The Atomic Shovel Goes to Utah: Bike Prep – Saddlebags

Posted byKaran AndreaPosted inUncategorized

Prepping the Atomic Shovel for a 5,000 mile trip to Utah. Even with a rebuilt motor, I am taking tools. When I traveled on this bike in 2019, tool storage in the bubble bags was quite the challenge. They are a funky shape, and I hated that the tool rolls were bouncing around in the bottom of the bags, which are somewhat fragile. Worse yet, when I did have to work on the bike, I would have to unpack BOTH bags to get at all the tools I needed.
There had to be a better way…. Tonight I just finished a set of tool storage inserts for the bubble bags. My first run at this idea was with the leather bags on my ’73. That worked out pretty well, but I found what I think are some better strategies for securing the tools, so I tried them out on the Atomic bags.
I will have 5,000 miles to learn whether or not they really work.

Tool holders from basic cutout to final installation in the bubble bags.

Published by Karan Andrea

I ride motorcycles, I live motorcycles, and I write about motorcycles. Both of my blogs are written for motorcyclists: atomicshovel.blog tells the never-ending story of my 1974 Harley-Davidson FLH, which I have named the Atomic Shovel. My other blog coachk.home.blog is written for riders of all skill levels, but is primarily aimed toward the rider who is transitioning from the riding range where they learned basic skills, to the open road. This blog address the most common questions I see in the online groups and forums: dealing with anxiety - yes, that is the number one question, navigating traffic, parking, holding your bike on an incline, just to mention a few. Much of what I write is simply drawn from my own experiences - successes, failures, do-overs. Nothing in either blog should be construed as the absolute one and only approach; rather, look at them as a starting point for your own discovery process.

Leave a comment