Metal working question...

[Martinjmpr]

And after everything was done, this is the result:





Took it out for a nice little ride, they stay on great, no rattling or anything.



Now, it's not done. Before anyone asks yes, I'm going to paint them (maroon and silver to match the bike.) Then I'll put some U bolts in so I can put locks on the cases. I'll also waterproof the holes with some silicon sealant and probably rubber washers for the mounting knob holes. I'll also add reflectors from an old trailer kit that I had and then some reflective decals for visibility.

[ray1970]

Good job. That thing looks wider than my Road King.

[fright88]

That looks awesome. Beautiful bike and nice job

[Irving]

Cool idea, good job. They don't interfere with your legs while riding at all?

[def90]

Are you using locking washers or anything on those plastic knobs inside the boxes so that they don't vibrate off will riding down the road?

[Duman]

Now you're ready for Zen.....

[Martinjmpr]

Cool idea, good job. They don't interfere with your legs while riding at all?

Not a bit, they're far enough back not to. And I never ride with a passenger so that's not a consideration.

Are you using locking washers or anything on those plastic knobs inside the boxes so that they don't vibrate off will riding down the road?

I have both lock washers and some rubber "sealing" washers that I'm going to use to keep water from getting into the cans. As a final securing method, I may put wing nuts on the outside of the bolts to keep them from backing out.

Now you're ready for Zen.....

You know, I tried to read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Mainteance and about halfway through I realized that I just didn't care anymore about the whole thing. I think that's one of those books people put on their shelves so they can look "smart" but rarely actually read. I thought it was boring as hell.

BTW same thing happened recently when I tried to read Joseph Heller's WWII Classic "Catch 22." Got 2/3 of the way through it and said "eh, I just don't care about this story anymore" and went back to reading history, which is what I usually read. I just finished Barbara Tuchman's "Stilwell and the American Experience in China" and I'm currently working on "The War that Made America" which is about the Seven Years War A/K/A the French and Indian war from 1754 - 1763. It's written by a CU professor, Fred Anderson.