A big advantage of owning a full "bagger" is revealed in the name itself: the Tour-Pak (fiberglass "bag") mounted on the back of the bike. It's a large piece of luggage that comes in handy, even for the commute to work. It's so easy to drop my bag in there on the way out and then swap the bag for my helmet when I get to work.
After many years and thousands of miles, the metal gave out at the points where the side bolts screw into the bracket (HD Part No. 53801-98). In the photo at left, the right side of the bracket came apart completey while the left side held together with a crack half-way through the tube.
I got a price quote at the dealer in Raleigh and it would have cost me over $90 to replace it, with a second trip to the dealership to actually pick up my order. On eBay, I found a used bracket in good condition for $35 with an additional charge of $14.50 for shipping. For that $14.50, I get the bracket delivered right to my door. (Of course, the risk with buying the used product is I have no idea how many miles are on it, and thus the degree of metail fatigue it may have experienced.)
I'd like to thank my friend and fellow rider Mike Russo, who helped me make a temporary repair on the damaged bracket while it was still on the bike. He drilled holes forward of the cracked points and gave me two additional bolts to hold the bracket on until I could get the new (used) one.
This certainly has been the year of getting to work on my bike in so many places. Next up: the oil pressure gauge and new brake pads up front.
As always, keep the shiny side up!
-The Long Rider