(1)...mounted that way they will scrub all of your paint off down to the metal where the bag contacts. (2)Also, watch the bag that rests or almost rests on your exhaust...
1. Maybe, but the bags, themselves, don't really contact the paint in obvious places. The bag straps do indeed touch the fender supports, but that's okay with me as it only adds to the overall military patina.
2.
Oh yes, I know that very well! The bags I have now are medium size; I originally purchased the identical "jumbo" size bags. Even though the bottom of the right side jumbo bag was 2 or 3 inches above the exhaust pipe, it wasn't enough. Last summer, I was riding home from church and when I got within ~100 yards of pulling into my driveway, I happened to look down and was shocked to see the bag smoking/smoldering. In the short time it took to pull into the driveway, the bag was (literally) ablaze. Thank goodness, I was wearing my thick leather gloves which allowed me to rip the bag off and away from the bike. Somehow, I was able to muster the wherewithall to raise my garage door and rush in and grab a gallon jug of distilled water and extinguish most of the fire. One thing that really surprised me was that no one called the fire department. The size of the fire wasn't huge, but the amount of smoke that filled up my front yard was
incredible.
Amazingly, there was absolutely no permanent damage to the bike. I learned a valuable lesson that day. Thank you Jesus.