My Muffler Keeps Eating my Saddlebags
 

I have a Nomadic Rack setup with Fieldsheer Saddle Bags, Ive done a few camping trips, but find my KLX exhaust has a sneaky appetite for saddlebags. I've looked a a few ways of preventing the bag from hitting the exhaust, but its a mix if securing the bag tight, but not having to so tight it rubs.

Before I go down the path of fabricating something, I was going to see what other people are using to keep saddle bags off the exhaust. I know Dirt Bagz has a rack, but it seems an expensive alternative. I have a nice set of ortleibs that i refuse to mount until I get a better saddlebag setup.

Sorry I dont have pics, but if you've ever tried to mount saddle bags, even with the Nomadic Rack, you know what im dealing with.

Thanks!

Edit: Its a Nomadic Rack that I have (now corrected)

Try some silcone gas hose around the muffler secured with a jubilee clip. Works well at keeping the side panels off the muffler. Put a couple in place, could be enough to keep the saddlebags off.

Attachment 16268

You could also sew some of that heat reflective material on the back side of the bags plus the use of WestOz's technique might be the winner.

Obvious question, but I'm assuming that silicone gas hosing doesn't melt?

They make oven mitts out of silicone that are good up to 500°. That host should be fine on the muffler. Not so much on the header pipe...