OEM Left Bag Sag

[hoak]

While a trivial aesthetic annoyance; I've noticed my 2014 left OEM pannier sags/lists slightly like the bottom bracket is too close to the bike. I've also noticed this isn't exclusive to my bike, but some do have them nicely and squarely mounted so the tops of both panniers are on the same plane.

I've looked carefully and see nothing that could account for this unless there are spacers absent (dealer installed) or the lower mount needs to be bent. I've tried loosening all the mount fasteners and seeing if there was any way to adjust this by moving things around but got nothing for my effort... Anyone know anything about this?

 

[WJBertrand]

Maybe the lower mount is bent inward? Has the bike ever gone down on that side?


-Jeff

 

[hoak]

Nope, looked this way since I got the bike new from the dealer... And the mounts don't seem particularly bendy -- I was looking at what I'd have to do to get this perfectly plumb and it seems most likely there are spacers missing somewhere, or, the lower bracket just wasn't bent right at the factory... I supposed the bike could have been dropped or hit at the dealer, but there's no evidence of that...

 

[tomatocity]

I have had two sets, 2012 and 2015, and they are both even / square. I installed both sets. Do you have photos mounted and of the installed brackets?

 

[JV]

My left OEM bag was sagging in the front and too close to the muffler on the front lower edge. I found the problem and the solution but it might not be the same as yours. Look at the lower front corner by the red latch. Does yours look like this?

 

[craigd]

My bags were installed by the dealer. The right and left side brackets were switched causing both bags to be too close to the wheel at the bottom. Your problem may be the same, or your dealer may have used two right side brackets instead of a right and a left.

 

[klunsford]

When I had my 2012 S10, the left bag sagged just a bit also. I took it back to the dealer and they messed with it and couldn't make it straight. They also called Yamaha about it and there was not fix at the time. Now my aftermarket panniers don't do it at all. Different mount and more stable on the Bumots.

 

[JV]

Mine was the same as craigd's. Brackets installed on the wrong side. Easy fix.

 

[WJBertrand]

Mine was the same as craigd's. Brackets installed on the wrong side. Easy fix.

Interesting. When I installed my OEM brackets and cases, I accidentally installed the brackets on the wrong sides at first. I discovered my goof when I could not mount the bags at all. The lower front mount and the rectangular block on the top of the bracket rail could not be simultaneously aligned. How the heck did the bags go on with the brackets reversed???

 

[JV]

It was a chore to take off and put on the bags until I discovered what had happened.
When I swapped the bag rails the lower support bracket would not even touch the bag on the left side.
I loosened the nuts and re-positioned the brackets, now all is well.
Lots of clearance now where as before the corner of the bag was actually touching the muffler guard.

 

[hoak]

Wow, thanks for all the replies; I'll take a close look tomorrow... Do you guys mean the top brackets or bottom brackets were on the wrong side?

Both bags come off easy and the slope of the left case is subtle but visible, which does make it look like the bike fell on that side... But even heaving on the bag and the lower mount a little it seems more likely the case would be broken before the mount would bend...

Does anyone know where I might find a PDF or images of left and right mounts? The dealer didn't give me any mounting instructions with the cases...

 

[craigd]

In my case it was the bottom brackets that attach to the passenger footpeg mounts. The two brackets were switched. In the correct setup, the left bracket has more bend or offset from its mounting point and the right one has less. Check to see if they are switched or if both have the same bend. If this isn't clear enough, I can take some pictures and post them tomorrow.

 

[JV]

It was the top brackets on mine that were reversed.
I found the instructions somewhere on line and used this pic as a guide for proper installation.

 

[WJBertrand]

I don't see how the bottom brackets could be reversed.


-Jeff

 

[JV]

Here you go...
http://www.whizmoandgizmo.com/Misc/S10PannierInstall.pdf

 

[hoak]

Thanks again craigd, WJBertrand, and JV! Went down to look at my bike last night before you guys posted again (garage light is terrible) and couldn't discern anything new. Now with PDF in hand (Thanks again JV! Where do you find these? Is there one for installing the OEM heated grips?), I'll get to the bottom of it and set this right.

 

[hoak]

Well, bottom mounts appear to be on correct sides -- still can't see any asymmetry in the top mounts that makes them specific to either side -- which is probably how that gets screwed up...

 

[WJBertrand]

Well, bottom mounts appear to be on correct sides -- still can't see any asymmetry in the top mounts that makes them specific to either side -- which is probably how that gets screwed up...

Yup, but if you look real close you can see that the hanger bar is slightly set back toward the rear relative the mounting points when they're on correctly. It's subtle and once I noticed it, I quickly swapped them after doing it backward the first time. I still can't see how the bags would mount at all with the brackets on the wrong sides. Attempting to mount the first bag is how I noticed my error.

 

[hoak]

Hoaky Dokey, I got a close look, and now I do see what you mean WJ; the way my top mounts are now have the front of the bags closer to the bike the the back -- is this backwards? Also, if it is, looks like I'm gonna need a Torx bit size I don't have, and I remember seeing it on this forum but can't find it now...

 

[WJBertrand]

If you look at this photo, notice how the rear part of the hanger bar is more rear-set from the mounting bolt compared to the forward location on the front part of the bar and the forward mounting bolt. You'll need a Torx T50 security bit if you're going to take it apart. I found one at Lowes.

-Jeff