Installed a backrest and rear luggage rack on Honda VLX but...

[Gidney N Cloyd]

I had to leave off the saddlebag support bars because the 4 mounting bolts weren't long enough to go through
the bars


+ the backrest supports


and screw securely into the bike's side brackets.

I don't actually have saddlebags now but was planning on getting those soon. I'm guessing hard-sided bags would pose the same problem for the too-short bolts.
Does anyone know if it's hard to find longer (chrome) bolts for something like this? I'm thinking at least size 8x70mm. And would longer bolts cause any problems?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

1. Looks good. Do the bags fasten to the racks?

or do the racks just keep the bags from hitting the wheel?

Oh, yeah, bolts:
http://www.boltdepot.com/product.aspx?cc=25&cs=199&cm=77&cd=1607

:hi:

[Gidney N Cloyd]

2. Great link. Thanks.

Looks like soft sided bags would fasten to the racks but just to keep them from flopping around.
The more I think about it, the parts bolted to the bike that *do* bear some weight are the ones closest to the frame so maybe longer bolts wouldn't be an issue.