98 EV saddlebag mount issues

[bigbikerrick]

Hello Folks,my 98 EV has the Guzzi leather saddlebags, and the chrome mounts that fasten to the bike under the chrome trim rails. The frames hang by 3 bolts, that screw into threaded collars on the rack/ backrest frame. Even though I have applied loc tite blue to the mounting bolts , when I check them, they always seem to have loosened some. It looks to me that its a poor design, since it doesnt have a bottom support, and the whole saddlebag mounts just "hang", and apply alot of leverage to the mounts.
   I am not a big fan of leather panniers, and am wondering if the Hepco Becker hard bag mounts are any better, or basically the same thing? What do you long term EV owners recommend, and have you had problems with these mounts?    Any other suggestions for decent hard bags, or improving the mounts on an EV?
Thanks
Rick.

[LowRyter]

I have the HB set-up on my '98 EV.  It's served me well.  I did have an issue.  I bought the bike used and riding it a few years one of the brackets broke.  I was getting is welded when I discovered the reason for it was that one of the fastener bolts had broken.  When we got the broken bolt out, we discovered it was too short and was about half as long as the receiver threads.  I wish I had known this from the beginning, I would've replaced the bolts with the correct length and never had a problem.  Not sure why anyone did that, perhaps they only had a short bolt and intended to replace it?  Anyway, even welded back, it's not given me a bit or trouble.  I painted with "chrome" Rustoleam and it's not very noticeable even when the bags are off.

Anyway, the HB set with rack and JR bags has worked great.  In fact I had an HB rack on my V11 sport and just move the bags from one bike to the other.

Having written this, I don't know the business about the leather bags.  I thought they used the same rack.

[Tkelly]

I had Givi bags and liked them a lot.

[guzzisteve]

I was putting these racks on for dealer set-up when they were new. I found that the threads had some slag or whatever in the threads of most all the frames. After the 1st one I ran a tap in & out plus blew out hole w/air. Also changed hdwr to use all the thread. Never had an issue coming loose.

[PeteS]

I had the same setup on my ‘98. The lower front bracket broke on both sides and had to be rewelded. The mounting hardware is junk. I replaced all the fasteners with stainless.

Pete

[bigbikerrick]

I suspect the HB racks are better quality than the Guzzi ones . The racks for the HB's must be different, especially how the bags attach to the racks. The leather bags just sit on the bottom loop of the frame and there are 3 small leather straps with buckles that go around the tubes, 2 near the top, and one on the bottom to keep the bag snug up against the mount. Thats a good heads up steve about the slag, mine dd have some and one of the bolts was not penetrating the full thread available. I also had one of the mounting points crack completely through, on the center support of my right bag, and  I had to get it welded. It looks like its essential to have bolts of the exact correct length, and use thread lock liquid as well.
thanks
Rick