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Has any of my fellow heritage riders removed any of the black stud/rivet things from the seats/saddlebags/tank bib? ive been debating cutting off the flaps from the seat and pillion on mine. I havent really found many pics online without them.
I do prefer black rectangles over than the old-fashioned chrome rivets from the older-gen heritage.
curious if anyones taken the leap and removed them.
Only thing I did was contact a local guy that does motorcycle seats. Asked if he could remove the riveted sections and replace the with some double stitched diamond pieces to match my seat. He quickly responded he could not do it, which surprised me. I did not think it would be that difficult for someone who regularly deals with stitching and gluing leathers.
I replaced the tank bib with one from a Slim, the seat replaced with a Corbin, and the bags replaced with Iron Bags. No more chicklets.
I have a 19 Heritage. My previous owner had replaced the tank bib with one from a Softail Slim. It blends in naturally with the lines from the tank controls. However, if you go that route, since that bib is narrower, you need to not wait too long or you might expose paint fading or scratches. I do prefer the stock bib except for the silly chiclets. All that crap has got to go! With my Mean City Cycles seat re-do, I am two out of three to get rid of them. I am still undecided about what to do about the bags.
That said, I think finding someone who will do some sort of covering or stitching on the bags will be a struggle. I have asked around online. Folks do make coverings for various hard bags. But we own a Heritage so.... Anyway I have read somewhere on here about someone who has cut off that flap. But again, once you start, you're committed. You are now exposing fading and there is some sort of button thing there. What about that?
So in my research, I came across this on Cycle Trader. See pic below. The guy who did the work is from in Maryland or Virginia (fairly local for me). I sent him a message on Facebook and the cost would be about $900 for just the bags! Apparently the guy is an as**ole but does amazing work. I am still torn about what to do.
That looks nice, but $900 to re-cover the stock (too small) bags? Ouch. I scored some used Iron Bags for $500, and while they're not massively bigger, they still have a little more usable room.
I removed them on a set of saddlebags that came with my bike and as was said the holes are quite visible. FWIW I crushed them with Knipex pliers and that worked well and quickly. Anyway I now use the bags occasionally and can live with the holes, I despised the studs so much that I wasn't using the bags.
A before and after photo below...
Did you guys get the slim tank bib from a hd dealer? I've been thinking about just going without it, but figured there might be a gap under that console id have to fil with a weatherstrip, but I like the look of the slims bib.
I pulled the tank bib, replaced seat, and left the oem bags. I thought it might be nice to match the bags to seat, but I was thinking maybe $200-$250. No way I would spend $900 to recover bags. I would have preferred smooth or diamond stitch pattern, but stock look does not bother me enough to pay that kind of money.
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Heritage--Stud / rivet removal?
Anyway I have read somewhere on here about someone who has cut off that flap. But again, once you start, you're committed. You are now exposing fading and there is some sort of button thing there. What about that?
