Help with Saddlebag Selection and Installation
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 66
Likes: 1
From: Quakertown, PA
Help with Saddlebag Selection and Installation
Okay I am coming here looking for some help with saddlebags.
First I am looking for a recommendation on bags for my '03 Fatboy other than the Harley ones (too expensive for my budget atm). I bought the bike used and it has the mounting hardware for the detachable bags but it did not have the bags (figure the previous owner took them). I am looking on J&P and I like the Saddleman bags but I don't know about the quality. So any recommendations or opinions would be helpful.
Second I am trying to determine how difficult it will be to install the bags myself. Since my bike has mounting hardware for the detachable Harley bags can I use that hardware for other detachable bags? Will I need to install saddlebag supports and if so will the HD ones work for 3rd party bags? Will I need to remove the mounting hardware for the detachable bags before installing saddlebag supports?
First I am looking for a recommendation on bags for my '03 Fatboy other than the Harley ones (too expensive for my budget atm). I bought the bike used and it has the mounting hardware for the detachable bags but it did not have the bags (figure the previous owner took them). I am looking on J&P and I like the Saddleman bags but I don't know about the quality. So any recommendations or opinions would be helpful.
Second I am trying to determine how difficult it will be to install the bags myself. Since my bike has mounting hardware for the detachable Harley bags can I use that hardware for other detachable bags? Will I need to install saddlebag supports and if so will the HD ones work for 3rd party bags? Will I need to remove the mounting hardware for the detachable bags before installing saddlebag supports?
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 458
Likes: 53
From: Neenah, WI
If you do a search for saddleman saddlebags on this forum, you will find lots of posts. If you are looking for short term, they will get you by. Long term???? In answer to your second question, the Harley docking points only work with Harley bags, so if you don't want the spend the $ for the Harley bags, then they are useless (you might get a few bucks for the hardware on ebay). The next issue is how to mount the bags (if not Harley ones). You could go with a detachable bracket, but all of them (except ours) require you to move your turn signals. I do have a few pair of scratch and dent bags that might work for you if you want to save some money, and to quote another forum member "If it takes you more than 15 minutes to mount the bags, its because you spilled your beer and had to clean it up."
Keep ridin'
Garry
Keep ridin'
Garry
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