Saddlebag bar mounting

[zeoran]

1999 Aspencade, there is a bar in a small loop just under the saddlebags that's obviously designed to provide some protection for them in case the bike lays down. The bar on the left-hand side is loose for some reason. I looked but I couldn't see the mounting points. I'm fairly certain that I won't be able to see/get to them unless I pull off the entire saddlebag. Is this correct or is there some trick I can do to tighten the bar without removing the saddlebag?

God bless,

~Mark

[joeincalif]

Someone will chime in, I don't have a1500 at this time, I would think you could get to it without removing the saddlebag but if you have to remove it it's not that hard to do

[zeoran]

I've removed the saddlebag a few times before but that was when I was living in Redondo, when I had a normal garage with electricity and could do work/maintenance on the bike without issue. My new apartment gave me something, I'm not sure I'd call it a garage. it's shared, doesn't have electricity and they are very strict on anyone doing repairs/work on their vehicles in them. We have patrols that go around every few hours. So I'd really like to find a way to do it without removing the saddlebag.

God bless,

~Mark

[Rambozo]

With small hands and the right tool, you might be able to tighten it up. Here is a pic of where the bolt is.

[zeoran]

Thanks for the picture. I looked through my service manual but didn't see it anywhere.

That looks fun. Hopefully, only the top bolt needs tightening as it looks like even more of a pain to get to the bottom-left bolt. I'm still not sure how/why it got loose to begin with. Do you know what size that top bolt is? (looks like a 10mm)

God bless,

~Mark

[Andy Cote]

There is an access plug in the forward end of the saddlebag. You may or may not need a mirror to look thru it. You also may need to be creative with sockets and extensions. This is the bolt you would use if you were doing the "up and over" rear tire change (there are how-to articles on this). When I had mine apart, I changed this bolt to a socket head cap screw to make it easier when accessing thru this hole.

[zeoran]

There is an access plug in the forward end of the saddlebag. You may or may not need a mirror to look thru it. You also may need to be creative with sockets and extensions.

That's awesome, and exactly the news I was hoping for. Do you happen to remember what size the bolt is? It looks like 10mm in the picture and that's what a good portion of the bolts on the bike have been. If I'm going to have to get to it through the hole, I'm not sure my standard 10mm would be long enough, I might have to buy a longer version.

God bless,

~Mark

[Andy Cote]

I don't recall. Takes either a 10mm or 12mm wrench. I think I used a 1/4" short socket with a universal joint and a short extension. Not much room to swing a ratchet in there. Going back in was a fight. That's when I switched to socket head. Much easier.

[4given]

It’s a 12mm bolt head. The other bolt is accessed by removing the passenger foot peg assembly.

[Solo So Long]

My new apartment gave me something, I'm not sure I'd call it a garage. it's shared, doesn't have electricity and they are very strict on anyone doing repairs/work on their vehicles in them.

How big is your living room?

[joeincalif]

I've removed the saddlebag a few times before but that was when I was living in Redondo, when I had a normal garage with electricity and could do work/maintenance on the bike without issue. My new apartment gave me something, I'm not sure I'd call it a garage. it's shared, doesn't have electricity and they are very strict on anyone doing repairs/work on their vehicles in them. We have patrols that go around every few hours. So I'd really like to find a way to do it without removing the saddlebag.

God bless,

~Mark

I lived in a place like that at one time. I had my Wing apart, a neighbor saw me and said that we weren't allowed to work on vehicles in the parking area. i told him I wasn't working on it I was cleaning it. Which I was. I had returned from vacation and was giving it a good cleaning, I had the lower fairing, lower cowling, seat and a couple other things off and I also had my bucket of water there.