Just got the Suzuki brand bags on the bike a couple months ago, and noticed the other day the straps are starting to crack where they go through the buckles.  Apparantly the fake leather doesn't like being used in cold weather, go figure!  Does anyone know a way to at the very least keep them from getting worse?  Or should I use them til they self destruct and get something better?
Thanks!

ALfromN.H.  FSO wrote on 03/27/09 at 02:46:40:

Yeah, that's what I was thinking about doing.  Wish I hadn't thrown my old boots away!  The uppers woulda worked great, after some dye or something to match the color.  Heck, the brown woulda probably looked good, if done right.

  Should take them back to dealer and ask what the repair kit for them cost.

Run to Wal-Mart, go to the kids section and find the Belt display.  

  Should be some belts there to cut to length....

my 06 came with the oem bags one cracked at the flap fold..
took them back to the dealer got a credit a with a lil xtra $ got a set of river road slants love em!!
they arnt real leather but have held up for 3 winters so far...winter is over right??

thumperclone wrote on 03/27/09 at 07:52:05:

Winter's kinda hit and miss around here, not that I'm complaining!  I've been able to ride at least a handfull of times every month so far this winter, if you don't mind the chance of getting wet.
Trying to get credit out of them sounds promising, I've been eyeballing a tach that was mentioned on another thread, and they carry it, about the same price.  Then go down to CycleGear for another set of bags, they're cheaper than the stealership (isn't everyone?).  Was just down there yesterday, and they have the usual RiverRoad (like the hidden quick release feature on the straps!), plus a slick set of nylon ones with reflective stuff built in.  Decisions, decisions  , you all are overloading my poor noggin with so many good ideas!  Looks to be rainy for a while, so a good time to yank em off and do SOMETHING with em.

Well, finally got 'em taken care of; remains to be seen how long my repair will last.  Unfortunately, no store credit or anything of the like, which is why I don't buy most things at the stealership, don't much care to keep the customer happy.

Anyway, here was my solution: take some light and medium weight leather scraps, and cut to approx. the same width and length as the straps.  Glue them down to hold them still, thin on the back, medium on the front.  Stitch the buggers down with my handy $4.95 Harbor Freight Speedy Stitcher Awl, and trim to fit, and repunch the holes.  The color doesn't look that bad I don't think.  But then I'm more worried about function than form anyway.  Here's some pics!

Here's a easy way to stitch leather, get a regular fork, sharpen the tines and pound the fork through the leather. It gives great holes all ready spaced to stitch up the leather with. Just don't use the wife's good silverware or do the hammering on the kitchen table. For some reason the old ball an chain gets real upset if you do.