how careful do you have to be about saddlebags interfering with rear shocks?

[strang]

Am welding up a saddlebag bracket this weekend and want to use a canvas army shoulder bag.
If the canvas bag rests partially on the rear shock, will this interfere with it's proper working?

 

[Tim]

Not likely. Worry about anything getting caught up in the wheel. The shock doesn't move that much. Even worst case if a steel buckle got wedged in the spring, the spring would still compress etc.

Post pics! And consider some reinforcement inside the bags - stiff panel on the side facing the bike to hold its shape and perhaps mount to your brackets.