Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Yet Another Saddlebag Thread (YAST)

So...

I'm hunting for brown or tan saddlebags that will fit the SM...hopefully using Easy/Ghost brackets.

Any recommendations?

I have checked out Chilhowee...nice stuff...and am awaiting a response to some questions I had.

Thanks,

Brad

How much are you willing to spend? (Leather bags, or synthetic leather?)

For real leather, check here, Leatherneck Jim's ,

or here Fox Creek Leather .

For life of the biker warranty with no fuss or maintenance, try here Willie and Max .

I've never shied away from maintaining leather goods, as in boots and belts (Mink Oil, Neet's foot oil, etc.), but it depends on what you are after and how you intend to use these bags. You can invest a lot of $$$ into them, but some will take care of YOU better than others.

Holy cow! Thanks!

That'll keep me busy for awhile checking these out...nice stuff!

Looking for opinions on these two bags from W&M:

(sorry, have to cut & paste the addresses)

>>http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/MrBailey/blue_SM.JPG

>>http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/MrBailey/tan_SM.JPG

Hi Brad,
I like the leather too, but to buy the tan/brown bags costs a fortune - like $800 and up. If I am going to spend that kind of money, I am thinking about these: $500 Plastic Bags

WAIT! Blackwind is right!!! LeatherNeck Jims has tan available and these huge ones are only $500.

I got these brown 'retro' saddlebags from Carolina Leatherworks. They are $319. They seem to be holding up well, work fine with easy brackets, I did stiffen up the inner panel as a precaution and to lessen the strain on the attchment points. The leather is fairly stiff. They mistakenly mailed a similar model in a shiney black. I nearly kept them instead.

http://www.carolinaleatherworks.com/browleatwits.html

Good Luck. I photos on a CD, but they need to be re-sized.

Skillet,

The bags at W&M don't appear to be that expensive:

The small, slant two-tone tan are about $115

http://www.buywillieandmax.com/pd_sb900_coffee.cfm

The big are about $140.

http://www.buywillieandmax.com/pd_sb902_coffee.cfm

Throw in another $150 for the Easy Bracket.

I like the blue...if it matches close enough to the Neon Blue on my SM.

Best ones for the value are Givi hard bags. I used Easybracket with them. Check twistedthrottle.com for Givi bags E21.

Click on <<PIx>> below to see more pictures.

ImOK,
I love everything Givi makes. Looks good on your bike.

Use the easy brackets, they're a better design.

I've settled on these: W&M Touring Saddlebag

I haven't ordered the EasyBrackets yet, so I haven't mounted them. (Actually they're still in the unopened box waiting to be wrapped for Christmas.) I've looked at a ton of pictures this past few weeks, and was looking for a "slimmer look" from the rear of the bike, while wanting as deep a bag as I could find.

I'll know more after I get them mounted. If I like the way these work out - I might get the real leather deal another day. Leatherneck Jim's did have some nice bags of a similar size, as does FoxCreekLeather - just for a whole lot more $$$$.

I may learn, too, that bigger is better, and get a fat, long bag next time around. Live and learn. I figure if I need a lot of room I'm going to be using a rack and trunk bag anyway.

has anyone used these xl slant w & m on their red/blck speedy? looks like a pretty good match as far as paint goes.

also, i don't see anywhere if these have the hidden quick release straps to open them???

any help appreciated...

cat red blk w 7 m

these are pretty cool, too: trunk

cat,

W&M have this posted for their bags:

-15 Custom Color Panel Options.

-2 Styles and Sizes of our Popular Slant Saddlebags.

-2 Styles of our Tool Pouch, Sissy Bar Bag and Max-Pax Tour Trunk.
We have included our new QUICK RELEASE zippered yoke system, QUICK RELEASE LOCKABLE buckles and REMOVABLE carry handles. Our Sissy Bar Bags & Tour Trunks now come with QUICK RELEASE LOCKABLE buckles and convenient CARRY handles. Our colors are portrayed as accurately as possible. Due to light, monitor settings, web browser and a host of other issues, the colors on this site may not match the actual material. A swatch book is available to aid you in your color matching decision.

My guess is that the bags have it...it's just not visible.

Hey, I like those!!...but wouldn't want throw over type as they scuff the paint over time. Is there a hard mount set?..didn't see them if there was.
If you actually see them in the flesh...let me know what you think of them

Just an update:

I emailed W&M asking for a sample of their dark blue leather to match against my SM...they sent a small swatch booklet of all the color leathers. Pretty darn nice.

So...email them your address if interested in their color bags.

Cat...if that doesn't work for you...PM me your address and I'll send you the red swatch.

brad,

thanks for the info. i sent them an email for their color swatches. i also see they do have the quick buckles. boy, i need to read closer. it's getting close to xmas and i'm beginning to feel the pressure.

thanks,
cat

My pleasure, cat.

I'll probably order my bags (and Easy Brackets) next week.

Hi Brad, thanks for the info...I'll shoot them an e-mail

I am thinking that I really like the K-Drive bags that Brent has on his site. They look good, are large and come with a removable bracket system. They cost a few bucks, but are very nice.

Soren

The K-Drive's were originally my first choice, but I thought the W&M in color would be a little unique.

If I don't like them, I'll take the dollar hit and get the K-Drives.

Brad, give me an update when you get the W&M bags on what you think of them. I just got a price on the K-Drive bags here in Ontario...$630 Canadian!!...man o man
Thinking I may not go this route now.

Thanks

Brad or Cat...did either of you guys end up getting the coloured W&M bags to match your paint scheme? I got their swatches & the red is pretty close!
Just curious, as I'm thinking about going this route.

Sorry...I've been lazy.

The dark blue is too dark and the light blue is too light, in comparison to the Triumph Neon blue.

The dark blue should be okay since it wouldn't be smack up against the tank...visually, the colors would be close.

I haven't ordered yet because now I like W&M's dark brown. So I don't know if I want to do the brown or the blue.

I'll probably decide in the next week or two and place the order...no big hurry since it's winter.

Brad

rich,

not yet. i'm kind of waiting for someone else to jump first. i haven't taken the swatches out to the garage yet, but it looks pretty close.

cat

Cat, I found the colour to be pretty close...I'll let you guys know if I end up getting them.