I want to take, & where the good projects are likely to be this year. Anyway, I am rambling....
If just the tool bag is loaded.....
Not much support from the current Sissy bar.
I assume setting the tools towards the passenger seat is better than setting it further towards the rear, on the luggage rack itself.
With the 5.11 Tactical bag.
Ya, I'm pretty sure I would not like cruising the highways and/or turnpikes loaded up like this.
As I have thought more and more, I am now leaning towards just removing the sissy bar, so I can lay and strap whichever or both of the bags down horizontally, instead of vertically (as pictured above). That would have to give a better load / weight disbursement, right? Less wind resistance as well?
So, it would be closer to something like this (when no bags are loaded)...
Functionally, I think this is likely a good solution....
As far as "Form"?? I'm not so sure.
That luggage rack looks fine, in my opinion, as designed with a sissy bar. Without the bar though, it leaves a pretty decent gap between the seat and itself. Also, one would have to figure what to do with the little slots where the sissy bar slides into. Without the sissy, the rack also seems just very 'square (rectangle)' and comes to an end abruptly. It might look better with one of the bobtails this way??? That would be a less than cost effective way to deal with issue.
There is the stubby backrest, but that would still be too tall, an would interfere with laying the bags down.
I very much like the rack V-STRUM used on his, however that does not offer even a hint of having a passenger while running about town, and I like having a rear seat also, just in case....
Maybe I am overthinking it, and a tall Sissy would be the better way??
Anyway, I am up late, thinking too much, and just thought I would throw it out here...
