steveb leatherworks: the blather

So, I am looking to develop a few items that are easy to bolt-on and change up from the o-so-popular modern FL series, the goal of which is to help make the ride more distinctive. Since i have an 08 StreetGlide, I have a vested interest in coming up with a few bits and pieces.  I bought an Anniv. paint job and don’t want to change its appearance, just make it mine, if thats possible.

So the StreetGlide rocks as far as style (ok, ok-one-mans opinion) but it isn’t really set up for long distance hauling like the Ultra is. Well, I do alot of touring (as much as i can squeak in and stay married) and so need to make some accomadations – a big bag on the back is ok, but nothing beats the convenience of a tourpak aka the burrito maker.

 I just didn’t have the heart (or scratch) to burden the shiny penny with a big box all gaudied out with yet more anniversary paint, but wanted something out back to hold my special stuff. I had noticed the smaller leather bound RoadKing tourpak and thought that would fit the bill nicely- which it did. I hunted the sucker on eBay and got all the special docking stuff from my local HD dealer.

Hmm, the docking stuff?  Well – I am kind of new to the whole concept of “detachables” – being a kind of old school “4-bolts-4 nuts” guyl and was in for a rude shock when i finally had the whole modern system of fitment and hardware explained to me by a friend who should have majored in rocket science, he is so smart. So anyway I labored over the part numbers, i got advice, i read FAQ’s, I even asked my dealer and so in the end got it ordered…it was in-stock too, can you believe it…amazing – I should have bought a lottery ticket right there.

So anyway as it turns out,  the HD docking stuff is outright crap, it doesn’t fit right, ya have to bend, twist and basically force the new stuff that is designed for “your specific” application to get it on the bike. Forget taking it off once you’ve accomplished installation, thereby negating the idea that this crapski is “detachable”. I should have known better…ha! Took me an Dan-o two hours pulling and tugging to make this junk fit. Almost felt like I was building a bike myself.,..lol…it was such a sweatfest.

Anyway – back to the Tourpak – it is a great little piece, fits the bike great, holds just the right amount of stuff and it is a kind of unusual piece to see on a StreetGlide. BUT it has some built in cheese, namely the strap conflabulators – which look like pimped out shite-ski from the crap-a-torium, and don’t match the nice, quiet, understated look of the box – so off they came and i replaced them with what you see below. Match these stinkers up with my pimpin’ seat strap and your cookin, with gas.