| Author | Message | ||
     Lowflyer |
I have to say that the handlebar bag from Touratech is a total piece of crap. It doesn't stay on the bars and has the capacity of a toothbrush case. I hate it. | ||
| Asdf |
Howdy! The problem with the attachment system on this bag is that they used button head rivets to attach the plastic handlebar clamp fittings to the bag. The plastic clamps are clearly countersunk for the use of flat head rivets. The button head rivets prevent the plastic clamp from seating fully onto the handlebar. If they had used flat head rivets, the clamping system would work fine. I drilled out the button head rivets and installed stainless steel flat head machine screws in their place. I used stainless steel nylock nuts and stainless steel fender washers on the inside of the bag. If you really want to beef up the mounting, add some Velcro straps to the system. Simply sandwich the Velcro pieces between the plastic clamps and the bag. With the Velcro mod there will be one Velcro "Fuzzy" piece and one Velcro "Hook" piece PER SIDE. The two pieces will be overlapped under each plastic clamp, between the clamps and the bag. Use a torch or a lighter to heat up an awl. Use the heated awl to melt a hole through the two layers of Velcro, for the stainless steel screws to pass through. The Velcro tabs make the attachment "Bomb Proof". The tabs also will do an excellent job of securing the Buell handlebar sections of wiring harness to the handlebars. The Buell plastic clips that hold the wires on my handlebars needed some help. This mod took care of that. I have explained this situation to Touratech USA. They offered to take the bag back for a full refund. I declined this offer, as I wished to do the described mods to the bag. Touratech therefore offered to give me free shipping on my next order. I accepted the free shipping on my next order. As for the size of the bag... It is all that I expected it to be, based on its photo, description and application. It holds small items in a handy location. I keep spare glasses in it. I also keep a Multi-Tool and a "Side Stand Puck", as well as other assorted small items. I chose to mount the bag with the net pouch facing to the rear and "Touratech" facing forward. I must agree that the bag is pricey. I would expect perfect design and execution from the factory for the price of this bag. Good Luck! | ||
| Birdmanrh |
Hmm, I have had no problem with mine? I have a parking puck, a gas nozzle holder, cleaner for my glasses and put my wallet in it when riding.... I wish they would ship the GPS mount however! | ||
| Birdmanrh |
I was thinking, maybe because it is so hot here it molded to the bars easier or something? I too face the logo forward. | ||
| Lowflyer |
You guys are ruining my thread.  The point here is to see if there is anything anyone will admit to buying for their bike that they don't like or feel was a waste of money. I feel like any accessory you purchase should come ready to bolt on. Attaching Velcro and drilling out/replacing fasteners for a product that is designed to work out of the box specifically on the Uly is totally unacceptable in my view. I still hate it and feel that it was wasted money. You can like yours. I hate mine. It sucks. Oh, and good ideas on the mods. I hadn't thought of drilling out the fasteners. I just put the Velcro on and it will stay on the bars that way. (Message edited by lowflyer on August 18, 2006) | ||
| Asdf |
Well, in the spirit of this thread, the worst accessory for the Ulysses that I bought was the Factory High Windshield. I received it and installed it earlier this week. The buffeting that it caused on my upper chest, neck and lower helmet area was terrible. The stock low shield provides a nice clean air flow with no buffeting. Perhaps if I was much shorter or much taller, the higher windshield would have been ok. As it is, at my height of 6'-3", the buffeting zone was very annoying to me. I called my Dealer, Hal's H-D Buell, and explained my problem to them. I did not call them to get a refund, I simply wanted to let them know of my experience with the high shield. To my surprise, my salesman Jamie, offered to let me return the windshield, bug splats and all, for a full store credit. I actually did not expect this generous offer, as the shield was now used and full of bug splats. I accepted this most generous offer! The Dealership has a Sale coming up soon, so the Credit, as well as some additional cash, will be used up very soon. Have Fun! PS: Some (Most?) Touratech handlebar bags MAY have their clips installed with flat head rivets, or with rivet heads that do not intrude into the clamping radius. These bags will attach to the bike with no problems. Touratech WILL accept the return of defective bags for a full refund. | ||
| Ftd |
Ditto on the Buell tall windshield. Too much buffetting and really no better than the stock unit. I have been running with no windshield for some time now and like it. Not a good idea no a long trip though but neither are the other two. YMMV Frank | ||
| Lorazepam |
Mine is the low seat I purchased right after the bike. It didnt fit, to the point I was afraid of breaking something trying to get it to latch. What truly sucks is I dropped it, and damaged the cover, and I cant return it. Giant waste of money. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I modified the handlebar bag. Without the modification, it IS worthless. I had my wife to sew two modified velcro cable ties to the top flap of the bag. It now attaches both at the side bars and the cross bars. I can zip and unzip the bag without it coming off. As far as capacity, I usually am able to put wallet, phone, keys, iPod, and earplugs into it with room to spare. You must have a giant toothbrush. Is this your floss?  | ||
| Lowflyer |
I have large teeth.  | ||
| Bienhoabob |
My worst: Cee Baileys 16" over Cracked in half after 5,000 miles. Cee Baileys does not refund after 8 mos. Not even one riding season. $159 down the drain.  Here's the remaining half, the other is someplace in South Dakota. | ||
| Brat |
I've just fitted a 16" to my Uly, how did that happen to yours? | ||
| Brat |
 Ooops, crappy phone pic for the above post! | ||
| Lowflyer |
If it wasn't an an obvious cause (i.e. bird strike) I suspect a combination of windloading and vibes would cause that. It might be preventable if you use rubber washers between the shield and the mounting points, but that's just a guess and certainly no guarantee. | ||
| Bienhoabob |
No strikes, and I did run a line of rubber between the Cee Baileys shield and the Buell mounting plate. My guess is the same as Lowflyers. It can't stand up to the combination of windload and vibes. Hope you have better luck than I did. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 02:12 am: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted on Friday, August 18, 2006 - 08:17 pm: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My worst: Cee Baileys 16" over Cracked in half after 5,000 miles. Cee Baileys does not refund after 8 mos. Not even one riding season. $159 down the drain. Here's the remaining half, the other is someplace in South Dakota. You're lucky it's not someplace embedded in your neck! (Message edited by ft_bstrd on August 19, 2006) | ||
| Lorazepam |
That is way too much unsupported plastic. it would scare me to ride behind that. Bob, just out of curiosity, how much riding do you do above the posted limit? The air pressure gets pretty high above 70, and add in pulses for wind speed, it just seems like a lot for that shield. | ||
| Bienhoabob |
Consistent 80-85 mph. Couple of times hit 95 when I came across some "slow" moving vehicles. (Highway limits are 75 mph in the west) Too much for that shield. If Cee Baileys makes a windshield for a bike that does 130mph, then the shield should be able to withstand those speeds or put a warning label on it. (My opinion, doesn't mean much.) | ||
| Lorazepam |
I am 5'10" 30" inseam, and the +2.5 does a great job for me. Another guy I ride with has the +4, and it provides great protection. Bigger is not always better, at least with bike windshields, anyway  | ||
| Lowflyer |
Yes, I'll throw my support in for the +2.5 I've been happy with mine, but I really hate that ridiculous Touratech handlebar bag.  | ||
| Lowflyer |
I think Rkc00 has ridden with one of those +16s for awhile now. I wonder how his is holding up. | ||
| Homer |
I'm with Ftd on the tall screen. After trying it I like running with no screen at all, but need to find a solution for the 4 rubber bungs (or the holes if I take them out. I've thought of looking for plastic caps to put over the holes (or maybe mini gun barrels for that B-17 look ) | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Homer, You might want to look at one of these suppliers. http://www.harmancorp.com/ http://www.stockcap.com/prod.asp?child_of=18&name=Plugs/Stoppers http://www.globalspec.com/MyGlobalSpec/NewProfile?forcetok=1&GoToUrl=http%3A%2F% 2Fmechanical%2Dcomponents%2Eglobalspec%2Ecom%2Fspecsearch%2Fsuppliers%2Fmechanic al%5Fcomponents%2Fseals%2Fplugs%5Fstoppers%5Finserts%3FSrchItem%3D1&areaId=2529 One of these should have some sort of stock plug that you could use to plug the holes. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
My bad choice was the low seat. Seems it caused a major malfunction with the ECM and one of it's connectors. Currently 7 (seven) weeks at the dealership awaiting warrentee repair. I'm sure I don't have to mention that this is prime riding time spent without my brand new bike. Bummed out in Oregon. | ||
| Lowflyer |
Whoa!!! That sucks, man. Have you called Buell Customer Service? I hope they at least gave you a t-shirt or something while you wait. | ||
| Rkc00 |
I have cut my 16" down to 10". So far the 10" is holding up fine. I also have an 22" from Cee Baily's which I will be using over the winter. I have no intention of going over 50 mph with the 22" when it is 40 deg. or less. I did get to use it for a few months last winter and it seemed to hold up fine. Might add the braces from my national cycle shield that I had for my XB9S.  Mike Long Island, NY 06 XB12X Black of course. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
What are the other things? Handlebar mittens? | ||
| Rkc00 |
These are similar to the ones I have. I got mine from my local Honda dealer. Go here: http://www.atvsupply.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=3774 Mike Long Island, NY 06 XB12X Black of course. | ||
| Xbimmer |
First and foremost, those not-cheap Hepco-Becker sidecases. The right frame was/is a major problem to install, the seals jump out, my right closure latch broke and now my left is showing signs of fatigued plastic at the hinge, the topcase bracket is welded crooked. Good thing I don't use the topcase, the tilt would be obvious. Next the tall shield, after waiting for months for its arrival today was the first chance I got to put on a couple hundred miles behind it. I'm 5'11" and a little short-waisted so the buffeting of the torso isn't evident to me. But the increased roar heard from within my helmet is unbelievable, and my helmet feels like it's being machinegunned with marshmallows or something when riding 75-85 into headwinds! I'm disappointed, this thing wasn't cheap either... Deluxe tank bag, not unhappy at all with the purchase, but the rear strap is too short. By design and the pics in the instructions it should be positioned across the top of the ledge at the rear of the intake cover. Positioned this way it was 3/4" too short. I had to stretch and manipulate the strap, the cover, the screws, all at once to get it to install. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before the strap gives at some point, maybe I'm wrong... The '07 seat I got today is a whole different story though I hope... fits and looks just great! | ||
| Xbimmer |
Rkc, what about your extra lighting? |
