Once in a great while, I am asked to be part of a group in a parade. Luckily, my wife rides with me a majority of the time and she holds the flag. I have been looking at the bike these cold days and debating on making a holder to go on the saddlebag rails. I just cannot see spending $100s of dollars for a holder that I might use once a year. Two questions come to mind (1) will the saddlebag rails hold up to a 3X5 flag only going under 15MPH during a parade and (2) has anyone built one that can provide me some pictures for ideas. I have a few of my own but I figure why re-invent the wheel.

I am still on the fence about doing this but if I do, I want to make the mount removable so if you have any ideas, please share them.

If many say the rails will not hold up then I plan on saving the money and buying a rear flag mount but figured why not see if I could make one myself.

Thanks in advance.

 

My bike spends a great deal of time with a 3x5 flag on it as I am a Ride Captain for the Patriot Guard Riders. I definitely would not depend on the saddlebag rails to support a large flag at any speed. Even going slow, that is a lot of surface area and a little windy condition can make it all the worse. I have a reciever trailer hitch, and I use a Rivco pole socket bolted to my coupler. Also have a secondary support going to the support rails for the tail trunk. Don't risk damage to your bike and disrespecting our flag by taking a chance of having it fly off. I know the Rivco flag support setup is pricey, but the idea of not damaging your bike and keeping the flag flying where it belongs is worth it in my opinion.

 

Agreed. I have the rivco too. I have seen entirely too many flags fall off bikes or come loose and drag in the dirt. It's bad at so many levels.

 

Thanks. Like I said it was just an idea in my head but it has not gotten out of there and now I doubt it will. Maybe if I save my beer cans and turn them in for scrap, I can pay for a Rivco holder.

 

I agree, but I want that flag holder so bad! I'm saving my money and will do it the right way.
May I ask you a question? Even with the Rivco, I see riders at slower speeds, but at highway speeds what do you do? Is there a cover I can purchase to ride at highway speeds or do you have a telescoping pole and stow in your saddlebags?

 

I saw this one at Rolling Thunder last year but don't know who made it. Several guys that were apparently riding together had this mount:

 

JohnTM,

I have seen the telescoping ones but the first warning on them says not for highway speed. I rode once with a guy that had one and it snapped at about 20MPH. As for me, I am part of the American Legion Riders and we have a support truck haul the flags to/from the parade routes.

LowcountryJoe,

That looks close to the Rivco mount but more like a locally produced one. I did find a metal fabricator here in our town that can and has made many mounts. I did not know he existed but asked around some. He prices are far cheaper than Rivco so I won't have to drink as much beer. Maybe ask around and see if there is one in your area that can make you one. That is my new plan but until then, guess the wife will be holding a flag for parades.

 

I ride with the PGR and have two different flag mounts for a 3x5 and one I made for the smaller flags that are on my bike all the time. One of the things that guys in our PGR Group do if they don't want to build a flag mount is take whatever pole(our PGR flags are all on PVC poles) and get a rubber cap like what is on the bottom of canes put it on the bottom of the pole and set it on the bolt at the back of the seat then bungee the upper shaft to your tourpak rack. We have done this and run down the road at 50 mph and they stay. and to the guy that asked about something to cover the flag for running down the highway go to cabela's or wherever and get a gun sock they slide right over a rolled up flag.