I Finally Did It (Pics Included)

[curly]

Haven't had any side bag issues but after reading many horror stories I decided to pin those bags. No more visions of flying saddlebags now!

[RedBombardier]

I did too... "Justin Case"

[MrFurious]

I pinned my bags the second day I had the bike just for my own piece of mind.  A lot of the roads around me have some nasty expansion joints/frost heeves and I wasn't about to risk finding out the hard way that my bags have an auto-eject feature.  Only difference is that I used a 2" pin with a round safety bail so I wouldn't have to worry about them ever backing out on their own.

[booger]

OK.  I've been contemplating this for a couple of months.

Now I am going to get off my ass a do it.

[Bob]

Some will say it's unnecessary. That is until the bag falls off. I feel it's worth while easy to do insurance policy! Nice job!

[IRULE]

Man, I'm not sure. Since I have the new and improve orange color tabs for the saddle bags, I should be ok. I totally understand about a piece of mind, but drilling on my bike like this isn't right at all. If this is really a problem, I will make Kawasaki fix this problem for me.

[MrFurious]

Man, I'm not sure. Since I have the new and improve orange color tabs for the saddle bags, I should be ok. I totally understand about a piece of mind, but drilling on my bike like this isn't right at all. If this is really a problem, I will make Kawasaki fix this problem for me.

The risk with that thinking is that Kawasaki is going to claim you didn't properly attach the bags and thus it's your fault it fell off, not theirs.  At about $1100 for a new bag, drilling two small 3/16" holes is cheap, easy insurance.  And yes, I have the updated orange latches to, but my bags had more play in them than I was comfortable with.  Now that they're pinned they don't move a millimeter.

[Toaster]

I am also going to drill mine. I lost a bag off my DL-1000 when I owned it and Suzuki would not warranty it. I see you drilled a 3/8 hole. What size is the fastener?
thanks

[ZG]

http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=1152.msg11590#msg11590
 

[Big Iron]

ZG, that link still doesn't answer the question "what size is the fastener"? It opens up the original thread showing how one person made a 3/16" hole for one type of fastener, but I think he is asking about a different type of fastener, the "2" pin with a round safety bail".
Actually, I'd like to know that too. I'm guessing that he drilled a 3/8" hole, but I'm not positive.  3/8" actually sounds a bit large if you ask me?!?
MrFurious, what size hole was that??

[Lonerider]

I drilled mine  1/4" for a 1/4" x 2" pin (I think its called a detent pin, it has a spring loaded ball at the end). Now it takes a tug to remove them and there, so I am confident they are not coming out unless I pull them.

[booger]

Geez,  I went to the local ACE Hardware yesterday.  they didn't have anything over 1.5" long

[MrFurious]

ZG, that link still doesn't answer the question "what size is the fastener"? It opens up the original thread showing how one person made a 3/16" hole for one type of fastener, but I think he is asking about a different type of fastener, the "2" pin with a round safety bail".
Actually, I'd like to know that too. I'm guessing that he drilled a 3/8" hole, but I'm not positive.  3/8" actually sounds a bit large if you ask me?!?
MrFurious, what size hole was that??

My bad..I typed in 3/8" by mistake....3/16 or 1/4" is the size hole you want to drill.  As for the fastener, use the same size as the hole you drill.  Mine's 1/4" as I couldn't find a long 3/16" drill bit anywhere.  The 2" x 1/4" pin with round bail should be available at most any decent hardware store as it's a common/standard size.  Also works great for locking the latch on trailer tongues. 

[C1xRider]

Just FYI, be sure to lube that little detent ball with some silicon spray.  They have a nasty habit if collecting moisture and sticking, freezing up, or rusting inside.  Better if you can find some all stainless ones (including the detent ball spring), though that may be tough (marine applications maybe).

If you don't pull the pins very often, you may find it stuck and very difficult to remove one day until you spend some quality time working with it.

[B.D.F.]

So now there will be a new class of C-14: those that have NOT had saddlebags fall but in fact cannot be removed.

Do you have a reccomendation on the proper viscocity of the lube used on the saddlebag pins? Will using synthetic lube on the saddle bag pins reduce the pin's start- up noise? How often should we change the oil in our saddle bag pins?

    

Just FYI, be sure to lube that little detent ball with some silicon spray.  They have a nasty habit if collecting moisture and sticking, freezing up, or rusting inside.  Better if you can find some all stainless ones (including the detent ball spring), though that may be tough (marine applications maybe).

If you don't pull the pins very often, you may find it stuck and very difficult to remove one day until you spend some quality time working with it.

[C1xRider]

So now there will be a new class of C-14: those that have NOT had saddlebags fall but in fact cannot be removed.

Do you have a reccomendation on the proper viscocity of the lube used on the saddlebag pins? Will using synthetic lube on the saddle bag pins reduce the pin's start- up noise? How often should we change the oil in our saddle bag pins?

    

Oops, left out the details.  Here you go:

Definitely you MUST use a 0-W7 All Natural Silicon Spray!  None of that artificial stuff!  You should also change the 'oil' (lube) after every ride where they may have been exposed to a humidity level over 3%, or exposed to any dust, or other pollutants expelled by automotive combustion.

Either that, or say 3 "Hail Marry's" to the KIPASS Gods after each and every ride, and all will be fine.   

Thanks for the reminder Brian.   

[curly]

If you drill your final hole the same diameter of the pin you will not have to worry about the pin backing out. I have to tug and rock the pin back and forth when removing mine to get it out. Removing them often to keep the ball detent working is a good idea.