Good metal bracket ideas wanted to mount 'Andy Strapz' bags
 

Picked up a cheap 2nd hand set today as I'm v keen to try soft bags for my next trip after lugging way too much stuff on my last one. I've got a DR650 now and I hear a lot of guys make up a metal bracket to stop the bags wearing or sitting on hot bits. If it's possible to wear a hole in them over 100kms of dirt riding when they're touching something like an exposed bolt, I think some careful planning will be required. Does anyone have any decent pics of how they have mounted theirs?

Saw these which actually might do the job:

eBay Motors: DR650 Side Luggage Racks, Rear Plastic Guards, DR 650 (item 170199853739 end time Mar-17-08 10:04:39 PDT)

I know there will be a few compromises in using soft bags over hard luggage. You can mount the straps (the ones between the bags) under the seat but how does this work in practice given you need to remove the side panels to get the seat off?? It might prevent some git lifting the bags from your bike but I suspect it could become a royal pain in the @ss every time you want to take the bags off.

Anyway, they're slightly lighter than my Jesse boxes so will do for now...I'm also thinking about fitting a lockable ammo box somewhere on the bike for things I'd rather not have nicked. My toolkit which recently mysteriously vanished for one!

Don't bother with puting the straps under the seat! A bit of luggage over the top of the straps and it won't be a bother. A theat will just cut the straps ...

A simple bar from the pillion peg back to the rear - using the rear of those handles suz put on teh bike - run down (and out for teh exhasust side) would stop them going directly onto the bike. YOu could make them reallly strong .. if they bend they'll be hard to bend back .. or soft and they bend easily if you fall on them .. but it will be easy to bend tehm back out .. your choice.

I've done a few thousand k of mostly dirt with the expedition panniers and an Abag with no extra brackets at all. that being said, becasue I'm taking a desert trip and need to carry fuel, I've bought some turbocity Denali racks.

Try the DR650 thread in Advrider

I have some AS panniers, with linerz and surrounding the linerz use Pacsafe 55 backpack protectors. That way a slash and grab type thief won't be able to get to your belongings or remove the bags. And I carry a saddlery knee and thread in case i have to sew any straps or bags back together.
I feel my goods are pretty secure now.

Yeah, I actually just tried out a Pacsafe 55 in a camping shop earlier today on my AS panniers and they fit quite well so think I will be getting a pair of them- though probably not from Australia as they cost around $100 each here!