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Message started by och on 07/16/18 at 00:04:00

Title: Saddle bags question
Post by och on 07/16/18 at 00:04:00

Right now I have OEM saddle bags installed on my bike, and I don't like them much. They require the straps to go right over the passenger portion of the seat, which makes the seat very uncomfortable for the passenger. I'm looking for a set of good aftermarket saddle bags, but there are so many to chose from. I want something that has good mounting on our bikes, and I think I am leaning towards hard plastic, but open to leather as well.

Please recommend.

Title: Re: Saddle bags question
Post by IslandRoad on 07/16/18 at 02:20:39

You will most likely need to modify some 'standard' brackets, or fabricate your own. There's not much available.

I moved my rear turn signals to the licence plate bracket, removed the side rails, then stretched the OEM saddlebag brackets, so I could mount them using the hole where the turn signals were. Later, I also cut and welded the brackets to bring them closer to the bike. They stick out a long way from the bike as they come.

I bought some Willie & Max saddlebags (small slant bags, you can fit a six-pack in each). I also cut the straps a bit so I could throw them under the rear seat. It worked out well ... they're good bags.

Title: Re: Saddle bags question
Post by batman on 07/16/18 at 15:39:42

Leather,bags are hard to keep water proof and tend to dry an curl over time (their expensive and require a lot of maintenance). I'd run anything but leather.

Title: Re: Saddle bags question
Post by Tocsik on 07/17/18 at 09:47:24

If you're willing to accept them for what they are and maybe reinforce them a bit, I've been happy with my cheap Mutazu bags.

Title: Re: Saddle bags question
Post by stewmills on 07/17/18 at 21:05:24

I have the Viking bags. Pleased with the quality for the price, but note that their universal mounting kit does NOT fit although they try to advertise it does. I had to make my own hard mounts, but I knew that ahead of time. If you can’t fabricate braces, do not buy Viking bags.

Title: Re: Saddle bags question
Post by IslandRoad on 07/18/18 at 04:22:07

2A2D3C2E343035352A590 wrote:

"Universal" ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Saddle bags question
Post by elricfate on 07/18/18 at 12:04:13

I, too, have Viking bags. I, too, utilized their universal brackets. I, on the other hand, drilled one extra hole through my fender to accommodate them, utilizing the rear stem holes for the blinkers I had to relocate (I ended up replacing them at the same time anyways).

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1528753370

Title: Re: Saddle bags question
Post by stewmills on 07/18/18 at 14:31:14

Viking bags

Title: Re: Saddle bags question
Post by stewmills on 07/18/18 at 14:31:46

Back-side of homemade hard mount brackets

Title: Re: Saddle bags question
Post by madmikesmech on 07/24/18 at 11:26:49

Last summer i picked up these leather bags on C.L., I got them cheap, think i paid like $20.
http://https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hO32xihVB68/W1dY0f2H-KI/AAAAAAAATaA/mV_GRk3t6tE-5qSog18445XLmXUbhfdHQCLcBGAs/s320/20180722_153657.jpg
As Batman said, the leather nags get weathered and flimsy, these were not to flimsy, but they were distorted from the way the seller stored them!
So i constructed these simple "stiffeners, from som 1/4" steel tubing.
http://https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xndPAuZzWPQ/W1dY-NuXEgI/AAAAAAAATaE/ozUV-HUAxqEWsaqDKnS6QbtaiV8B3iaUQCLcBGAs/s320/20180722_153549.jpg