I noticed on the CTX1300, same as on my ST1100, that the saddlebag shell halves can tend to allow loose stuff to fall into the gap between them at the bottom. This can cause a problem with stuff jamming or getting pinched between the shell halves and possibly breaking the hinges on the saddlebag for either bike when closing the bags, especially if it was a hard item. This was something I was always watching for on my ST as well. I never got around to fixing this on the ST but decided to do something to fix it on the CTX.
I had some tub liner material on hand that I used to make some vinyl/rubber washers on a bracket I made for my GW long ago. I also used it on the ST for an insulation cover in the glove box over my fuse panel so I could still use the top half of the glove box. Regular rubber washers were too thick and vinyl only ones were not right either. This stuff is durable and had just the right properties for that project and many other projects over the years. I wanted something weather proof for this project and this stuff is just what I needed. I had originally bought the minimum, 1 ft x 3 ft long from Lowe's or HD back then and now, after this application, only have about a 1 ft square piece left. I cut the strip to length to cover the flat bottom of the saddlebag. Then cut that in half lengthwise. The strip I had was JUST wide enough so if I cut it in half lengthwise it would work for both saddlebags. Someday I might stick them down on the bottom of the inner shell but for now they are just loose in the bottom. Seems to work rather well.
Here is one finished strip:
And here is that strip in the bottom of the saddlebag with a bunch of loose stuff; bungee cords, cargo net, some clean rags, and some other stuff:
I put it in printed side down because of the curl in the material to keep if from rolling up when there is nothing to hold it down. Oh, and yes, those are cut as simple rectangles. No fancy following of complex shapes there. Yet, they fit rather well I thought.
Now all that loose stuff stays out of the the gap at the hinge.
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I had some tub liner material on hand that I used to make some vinyl/rubber washers on a bracket I made for my GW long ago. I also used it on the ST for an insulation cover in the glove box over my fuse panel so I could still use the top half of the glove box. Regular rubber washers were too thick and vinyl only ones were not right either. This stuff is durable and had just the right properties for that project and many other projects over the years. I wanted something weather proof for this project and this stuff is just what I needed. I had originally bought the minimum, 1 ft x 3 ft long from Lowe's or HD back then and now, after this application, only have about a 1 ft square piece left. I cut the strip to length to cover the flat bottom of the saddlebag. Then cut that in half lengthwise. The strip I had was JUST wide enough so if I cut it in half lengthwise it would work for both saddlebags. Someday I might stick them down on the bottom of the inner shell but for now they are just loose in the bottom. Seems to work rather well.
Here is one finished strip:
And here is that strip in the bottom of the saddlebag with a bunch of loose stuff; bungee cords, cargo net, some clean rags, and some other stuff:
I put it in printed side down because of the curl in the material to keep if from rolling up when there is nothing to hold it down. Oh, and yes, those are cut as simple rectangles. No fancy following of complex shapes there. Yet, they fit rather well I thought.
Now all that loose stuff stays out of the the gap at the hinge.
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