Goldwing bags on my 1800VTX!

I've had my 1800 VTX for going on three years now and love it. I have had the leatherlike saddle bags on it for a couple years now and they have worked well but they take a beating and were used when I got them.

It's time to get something better and more sturdy.

I found out about a place in Texas that turns Goldwings into trikes and the saddlebags are removed. I stopped on my recent work trip there and picked up 3 sets for $10 a set. Two had the lights in them and one set without lights is the exact color of my bike already.

I have started trying to match a set up to the bike and have had to make some modifications to get them to work. They have a couple deep pockets on the back that will not allow them to tuck in to the bike enough so I've cut these off the back of a bag and then used a sheet of ABS and cut a panel to fill it back in flat. I have a good plastic welder and I'm using it too close this area back in.

I was told the bags won't work on my bike but not only do I want better bags at a cheap price, but I love to do fab work and make things fit where they weren't made too. Proving someone wrong in the process is a bonus.

Here is the bag I'm using to do the fitting. The backs are removable and I will use this bag to fit it and then install the back in the bags that match the color of my bike.



Here is what the back looks like.



Here is the area cut out.



Here it is with the filler panel.







See the difference?





Here it is just hanging on the bike with zip ties to give me an idea of how it will look.





Here is a picture from the back. I won't need the turn signal as I'll be using the ones in the bags. The factory signals on the bike will be removed and the holes will be used as a mounting point as well. The extra brake lights on the bags will also make me more visible from the rear of the bike due to the. I don't have the stays for my saddlebags removed and this will allow the bags to be mounted closer to the bike also.