Author Topic: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags  (Read 4011 times)

Offline T4halo

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Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« on: May 08, 2019, 08:45:34 PM »
which of these bags do you guys prefer on a loop frame? I’m looking for a different set of bags for my Ambassador and these appear to be the bags of choice.

T4
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Offline Turin

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #1 on: May 08, 2019, 09:04:22 PM »
The Dan Brown bags with the rounded top look the best IMO. Second goes to Wixoms which flow perfectly with the lines of a loopframe. I'd rank the regular DB bags last, but that's just me.

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Offline fotoguzzi

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #2 on: May 09, 2019, 06:43:54 AM »
Where would you get a set of DB bags?
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Offline T4halo

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #3 on: May 09, 2019, 06:49:47 AM »
I have a local guy with a set of each. But, he is not cheap

Tony
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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #3 on: May 09, 2019, 06:49:47 AM »

Offline fotoguzzi

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #4 on: May 09, 2019, 06:59:20 AM »
I have a local guy with a set of each. But, he is not cheap

Tony
does he have any to fit a Tonti frame?
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Offline Texas Turnip

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #5 on: May 09, 2019, 07:00:54 AM »
There are not answers to some questions.
IMHO the Wixoms fit the loop frame perfectly and they don't leak. I used them for many years.
The DB's are BIG and hold a ton. I've had them on a number of Cal 11's and liked them equal to the Wixoms.

Enie, meeniie, minie moe.....
Tex

Offline T4halo

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #6 on: May 09, 2019, 07:52:47 AM »
does he have any to fit a Tonti frame?

I’ll check.

T
7th & 10th SF retired

Offline lrutt

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #7 on: May 09, 2019, 08:06:18 AM »
I have some Dan Browns I'd like to part with. Don't know what the mounts are for though. Shipping would be a killer I'm sure but they are just sitting in a shed.
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Offline fotoguzzi

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #8 on: May 09, 2019, 10:02:41 AM »
I have some Dan Browns I'd like to part with. Don't know what the mounts are for though. Shipping would be a killer I'm sure but they are just sitting in a shed.
what's your location?
MINNEAPOLIS, MN

Offline brider

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #9 on: May 09, 2019, 01:22:59 PM »
I have a local guy with a set of each. But, he is not cheap

Tony

He may be that guy in southern MI who used to be a rep...I had his contact info somewhere....he runs an ad on CL occasionally....I actually saw a stack of DB bags in one of his CL photos, he had a LOT of pairs, I recall his price then was $400/pair.
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Offline brider

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #10 on: May 09, 2019, 01:24:25 PM »
Wixoms look the coolest of all because of their lines (this was mentioned before), but DBs are a close second IMO, and in 1st place for storage and practicality.
'85 Cal II Auto
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Offline fotoguzzi

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #11 on: May 09, 2019, 01:31:57 PM »
Lots of talk but not a single photo.. c'mon.
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Offline fotoguzzi

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #12 on: May 09, 2019, 01:35:24 PM »
What bags are these?



and these?

« Last Edit: May 09, 2019, 01:37:15 PM by fotoguzzi »
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Offline bigbikerrick

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #13 on: May 09, 2019, 01:50:56 PM »



my 73 eldo with DB bags
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Offline bigbikerrick

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #14 on: May 09, 2019, 01:53:13 PM »



rear view....Do those bags make my butt look fat?  :laugh:
Rick.
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Offline bigbikerrick

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #15 on: May 09, 2019, 02:01:02 PM »



I "smoothed" them out by removing the aluminum strip covering the two halves, and re fiberglassed them from the inside to re inforce the mounting holes, that were all "wallered" out. I made my own mounts , out of flat steel strap,from pictures on Greg Benders site, and they mount up real solid. The lights are LED big truck clearance lamps.
I also have a pair of Wixoms, that I switch around every couple of years to change the look of the bike, or put on the DBs when I need to carry a big load. They are the best for serious hauling. The Wixoms are much easier to remove for cleaning the bike or mainteneance.
Rick.
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Offline Antietam Classic Cycle

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #16 on: May 09, 2019, 02:02:46 PM »
What bags are these?



and these?



Top: Wixoms. Bottom: possibly Calafia.
Charlie

Offline bigbikerrick

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #17 on: May 09, 2019, 02:03:53 PM »



snow white and the huntsman second movie

my bike with the wixom bags.
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Offline bigbikerrick

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #18 on: May 09, 2019, 02:08:53 PM »



The Wixoms mount up higher, away from the pipes, the DBs mount low, closer to the pipes. I like the looks of both, but the fiberglass seems to be better/thicker on the wixoms. The DBs usually need a bit of reinforcement /fiberglass work to make them right.
Rick.


"You meet the most interesting people on a Guzzi"

Offline T4halo

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #19 on: May 09, 2019, 02:17:06 PM »
Rick, your Eldo with Buffalo fairing and DB bags looks perfect. Nice ride.

Tony
7th & 10th SF retired

Offline GuzziFuria

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #20 on: May 09, 2019, 02:22:31 PM »
Great Topic...
While many prefer the Wixom for the loopframes,  I prefer the DBs...

-  DB are really nicely shaped to take up all the space available around the rear shocks, they go as close as possible to the wheel, totally looks like a perfect custom job.  Wixom do not and leave lots of extra room between wheel and bags...
-  Yes gives the Loop a big ass, but well in proportion, makes it look super kool, more like a classic bagger style bike...
-  Tons of space, you can fit a case of beer, extra fuel, open face helmet....
-  Most have been poorly mounted, creating cracks and wears in the fiber glass around mounting holes, easily repaired.  Then mount rubber grommets all around the mounting bolts with rubber washer sandwished between metal ones...
-  Never leaks, once well rebuild
-  Replacement hinges easily found, rear lights as well @ Napa, see Greg Bender site...
- Important is to have all the mounting brackets, the rear one that attaches to rear fender is the most important one to have, the others easy to reproduce or copy if missing one or another...
-  Also to protect them, add the extended rear crash bars that usually came with them...  If the bike goes down, nothing gets damaged, along with the front crash bars, it acts like a big swivel that rocks back and forth without damaging any of the body or motor parts
-  the Bags Pops up on eBay every once in a while, in the $200-250 range...  Usually ending in barns, not much people want them, saying they're ugly, quite to the contrary...

Ciao
Carlito

Offline T4halo

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #21 on: May 09, 2019, 02:28:28 PM »
^^^^^^^

Great post Carlito!!

T4
7th & 10th SF retired

Offline Tom H

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #22 on: May 09, 2019, 03:15:08 PM »



rear view....Do those bags make my butt look fat?  :laugh:
Rick.

Ummm Yes :evil:

Wixom:




As for the Wixom lights, I replaced them with a set of LED that fit right where the stock light goes. They look like they came with the bags. The new lights add running and brake lights.





Tom
« Last Edit: May 09, 2019, 03:24:35 PM by Tom H »
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Offline brider

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #23 on: May 09, 2019, 03:31:57 PM »
Top: Wixoms. Bottom: possibly Calafia.

Yes, bottom look like Calafia (Calafia Fats, to be more precise), I have a set on my Cal 2, but they do not have a key latch as shown in the photo. Mine have matching latched front/back, making the lids lift-off. The key on the side makes me think those are hinged on the wheel-side.
'85 Cal II Auto
'71 Ambo project
'02 GasGas EC300
'07 Norge
Wish'd I'd never sold:
'72 Red Eldo
'74 White Eldo LAPD
'77 Convert with DB bags
'06 Gas Gas EC300
'86 LM IV

Offline brider

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #24 on: May 09, 2019, 03:45:31 PM »

I "smoothed" them out by removing the aluminum strip covering the two halves,

I have a set of DB bags for a Loop that also had the center strip removed and the seam smoothed over. Also had the holes for the tail lights smoothed over. I thought they might be reproductions (maybe they are?), but they are made the same as the originals, in 2 halves.

Since DBs for the Tontis are hard to find (I haven't seen any since the set on my Convert I sold), I would imagine a good fabricator could cut out the offending area on the left bag where it would hit the brake caliper, and re-glass it to close it up again.
'85 Cal II Auto
'71 Ambo project
'02 GasGas EC300
'07 Norge
Wish'd I'd never sold:
'72 Red Eldo
'74 White Eldo LAPD
'77 Convert with DB bags
'06 Gas Gas EC300
'86 LM IV

Offline Antietam Classic Cycle

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #25 on: May 09, 2019, 04:18:00 PM »
I like Wixoms best, but they are a bit on the small side. DBs that have been smoothed (bump on the back removed especially) look very nice, but unmodified I think they're rather bulbous and awkward looking.

My V700 is getting a pair of Pelican 1500 cases, just like my Convert's. Yes, I know they're big and boxy, totally lacking of style, but they're also 100% waterproof, crushproof and inexpensive used ($92 a pair shipped, bought on ebay). My mounts will allow them to be easily removed. 

Charlie

Offline m13

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #26 on: May 10, 2019, 10:25:47 AM »
No accounting for taste!,..all in the eye of the beholder,...of big butts!

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Offline oilhed

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #27 on: May 11, 2019, 08:43:11 AM »
What bags are these?


Love that bike, bags & fairing!  (Loose the trunk IMO)
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Offline bigbikerrick

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #28 on: May 15, 2019, 01:50:13 PM »
Rick, your Eldo with Buffalo fairing and DB bags looks perfect. Nice ride.

Tony

Thank you, Tony.
Rick.
"You meet the most interesting people on a Guzzi"

Offline John Ulrich

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Re: Dan Brown vs Wixom bags
« Reply #29 on: May 15, 2019, 04:00:46 PM »
DB's are the ticket.   Like Rick, I cut off the taillight and "smoothed" it over and took chrome body side moulding and stuck it over the center seam.



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