Chrome Strips on Hard-bags, How to Remove/Install?

[danielw]

Hello everyone,

I will be purchasing my first Nomad on Friday and it has some minor damage to the right side hardbag. I'm going to take it off and repaint it but was wondering if any of you have removed the "chrome strips" on the lower part of the hardbag, or if you have any tips that would aid in the removal/installation of them? Picture attached. Thanks everyone!

[cactusjack]

They aren't chrome, they are aluminum and are extremely difficult to remove intact. The last time I checked (a few years ago), they were about $45 per each strip. Most guys remove them and leave them off or use a self-adhesive automotive molding as a replacement.

[danielw]

Thanks cactusjack, I really appreciate the feedback. Didn't know they were that expensive, I'll have to weigh my options I suppose.

If anyone has removed them and replaced them with a different molding could you please chime in?

[Top Cat]

Just removing them and painting the bags looks good also.
There are indentations or grooves under the strips so you still see a line pattern.

[pjn426]

Soak strips a day or 2 with WD40 to loosen adhesive. Then use fish line or thin wire to carefully cut behind each strip working from one end to the other using a sawing motion. Go slow and be careful not to bend the strip (they're quite thin). Once removed, use WD40 to clean remaining adhesive from bag and back of strip. Reattach using piece of clear exterior double sided tape from Home Depot cut to match back of strip. Did this to my 2004 a couple years ago and it worked out fine. If you mess up, you have options already provided by other members.

[smokey]

Originally Posted by pjn426

Soak strips a day or 2 with WD40 to loosen adhesive. Then use fish line or thin wire to carefully cut behind each strip working from one end to the other using a sawing motion. Go slow and be careful not to bend the strip (they're quite thin). Once removed, use WD40 to clean remaining adhesive from bag and back of strip. Reattach using piece of clear exterior double sided tape from Home Depot cut to match back of strip. Did this to my 2004 a couple years ago and it worked out fine. If you mess up, you have options already provided by other members.

Don't forget to clean all the wd40 residue off though with alcohol swabs as the new strip will not stick and the glue strip will be useless if it gets any residue on it.

[danielw]

Thanks for the feedback guys, I'm going to give that a shot. Hopefully I can work them off without too much trouble! Appreciated!

[ringadingh]

Those strips are fragile and extrememly easy to damage. pjn426 offered the best choice for trying to salvage them. Good luck.

[xlock]

Wouldn't masking the strips with masking tape and carefully cutting the edges with an x-acto knife be easier? I did that on some fragile emblems on a vehicle once and it worked great. Even easier since there is a recess all the way around the strips. Those things are crazy fragile and easy to tweak...

[Netnorske]

Some guys have removed the strips, filled in the recesses, then painted the saddlebags leaving a solid/smooth finish over the entire bag....!

[ringadingh]

Originally Posted by xlock

Wouldn't masking the strips with masking tape and carefully cutting the edges with an x-acto knife be easier? I did that on some fragile emblems on a vehicle once and it worked great. Even easier since there is a recess all the way around the strips. Those things are crazy fragile and easy to tweak...

Thats what the painter did on my bags, it was a lot of work getting all the tape off when I got the doors back, but it turned out good.

[danielw]

I think I may go the taping it off route actually, after finally getting my bike and seeing the bags up close, looks like that would be less of a hassle. Thanks for the tips on how to do so!