Anyone here ever lost a side bag? I have a 2009 street glide and lost the right side bag this week. I was heading up to Oshkosh to see some planes and about one hour after leaving Chicago the bag fell off and skidded down the road but did not open. Scratched pretty good but still functional. I figured I just left one of the twisty clamps loose and was paying tuition for my stupidity. About 20 mins. later I stopped at a Milwaukee area HD store for a look. I pulled to the service area and some guys and I believe dealership employees were standing around and looking at my bag and checking the pins. We all concluded that it was firmly attached and I must of just missed one earlier when I started out, or the last time I had it off for cleaning. Oh well that is how it goes I thought and to be more careful in the future.
As I was nearing Oshkosh on US 41 running about 70 mph I heard it again, this time not so lucky, the bag hit a guardrail and exploded. WTF we just checked it less than 2 hours prior. I now have one bag and no place for the contents. I pick up what I could and left most of my stuff on the road.
I stopped at the another HD store and told the story. The response was "well what do you want me to do about it". I asked if it is normal for this type of thing to happen to a new bike. The guy says no and he would have to see if it was a warranty issue. He checked the bike and said he would have to call HD. I waited about 20 mins. and he came back and said it was not an issue with Harley and they denied the claim.
I thanked him for his time and took the claim no. and customer service phone number from him. I then called CS and spoke to a rep. she found the claim and seemed interested in helping me. She took all my info and acct. of what happened, told me to hold as she was expediting the issue. Great maybe we are getting somewhere. About 15 mins later another lady, supervisor I believe, came on and asked more questions. She said at this time HD was denying any responsibility as the second HD shop I went to had said the bag was installed improperly. That is interesting as an observation as the bag was gone. As in not installed at all...
I think she found that odd as well and said she would see what she could get done for me. She said she would call me Friday as to what HD planned on doing to replace the bag.
I do not really expect anything to happen, in fact I will be surprised if she even calls me back.
So guess you all may want to check those fasteners. I have heard that some of you replace the twisty with a bolt I will definitely be doing this as well.

 

sorry to here that. And yes replace your twistie bolts for 5/16 x 1" thumb bolt, spur washer and speed nut.

 

I keep thinking about replacing my twistie with a bolt, but I like to take the bags off every cleaning and it would seem a hassle, unless I can get a bolt with a swivel end like on our twisties. My ultra has the rails around the bags, so they're not going to go bouncing down the interstate though.

Sorry to hear of this. I hope HD helps you out. Maybe if nothing else, you might be able to get your dealer to get you one at their cost as a goodwill gesture.

 

Losing a bag is unusual but it does happen. Sounds like something was wrong, especially on a new bike and after others looked at the pins and thought it was all right.
I'm thinking the bolt setup might be a good idea now to prevent this happening and to thwart theft. Just going to do one on each side.
There's a good thread with pics here some place.

 

I don't know what the newer bikes use, but on my bike, I had these twistie things too. Little ears stuck out of a pin that engaged a catch. I fought those things for almost 20 years, taping them down, adding some foam under, pinching the catch mechanism tighter, etc. If I didn't have side rails and a bottom rail to catch the things, I would have lost them dozens of times. I finally wised up and replaced the twistie thing with a 1/4x20 phillips head screw, large flat washer, lock washer and replaced the catch thing with a piece of stainless with a nut welded on to it. Haven't had a problem since.

 

Man that SUCKS!!! All of it! I can't believe they won't do anything for you, those are pretty dam expensive. I've been planning on putting the bolts on mine, looks like I'm going to move it up on my list a bit.

 

I had a real issue getting mine to fit properly on the 08 from the time I got it. Lid would constantly pop open on one side especially. Finally after several times in the stealers shop a experienced mechanic found that there was a spacer on the front mounts that don't belong AND HE SAID IT WASN'T UNUSUAL! WTF? No problem since.

 

After spending the bucks for my stretched bags I wanted to make sure they were on securely. I've never felt very comfortable with the stock pins. Taking advice from people here, I replaced them all with U-nuts and thumb screws. Makes me feel a lot better.

Sorry to hear about your problem. I hope HD does right by you.

 

Found it.

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...s-to-bike.html

Putting this on my to do list this weekend. After taking the bags off the first time to see how it works I don't trust that little wire to keep the bags on securely. Also will help a little bit as far a theft protection.

 

Thanks for the replies... If any others with similar problems chime in and relate their problem, and HD won't help, I could have them read this thread. LOL Like they care...... Like I said I will be very surprised if i even get a call back.

I just priced a new one out, ouch, it would be nice if they could help. They also said 4to6 weeks to get, almost as bad as the $$$$$