Hard bags vs. leather any preference? I got hard bags on my FLH, but like the leather look better.

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Both look equally good.

How about palm frond basket weave?

 

I like my hard bags which are both waterproof and dustproof, not so with the leather bags.

 

Leather will eventually droop, sag,corners lift up unless they are the plastic leather wrapped type.More up keep.Glass bags are great until you scratch them up.Personal preference and depends on bike.

 

A lot also depends on how often you're going to use them. Hard bags are usually left on, leathers are more easily taken off when you don't want them, or to clean the bike, etc. Personally, I got a set of Willie and Max bags, off most of the time and because of that, they were a good buy at about $100.00. If I was going to leave them on permanently, a good set of Boss Bags or other more expensive leather bags would be the ticket for me.

 

I found an older set of HD harness leather bags for my RK. These have been waterproof in the heaviest downpours, plus they are roomier than the hard bags & they look better on my ride than either the hard bags or the current-style leather bags. The only downside I have found is that my bags aren't lockable. Boss Bags or other high-end after-market are similar to the discontinued HD bags I have if you choose this route.

 

Hard bags have more capacity, but get scratched up way too easy and it's something else to worry about having to paint later. I chose Leather bags for the low maintenance, and they give the bike more of an old school appeal.