You have done a very nice job with the whole bike, Stan. I have several questions about the bags and other mods/items I noticed on the bike. The bags appear to be the Mutazu silver LN series. Did you mount them with a universal bracket set or fabricate your own? The Mutazu website sells a universal bracket and has mounting directions and pictures, but they are unclear to me on one point. They only show one mounting bolt attached from the bag to each bracket, and it is self threading into the bracket. It seems to me that there must be at least two bolts holding the bag to each bracket in order to maintain the geometry and stop fore and aft movement of the bags. It would also need two bolts to stop flexing of the plastic bag wall, leading to rapid fatigue and failure.
Also if you used self threading bolts into the brackets, did you back it with lock washers, nuts, locktite, etc?
Do you find the side opening bags easier to load and access than top opening ones? I think that I would like a set of the Mutazu Ga series that are top opening and an inch thicker than your LN series. I think the black ones would suit the `91 Vulcan`s red and dark maroon paint, but the lighter colored silver bags might be more eye catching in traffic to the sides and rear, and thus become a safety item as well. Unfortunately the GA series does not have any tail/brake lights, which I would like too.
You have removed your OEM rear signal lights. Do you use the red bag lights for signals? I thought later model motorcycles were supposed to have amber colored rear signals now.
Do you use the helmet locks in their new location?
I see you have Kury grips and brake pedal cover. I first learned of the brake cover only yesterday. What are the dimensions?..and did you add it for esthetics or for function? What are your impressions pro or con after riding with and without it? Would you recommend it to another rider?
Your Km style footboards look good too. Some others I`ve seen have the rubber grip coming right out to the edge. Yours rubber grip appears to be glued to a recessed, milled out area with a raised metal lip around the edge, giving a more finished look. Will your boards fold up without hitting the engine case? Hey, the gremlin bell is fun too!
Your black clutch and brake levers suit the bike. I`ve never seen them before. Are they stock or aftermarket?
I like the looks of your windshield for summer riding. What is it? I have a big tombstone shaped shield which is good for cooler weather, but could stand a little more airflow on hot days.
I think the strips of white reflector tape you have covering the bottom half of the toolbox door work well with the red refector already there.
Do you ever forget the sidestand ground plate? I`ve thought if a guy had a nice one, he should have a colorful tether from it tied to the handlebars so he would be reminded to retrieve it when mounting up. I usually end up using a crushed pop can when I need one.
You might want to take a look at the clutch basket cover, and clean off that peeling plastic/clear coat. Just a little bodge on an otherwise great looking bike. I won`t tell anybody about it if you don`t. <G> If your bike is a reflection of your personality, I think you have a good family and lucky friends. Keep the rubber on the road.
