Saddlebag Stiffener Kit?
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: NC
RE: Saddlebag Stiffener Kit?
ORIGINAL: moparbobby
boss bags $195.oo plus $25.00 shipping ????
dont think that lock system will stop a thief! and at twice who's the thief
boss bags $195.oo plus $25.00 shipping ????
dont think that lock system will stop a thief! and at twice who's the thief
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 711
Likes: 0
From: Bothell, WA
RE: Saddlebag Stiffener Kit?
Save your money! The '06 and latter FLSTC/I saddle bags come from the factory with a reinforcing wire built in. My bags are nearly two years old, I've stuffed them and road thousands of miles in hundred degree heat with no sagging yet.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Saddlebag Stiffener Kit?
Hello,
I bought the gotsaggbags kit three years ago and have been very happy with it.
If I had found the Boss Bags, I would have been tempted to spend the extra money for the ability to use a lock, but I really like the availability of the better straps, mine drive me crazy.
Let us know how a do it yourself ABS and glue project work.
[IMG]local://upfiles/27698/E7D5A80EB9A049B6847AFAE5425A519C.jpg[/IMG]
I bought the gotsaggbags kit three years ago and have been very happy with it.
If I had found the Boss Bags, I would have been tempted to spend the extra money for the ability to use a lock, but I really like the availability of the better straps, mine drive me crazy.
Let us know how a do it yourself ABS and glue project work.
[IMG]local://upfiles/27698/E7D5A80EB9A049B6847AFAE5425A519C.jpg[/IMG]
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: NC
RE: Saddlebag Stiffener Kit?
ORIGINAL: Geoseismic
Save your money! The '06 and latter FLSTC/I saddle bags come from the factory with a reinforcing wire built in. My bags are nearly two years old, I've stuffed them and road thousands of miles in hundred degree heat with no sagging yet.
Save your money! The '06 and latter FLSTC/I saddle bags come from the factory with a reinforcing wire built in. My bags are nearly two years old, I've stuffed them and road thousands of miles in hundred degree heat with no sagging yet.
Although I admit, I have been caught in the rain twice coming back from the beach. Once it took me over 11 hrs to ride from Morehead city to Concord. I was caught in the tropical storm last July. The other time was for 3.5 hrs coming back from the MB Fall Rally. That much water, regardless of protection, couldn'thave been good for the bags.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: McAllen texas
I bought a used 2000 FLSTC and put in stiffeners. WHAT A PAIN IN THE ***! I had equal success with the 1/4 inch plywood I shoved in there! Thought about Lowes and some 1/4 inch acrylic..it's moldable. My bags have drawn up and the snaps don't meet...there's no way the lid inserts are going to fit..the lids dont' close the way they should. If it rains..they're going to fill with water. MY advice..if your bags are in good shape..use the stiffeners..keep them WELL GREASED inside and out so they don't shrink..once they shrink..you're pretty much screwed. I tried soaking mine in water..hoping they'd stretch..didn't work. Over an hour in water made no difference Though the stiffeners made some difference..I used the $40 version..and it's ok..but not a miracle on older bags if that's what you want.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,975
Likes: 12
From: NJ
If the MoCo put reinforcement in the newer bags there is no sign of it in mine. Less than a year and the tops were caving in. Didn't help that I got stuck riding in the rain for a week but still....
I didn't like the idea of gluing my leather and went with the riveted Bossbags. Plenty of satisfied users of the glued systems and not knocking them at all, I just wanted something different. Very happy with the finished product, the bags look like new and no more worries about ever sagging again.
I too think they are overpriced but it is what it is. I think their shipping even went up to $35. Cost to ship the bags to them was high too. I paid over $50. If you go with them, use the smallest box possible and check with different shippers. There is a point where the bags are too far gone for bossbags to retrofit them. They have a guide on their site.
_______________________________
2008 Heritage Classic: His
2008 Deluxe: Hers
I didn't like the idea of gluing my leather and went with the riveted Bossbags. Plenty of satisfied users of the glued systems and not knocking them at all, I just wanted something different. Very happy with the finished product, the bags look like new and no more worries about ever sagging again.
I too think they are overpriced but it is what it is. I think their shipping even went up to $35. Cost to ship the bags to them was high too. I paid over $50. If you go with them, use the smallest box possible and check with different shippers. There is a point where the bags are too far gone for bossbags to retrofit them. They have a guide on their site.
_______________________________
2008 Heritage Classic: His
2008 Deluxe: Hers
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 1
From:
I don't know how it compares to Boss Bags ....but I used gotsaggybags.com
Here are some before / after pics...
http://www.cwedge.smugmug.com/galler...205_ioxpg-O-LB
'install' was not difficult and I'm happy with the results
Here are some before / after pics...
http://www.cwedge.smugmug.com/galler...205_ioxpg-O-LB
'install' was not difficult and I'm happy with the results
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 379
Likes: 1
From: Central Wisconsin
We looked at saggybags and Bossbags. We went with Bossbags if you looked at both products, Bossbag was much better. I took the Heritage bags direct to the factory on a saturday and the owner installed them. He did say that if the bags are weathered and shrunk you would be better off with saggybag product.
A friend took a look at ours over the saggybag product and went with Bossbag as well.
A friend took a look at ours over the saggybag product and went with Bossbag as well.
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 442
Likes: 3
From: Warren, Ohio
Thanks everyone. Still undecided. I'm gonna let 'em weather for a little while. They still look pretty new though the bike has 30k + miles on it in all kinds of weather conditions.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: Sunrise, Florida
I bought the Saddlebag Shaper kit including the lid support for $57 in Sept 08. I think they are a great product and have kept the shape well. I did do a little trimming of the lid pieces for a better fit. I may have gone a little overboard by routing out a piece of plywood to allow the chrome studs to be recessed and provide a true flat surface to apply the weights to while gluing. You can see how they look today in the attached photo.