The hunt for saddle bags

 I had Leatherlyke Contemporary hard bags on my previous bike, but
dislike the way they looked: like large wash buckets. I couldn't argue
the utility of those bags they could easly hold 2 gallons of milk plus
one bag. I easily fit a change of business clothes and shoes in one
bag.

So being without anything than medium sized thropwover bags on my new
bike, I started the hunt for new bags.

In the past I thought I wanted form-fit hard bags ala Corbin Beetle
bags, but when I looked at pix of bikes with those bags on this time
around, they looked more like scooters from the back since the Corbins
hug right next to the bike. And at $1500, fughet 'bout it, though the
custom coloring part is nice.

I looked at the many off-shore makes of hardbags that sell from $115-
$300/set and also at the ones that sell for $500/set that will custom
paint for another $350, but they didn't seem to be much higher quality
than the $115 bags.

I then looked at 10oz leather rigid bags that bolt on and those that
throw over. There's some nice stuff out there in the $200 range that
are US-made and are 18" long, 12" high, 7" deep. But my current
throwovers are 14"Lx12"Hx7"D and making them 4" longer wasn't going to
add a lot of storage space.

I looked at purchasing used bags with chrome carriers made for other
bikes and thought maybe I could get a custom bracket made for my bike,
but with the dual pips on my bike, I'd have to re-do the exhaust to
get room to bolt to the frame. No thanks.

So back to LL... as I said, I couldn't argue their utility and ease of
use. This time, though, I went with the touring bags (studs/conchos)
that are shaped a little different and don't look like buckets. I saw
pix of them on my exact bike - same color - and they looked pretty
darn good.

Greg

 
A Harley Road King comes WITH saddlebags....

(Walks away, whistling innocently...)

 On Sat, 24 May 2008 23:29:26 -0700 (PDT), "tomorrow@erols.com"


They look great on a rollback or in the back of a pickup.  I've heard you can
ride them for short distances between engine rebuilds.

(Walks away, whistling innocently...)

--
Jack

 

But 800,000 of 'em made it to Washington today, somehow.  ;)

 

Damn, I just put 2000 kms on mine over the past three days and it
purred like a kitten.

* Scratches head wondering if I have to book it into the shop for a
rebuild *
  

--
See Ya On The Road


2000 Yamaha Venture Millennium
2004 HD Road King