Just installed my new Viking Bags, full write up inside with pics

Hello all,

I have been wanting a hard bag solution for sometime. Like many on here I like the look of the Beetle Bags but they are nearly impossible to find. 2 years ago I bought Joe Rocket soft bags and although they hold a lot, and I got them cheap, I really wanted Hard bags. Fast forward to a month ago when I was reminded of how I made Victory Beetle Bags work on my Vulcan by creatively crafting my own brackets and I thought why not try it again. After a few days I found a set of Viking Bags, Product number is LAM800P and decided to go for it. The bags arrived last Friday but I was away for the weekend so I spent some time this week through the evenings to figure out how I wanted to mount them. I am pleased to report that they are now on and I think they look damn sexy imho So here is what I used with links to the products if anyone else cares to try this.

- I bought a rack off ebay 2 years ago to protect the paint from the soft bags from a guy in Greece. Comes with some mounting bolts that didn't actually fit and I had to use some elbow grease to get them mounted because the holes weren't exact, but after a bit of strong arming them they bolted up fine. Here is a link to the ebay item. Cost $85 CND. Honda CBR1100 XX Soft BAG Support | eBay

- The bags I purchased are the Viking LAM800P with shock cutouts normally marketed to the Cruiser Guys. Again I turned to ebay for my set as they were on back order from the Canadian seller and since this was a bit of a dice roll I thought why not save a few buck and get them from ebay. The set I got off ebay was $235 Cnd including shipping to my door and came with the generic mounting hardware. Lamellar Shock Cutout Large Hard Saddlebags | Motorcycle House

- I also bought some Kingchain Wire rope clips 1/4 inch for total cost of about $8, and used some gloss black paint to give them a quick spray and make them a bit more discreet. KingChain | 1/4 In. Wire Rope Clip - Carded | Home Depot Canada

- Along with a few extra washers I had, some blue loctite and my dremel and socket set that is all that was needed.

Step 1: Mounted the soft bag supports, then held up the hardbags in different positions to see where I wanted them. I put pieces of masking tape on the bags where I was going to drill holes and marked with a sharpie. I quickly realised the bags would work best if the "shock cutouts" face to the rear as this would give me plenty of turn signal clearance and give my pillion the most leg room.

Step 2: Took the rack off the bike and both the rack and bag inside to drill the holes for mounting the bags to the racks. I used a dremel tool as my brother borrowed my drill and he lives 2 hours away.

Step 3: I used bag one as a template. Put a piece of paper over the back of the bag, stuck a pen through the holes. Used the paper on bag number 2, measured.... measured two more times then marked off the placement for the holes with masking tape and sharpie again. Before drilling the second bag I lined up the second bracket to be sure the holes lined up then drilled holes in bag 2.

Step 4: Bolted up the bags to the racks and did a test fit. Everything checked out so I took out all the Kingchain bolts and sprayed with some gloss black paint that I had just to make them less noticeable.

Step 5: Once again bolted the bags to the racks and this time tightened everything up and used some blue loctite to be sure the bolts stayed put. I then installed the bags on the bike once again. At this point I felt the bags could use one more mounting point to the bike.

Step 6: I was able to use the included mounting hardware that came with the bags to create a third mounting point to the bike. Drilled the bags again for mounting point number 3 and then re installed the bags on the bike.

Step 7: Sat back and enjoyed the results of my efforts

Total Cost: Around $300 USD, $320 Cnd and approx 3 hours of my time. Feeling of Accomplishment... Priceless

As for the quality of the bags and the fit and finish. They aren't bad at all. They aren't at the same level of quality as the Corbins but I didn't pay Corbin prices either. They have a rubbery coating inside glossy black finish on the outside. I love the way they open from the top and out away from the bike. Lockable and mine came with 3 keys. They are water tight and relatively light weight. Attached to the bike with just 3 bolts so you can remove the bags and the racks in about 15 minutes to return the bike to it's sleek stock look. Specs are on the website if you would like to see them. Also worth noting the VikingBags logo looks to just be screwed on with 2 tiny screws. I'm thinking of taking one to a local engraving place to see if they could possibly make me a new set that read Blackbird or CBR 1100XX.

Here are the pics as promised. Let me know what you think of the look. I took some with and without the Corbin oval backrest.