saddlebags

[Gertbfrobe]

Hey guys, im looking to get some bags for my 1300C. I would like to get bolt on but the Hondaline are just to expensive any suggestions in something with a similar size in the $200 to $300 range that y'all can recommend. I have looked at several sites on the internet and have found a few that i like. Some bolt on and some throw over. I just dont want to get something that wont look good or not fit my bike. Any input or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks
Eric

[Mer]

Just be careful with the throw over saddlebags because the yoke can rub the paint off your fender. I had them on my ACE and when I took the bags off it had rubbed a spot off on both sides of the fender. YIKES!! My H put my bags on his VTX and put a cling vinyl under the yoke. So far so good, but he checks them often just in case. Personally I would go with a bolt on if I had the chance to do it over again.

Good luck!

[Paintman]

Check out Willie & Max. I've got a set, they have a wide variety of styles and sizes.

[VTXcitable Boy]

I've got Willie & Max too. I went to the hardware store and bought stickem felt covering. You can cut it to fit under the center of the bags to protect your paint from rubbing. Works good for me. I also suggest the metal bag brackets that sell seperately.Total cost for bags on sale and brackets was abought 90.00 dollars. I put them on for trips and take them off as well as the seat for around town. I like the solo set up for me. I have a solo leather tailpiece behind the front seat. Goodluck in your search. Greg....P.S. the felt is stuck to the bag, not the Bike. :)

[joekeys]

Try LeatherLyke. I had them on my ACE and now on my VTX

[Gertbfrobe]

Thanks for the help. I will check these out. Hey VTXcitabe will the brackets fit with the Hondaline sissy bar?

Eric

[VTXcitable Boy]

Don't Know. I would visually inspect the hardware at the place of purchase. Take it outside and see if it is compatible. You probably will need to get longer metric bolts to fit it to the bike, and maybe some spacers to make the brackets even. I bet it would work. JMO. You won't see the brackets w/ the bags on anyway. Hope this helps. Greg.....

[vtxrider]

Have you looked into Saddleman bags? My brother has them and they attach to the brackets for the bags

[Gertbfrobe]

The Saddlemen bags i looked at online were nice but it said they would not fit w/ Hondaline sissy bar. I Checked out the Leatherlyke, these bags look sharp and are large, they are a little pricey $495 but dont require any special mounting brackets. Again thanks for all the help guys.

Eric

[GoldenKnight]

I like the quality of these bags from www.motoleather.com better than the following brands that I have examined, handled, and talked to owners of: Ameritec (thinner side walls than I like), Honda (for the price should be thicker leather or reinforced with ABS or something to help retain the shape), Yamaha (same as Honda) and I don't like the mounting kit that must be used with both Honda and Yamaha, Willie & Max (wimpy-thin man-made material), TourMaster (less than desirable quality/appearance to me), K-Drive (thinner than I think a bag should be), Iron Horse (good leather, but not quite up to my liking for saddle bags and I can't locate any ridig mount and don't like a throw-over yoke type to scratch my fender's paint), Saddleman (about the same as K-Drive, and the JUMBO just aren't), and even the LeatherLyke bags that are hard plastic textured to look like leather are just plastic. The closest thing these bags come to based upon their looks (Super Reinforced bags) are BOSS bags. The price of both bags from Motoleather compared to their competition in the same category don't come out on the same quality score. You'll get more for you money at Motoleather. Motoleather bags far surpass the others. My opinion.

I had ordered the Slant Bags from www.Motoleather.com at the same time as I ordered the Super Reinforced bags. They are a very high quality bag. I preferred the classic look of the Super Reinforced bag for the Retro X. This was my next choice. They are great -- thick leather, thick rigid solid back to mount to Ghost Brackets, etc. The photos that Motoleather uses is of my bike with the bags sitting on the muffler as they were not mounted to the bike, so if mounted, they would be mounted a little higher up from the exhaust. The slant of the bag is in perfect angle to the rear suspension and allows enough room between the bag and the rear blinker/turn signal.
Hopefully this will give you some idea of what they look like ON a bike http://store1.yimg.com/I/motorcycle-accessories_1857_71921581 and http://store1.yimg.com/I/motorcycle-accessories_1857_70148431 . These may be the bags you're looking for. They are larger than the other bags that are available and these are a lot more quality, all leather, and MADE IN THE U.S.A. These will carry a lot of stuff and have room left over, but won't look like too much on the bike. They are a perfect match.


Super Reinforced Saddlebags

If you are concerned for your paint finish like I was and didn't want a yoke or throw-over type of bag attachment with the saddlebag brackets to keep the bags out of the wheels, then use GHOST BRACKETS. Ghost Brackets are stronger than Easy Brackets. I have the Ghost Brackets on my '05 Retro X. They are VERY strong (amazingly) and when they are off, you only see a 1/2" nipple that is stainless steel and looks like it belongs on there anyway -- nothing unsightly at all. They also have a new design that is designed just for the VTX and not a 'one size fit's all' so you know you are getting a bracket designed to protect the finish and paint on your bike. The other cool thing is that with the Ghost Brackets, they lock on the bike with a barrel type key and when you want to take them off, all you need to do is unlock them and put the Ghost Bracket carrier between the two bags and carry them like luggage. Ghost Brackets also has a Carry Handle option that lets you attach the bags together and carry them as a large bag if you are on a road trip and you need to take you bags into your hotel room, for example. This feature is VERY helpful and convenient.


I am more than satisfied with the quality of these bags from Motoleather. The quality of service from them (Mike) has been no less than superior when it comes to customer service. Their bags are so very well made, strong, tough, etc. Think of it this way. You'll pay a little more, but the quality is a LOT more than a less quality bag and these bags will last you. My bags (Super Reinforced) are the same quality of the BOSS brand bags at less than 1/2 the price that BOSS wants. The bags from Motoleather are MADE IN THE U.S.A. -- quality and it matters. They come standard with the rear outside pocket for a cell phone, garage door opener, keys, small camera, misc. small tools, etc.

The Super Reinforced bags also have quick-detach hidden buckles under the leather straps and you don't have to use the chrome buckle that you see; however, the chrome buckles that you see are also functional should you 'over pack' the bag and need to adjust the tension on the quick-detach buckles. The Super Reinforced bags are also lockable by placing a lock between the two chrome "D" rings on the strap. These features are not standard or available on the slant bags. Also, there is a small back pocket on the Super Reinforced bags that will allow you to hold small items (cell phone, e-trex sized GPS, cigarettes & lighter if you're a smoker, garage door opener, small tools, a rag, glasses, etc.). I also like the conchos in addition to the rivets.

The Super Reinforced bags have 4 "D" rings on the top of each bag to tie down other items (rain coat or gear, 1-man tent if you're camping too, one of those fold-up chairs (one each side), etc.). The top of the bags are very secure to keep out the elements from the way they are constructed and the lid fits overlapping the sides. The lid on the slants are great also, but don't fit as tight/precise due to the shape of the bag. It is not sub-standard by any means, but is just better on the Super Reinforced bag in my opinion. I think the slant bags fit amazingly for the angle of our rear shocks/suspension and the rear fender mounted blinkers.



Best of luck to you in your quest. I am more than thrilled with the bags from Motoleather and the Ghost Brackets -- all were purchased at www.motoleather.com. If I had all the money in the world and the choice of any set up, I would go with the same one that I have now -- Motoleather and Ghost Brackets. By the way, if you look for the Ghost Brackets, you'll find that Motoleather sells them cheaper than getting them from Ghost Brackets themselves. When I called they said that they let their vendors (like Motoleather) sell them for less so they have vendors. If they (Ghost Brackets) sold their own product for less than their vendors, they wouldn't have any vendors. Makes sense. Get 'em all from Motoleather.

[JohnNC]

Great info. I have 2006 VTX 1300S I'm getting road ready. I think these Bolt-on's actually have the room for a laptop without looking too big. Will give Motoleather a shout. Thanks.

[VTXcitable Boy]

You go bigboy, Good post! You did your homework. I bow to your informational apptitude. All blessings Greg....

[Gertbfrobe]

Thanks for the help Goldenknight. Tons of info. I will check motoleather out.

Eric

[Gaboy]

Eric,
i purchased the Saddleman throw bags from cruiser Customizing for under 2 bills and also the bolt on holders. I'm vert happy.
You can customize the Cruiser Customizing sign in screen to your bike and then the parts will tir to your bike model.



Hal

[Gertbfrobe]

Again guys thanks for all the info. I guess I have some homework to do.

Eric

[thepathfinder22]

If you have the Hondaline tall sissy bar many of the brackets will not work. The deluxe has slots in them, so the brackets will fit. Unfortunately I have the tall sissy bar. Therefore I have the honda bags. They sure are proud of those bags.

[Gertbfrobe]

Amen to that pathfinder. I have the deluxe bar and have found some brackets that will match up with them. I think I may go with the bags from motoleather. Just gotta wait for Christmass now, its killing me.

Eric

[mfmaloney]

I had an oversized pair of Willie & Max that I took off my Shadow. I found out the hard way that the VTX pipes are higher. Burnt a hole in the bag, singed the towel I had in it and melted a hole in my glove (also in the bag). I put on a set of River Road bags and nearly did the same thing. I had to put plywood in the bottom of the bag and screw up into it to keep the bottom of the synthetic bag from hitting the pipes. I also have the bags zip-stripped to the Hondaline brackets. This seems to be working so far. If the pipes were lower, it would help.

[dande]

The bags that I just bought are the All American slant bags which can be seen at this site; http://www.cyclestuffusa.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=11652

So far I think that they look good and you can see them under my pics, which I just added, here on our forum in my photo gallery. Time will tell as to how well they will hold up and look after a couple of years.

Dale

[D`Argo]

The bags that I just bought are the All American slant bags which can be seen at this site; http://www.cyclestuffusa.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=11652

So far I think that they look good and you can see them under my pics, which I just added, here on our forum in my photo gallery. Time will tell as to how well they will hold up and look after a couple of years.

Dale

How are the bags mounted on your bike? I couldn't tell from the pictures.

Charlie

[dande]

Right now they're throwovers, with 3 quick release buckles, but next spring I hope to have easy brackets for them.

[matrX]

New to the board but not the X. I got the River Road, large throwover bags ($130), and cut the yoke off. I made a piece of 1/4" plexi to fit the inside back of the bag, makes it sturdy. I then hard mounted my bags to my bag supports. I drilled two holes large enough to take the fender bolts. This way I can remove my bags by taking out 2 bolts. Takes about 5 minutes to take them off and put them on. Got the plexi idea on VTXOA board. Works great, cheap mod, just what I wanted. Saved a little scratch to get more chrommmmmme!

[Toadman]

Imho, I think I'll overstuff backpacks/bar toolbag before doing that to my C.

[dirtdobber]

I used a tail trunk for a while that I connected to my luggage rack/sissy bar and still use it at times when on longer trips. There are many available and you can get good deals if you look around. some are very large. What I like about them is I just undo the bunggie cords that are made into the bottom of the bag and take it with me.

[Awful Knawful]

Leatherlykes can also be removed easily, leaving only 2 bolts on each side of the fender rails. The bolts are roughly 1-1/4" long, are aluminum, and don't look bad at all.

Leatherlykes are durable and roomy. They don't cost an arm and a leg, only 2 fingers and a toe.

[roadhag]

Question.....company by the name of American Eagle Leatherworks on display at the bike rally here this week....good (very good) looking bags but on the pricey side...any info/feedback out there on this line/company???