Score! Krauser K2 42-Liter Hard Saddlebags

[Steve_in_Florida]

It pays to check Craigslist!

I just picked up a set of Krauser 42-Liter saddlebags for my bike this past weekend. A former FJ group member, who sold his `89 a while back, listed them for sale in the middle of December. I just found the ad early last week. He was only about an hour southeast from me, so I gave him a call to see if they were still available. They were, so I took a ride last Thursday evening on my FJ to have a look-see.

They were just as described, and did not include the FJ-specific mounting hardware. After looking at them next to the bike, and pondering, I decided to commit to purchasing them. We settled on a price of $200.00. I gave him half the $$$ at that moment to hold them, then went back on Saturday in my MG Midget with the rest of the funds. I figured I'd spend the day cruising the beach with the top down.

Funny, I underestimated the size of the bags in relation to my car. The passenger footwell is too small to fit one, as is the trunk (spare tire was in the way). I was relegated to stacking them in the passenger seat, obscuring my view of the right-hand rear-view mirror!

I haven't mounted the luggage yet, and it looks like I may have to fabricate some of the parts. All I got were the bags and the racks. No mounting hardware. I found a diagram of what the hardware LOOKS like, and it doesn't appear that it would be too difficult to jerry-rig.

Anyway, just thought I'd share my find with you. The price seemed too good to pass up, especially with the seller being just down the road.

Steve

Oh yeah, after I took possession of the bags, I found that he had also listed them on E-Bay, and that two people had bid on them. If any of *YOU* had bid on them, ...well, SORRY! 

[movenon]

Good score . Mounting hard bags on the FJ lately is more of a DIY project. Lots of information out there to get ideas. I had an BMW RT and when you get some time look into securing the bags tighter or locking onto the frame. Its a rare problem that they would come unlatched from the frame it did happen to me and others.The bag didn't come open, it just skidded down the freeway. So my best friend (my wife) hops off and dodges on coming Las Vegas traffic to retrieve the skidding bag. We laugh about it now but in hind site I would say that God or someone loves us stupid people. I think he just needed a laugh or they were taking bets.. Tough luggage it did minimal damage, none to the wife.... If I run across the information on securing those bags tighter beyond the factory adjustments I will post it for you.
I just bought a set of Nelson Rigg saddle bags off e bay yesterday also ! For 55 bucks I couldn't resist. I took a little rest off motorcycling and most of my old gear was really worn out after riding for many years so I just pitched everything. So now I am retired and scrounging up some new to me stuff. So far I got some AlpineStar Gor tex riding boots, Tourmaster jacket and Nelson Riggs bags for less than 150.00. And all of it in near new condition. I love America )).

[Tiger]

  I picked up a set of black Krauser hard side bags a few years back, from my local bike wreckers...removed them from a Yamaha 920 Virago.

I fab'd up new brackets and ran with them on my XZ550 Vision for a few years. When I got my FJ last summer, I transferred them over...after remaking new brackets once again. I do have a quick release type strap around each bag...but only as a precautionary measure.

My top box is a Givi...which carries our rain gear and a few tools and spare fuses/bulbs, etc.

They have several years and several thousand trouble free miles on them...However, a good friend of mine just happens to have a complete set of 3 Krauser 42Lt bags...in White!!! Given that my '85 FJ is factory 'Silky White' with Red & black stripes, a deal might just be on the cards

The bags and racks do come up on Craig's List, eBay (especially the U K eBay), etc. However, 99% of the time you will have to fab brackets to fit them to your FJ...its not really a big deal 

...welcome to the 'Krauser Club'


John.