Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories need advice for saddlebag purchase

I am going to be taking a 2500 mile trip in a month or so. I need to purchase a saddlebag/s. I cannot stand the looks of saddlebags on a bike, but I guess I am going to have to bite the buttit and put some on to make the trip. I guess I am looking at something about medium in size. So any idea's folks? What is the best and second best method of mounting em? Also which Corbin seat do you prefer, the Solo or the Gunfighter for comfort? Thanks for the help. Al

Man, if you really don't like saddlebags, don't get saddlebags. Get something that you can stuff your stuff in and will make the 2500 miles go a little easier.
Biker's Friend

Here's a slick alternative. Guy at work pulls one from his Beemer. Personally not my cup of tea.

Uni-Go

Vegas,
If your not going to keep them on, buy a pair of EZBrackets and bolt them to a pair of carry-on bags from Target $15-$20 each. You know the bags, they got wheels and a little pull handle. They are very convenient to use and they don't look any worse than any other bag when mounted.
Enjoy Your Trip SAFELY,
Dennis

...or get a duffle bag and strap it to the back.

Probably the cheapest route for saddle bags would be some honda magna brackets with some river road large zip off bags. The x-large bags are too big for our bikes. The bags can be found on ebay for about $100 and look decent and kept my stuff dry during some decent rain. The only thing I don't like about the bags is the straps on the back, but I'll be replacing them with probably velcro before the next trip.

If you're looking for something you won't use much, or keep on your bike when the trip is over, check on ebay for the cheapest bags that will work and take them off when you're back. Or try these guys http://www.bransonwholesale.com/saddlebags.html

Here's a great solution instead of saddlebags from Wolfman luggage, the Wolfman Beta Rear Bag. It's HUGE AND there's a duffel bag that can be attached to it if you need even more room.

Eric, the owner/designer of Wolfman, came to our RAT meeting last month to show everyone his luggage line. I was really impressed with the quality and design of his bags. I too am not enamored with the look of saddlebags and am currently deciding on a tank bag from Wolfman and if I ever get the chance to go on a "big" ride will probably go with one of his tail bags too.

Check it out

that's some ugly tail bag.

Those rear bags are a dead ringer/ripoff of the Rev Pack Tour Pack made in California by abused women. (A worthy cause to contribute to, and they're about 1/2 the price too). I have one of the RevPack Large Tour Packs and just love it. it goes on/off in seconds and holds a lot of stuff. And never a drip inside even in torrential downpours, like any "sunny" Georgia afternoon ride. Rev Pack Tour Pack

I ordered a set of these a couple of days ago:

http://www.vartex.be/4HT1.htm

They're about the best-looking bags I've seen so far (I'm not a studs kinda guy). Best of all, they are already fitted out with mounting hardware specifically designed for the BA, so no adding backing plates or drilling holes in the bags to mount hardware. They are lockable, and instantly detachable.

I'm supposed to have them next Tuesday, so after I get them I'll post my impressions and, if I can figure out how, a picture.

I had to order them through the U.S. distributor (they're made in Belgium):

Kevin Burke
Dixie International Company
800-848-6476

They were $489, but the hardware is included (usually an extra $150), and they shipped free.

Philip

Vegas,

I would love to have a system for quick take off of the sissy bar and luggage rack. Our rides look their best with a solo saddle, no rack or sissy bar, no saddlebags no pillion and no windscreen. Yet, when ya travel you have to be more concerned with function than ya do with appearance. The EZ bracket system allows quick removal of whatever saddlebags you decide on. If you have corbin saddlery that covers the rear fender's pillion area you almost always have to use a non-yoke type saddlebag. The clearances are just not there for you to have a saddlebag yoke on top of the fender. Do you ride solo? The option mentioned by Phil (bonnyusa) I used last July with saddlebags and sissy bar bag too. If she's going to be dressed for work, oh well!



With a throw over saddlebag system, you have to have saddlebag hangers. Boy does the bike look fugly when the bags are off!

Flowers are a girl’s best friend...

With an EZ bracket system the looks take on a more eloquent dimension with the bags off...

Yet when all is said and done, the saddlebags in conjunction with a sissy-bar bag look OK given the option of a duffel bag. Also if you have a passenger, you can't go with the dufflebag option either.

So chose a baggage system that can be removed easily. that way you can load up, ride to your overnight stop, unload, then ride around in style!


OR you could get some Willy and Max throwover bags and pack like nobby!
Easy now...


Seems like all long haulers always look like this...

I guess the best way, Vegas would be the easy brackets and bags, second best would be saddle bag brackets and bags. You could get a pair of brackets for a Honda Magna for about $40 and a pair of Nylon Tourmaster bags for about $85. This would be cheapest, since the easy brackets alone cost $140 or so. Have a great trip!!

Moe,thanks for all of the pictures. Tells me a lot. I just ordered a Corbin Gunfighter seat. The black bags with the silver studs,what brand and size are those? How are they held on? Thanks for all of the help! Al

Thanks everybody for all of the help, What a great bunch of fellow riders I have become a part of! Al

Those would be the Saddleman Desperado Slant Saddlebags. Jumbo size.

HOWEVER
As Philip alluded to these bags need to be reinforced.

Quote:

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http://www.vartex.be/4HT1.htm

They're (the bags Philip is linking too, NOT the Saddlemans)about the best-looking bags I've seen so far (I'm not a studs kinda guy). Best of all, they are already fitted out with mounting hardware specifically designed for the BA, so no adding backing plates or drilling holes in the bags to mount hardware. They are lockable, and instantly detachable.

---

I got about 5000 miles on my Saddleman Bags before I made a backing plate for them. Dinqua lost a battery with his,

Read this thread.


Saddlebag Backing Plate photo essay...

I use the EZ brackets. The gravel road shot above shows the docking post...

Try LeatherNeck Jim good bags also tells you how to measure for your bike leather neck jim

Sorry try this Link LEATHERNECK JIM

Also look at these cool bags. A friend of mine has them. They are made of hard plastic but look like leather and really solid. I am thinking of getting these since they are also removable. I will check with them which ones can fit our bikes.

http://www.leatherlyke.com

Good luck with Leatherlyke. Hopefully they've become a little more customer-focused. I called them about 4 years ago and they blew me off. Didn't want to talk about Triumphs at all.

If you find some leatherlyke that fit let us know. I would like to get a set if they would make them for our bikes.

I just want to thank everyone for all of their idea's.I will put this decision off until last. Chrome and pipes and other stuff are so much more fun. Seat and pipes are on the way. Al

Jason,

Quote:

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...I have EZ Brackets and Saddleman Jumbo Drifter Saddlebags. Listen to the people who say that the backs of the Saddleman crack, because they do. HOWEVER... a plexiglass backing will remedy this problem. The Saddleman Jumbo Drifter Saddlebag hold A LOT of stuff, they are VERY durable (once you afix the plexiglass), and they are extremely easy to take off.

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How many miles do you have on the plexiglass backings? Did you place them on the inside of the bags or the outside? And how many attachment points did you use? I used four attachment points. Having reinforced the bags three weeks ago, I have yet to use them!

Also do you use the storage area of the saddlebags rear points much? Seems like any stuff I cram in there works its way to the front.