A friend stopped yesterday for a visit and to tighten his drive belt on his 02 Ultra Classic. When we put his saddle bags back on he immediately locked them saying they can fly open hitting a bump? I usually leave one unlocked and the other one locked since it contains my rain gear. I've never had this happen? Anyone had their hard lid pop open while riding?

 

I have only had it happen once on the way home from work. I had just gotten it and did not close it properly. Has not happend agan in 15000 mikes.

 

Mine have popped open twice, (in 25,000 miles) but I am not sure if it could be my fault. I might not have latched it right but I think I did. I always try to keep them locked.

 

It is easy not to get the back hooks in the holes.

I always "wiggle" the back to see if I did get it in the holes. 50% of the time I have to re-do them.

 

Y'all talkin about the whole lid flipping open? I really don't see how that could even happen. Anyway, I'm on my second bagger now and have noticed that the latches themselves will occasionally pop open when the bike is very new, stops happening once the lid weatherstrip breaks in. Less tension on the latch.

 

If the bags are correctly closed the should not fly open.

 

Never had one fly open. Did have the handle pop up once, that was due to my stuffing the bag with clothes. Even then, the lid did not open.

-Bill-

 

I've had it happen 3 times going down the highway about 80- 85. It has always been the right side. I think the spring is getting worn out on the latch mechanisim. All 3 times the bag has been loaded up though. So I always lock them up now. It opened up all the way to where the lid was open like you were loading it.

 

I've had mine fly open a few times due to not hooking the catches properly. They did not fly open from not locking the latches. Locking them will not prevent the lids from flying open if you don't hook the side catches properly.

 

It also depends on the condition of the roads you travel on. I don't think twice about locking mine because i know how insanely crappy the roads are where i live. They keep trying to lay down asphalt on swamp land.