Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Saddlebag guard bags

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 8, 2010 | 05:07 PM
  #11  
ashmarc's Avatar
ashmarc
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 6
From: Las Vegas, NV
Default

They just need to be broken it a little bit.

First time is a bitch but they fit nice and snug, they're designed not to sag.

The other suggestions of bags off and snap the bottom first.
 
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2010 | 04:42 AM
  #12  
PKellyMc's Avatar
PKellyMc
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 11
From: PacNW; Beacon of Conservatism in a Sea of Liberals.......AZ Snowbird; Just another Conservative
Default

Good timing. I just installed a set on my RKC I got from an ebay seller; large left bag, smaller right bag w/water bottle.

RIGHT: I snapped the top on first, then the bottom wouldn't fit. Started over with the bottoms first, then got the tops snapped...didn't remove saddlebag.

LEFT: Fought/fumbled with lower snaps for a while...finally removed left saddlebag and got them snapped. Top snaps were easy then.

I'm right handed; donno if that made one side easy, and the other side difficult. Also, lean on the jiffy may have made left side more difficult.
 
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2010 | 07:14 AM
  #13  
08Ultraguy's Avatar
08Ultraguy
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Default

I had to have my wife sit on the bike while i pulled my butt off but it stretches and fits snug........... Looks good and tight
 
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2010 | 09:07 AM
  #14  
MikeyTX's Avatar
MikeyTX
Outstanding HDF Member
Veteran: Marine Corps
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,921
Likes: 199
From: Skunk Hollow, TX
Default

Originally Posted by strtarrow
Thanks and I had not thought of that as they only line up one way. Just for giggles I tried what you suggest and no way they will go that way. Just seems the snaps will not align correctly to get them all snapped. Your suggestions however did make me try again and by snapping different snaps together first I was able to get them on (at least one side so far). Thanks and it pays to ask questions....

Okay, 6 of 6 on one side and 5 of 6 on the other. I am good with that for now. Its been a rough day so fay and 3 Crown Royals on the rocks may have attributed to the lameness....
Hell, at least you can still drink C R ............... With the onset of diabetes, all that is long gone! Btw, the ones from River Road are just as bad if not worse. Un like the old style with the twist closers on the flaps, the new ones are made of a synthetic leather looking material similar to that which is used for the soft boots on convertibles. Sadly, it won't stretch as will leather. I have one snap on the lower left corner of one of my bags that won't stay closed. The compression ring inside the top cap is stretched it seems. Find a good boot repair shop or, a saddle repair shop and have a new snap cap installed.
 
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2010 | 10:45 AM
  #15  
Damascus's Avatar
Damascus
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 666
Likes: 5
From: Bay Area, CA
Default

I've done the s-e-a-r-c-h so don't flame me ... ...

Has anyone come up with a clever way to secure the Harley guard bags to the bike/guard to deter theft. At least one member here mentioned his were stolen. I know nothing can prevent theft but sometimes a small measure of security helps.

I was thinking about drilling out one of the snaps and replacing it with an Allen head bolt/nut kind of like I did on my hard bags, and maybe have a leathersmith put a latch on the flap so my tool kit doesnt wander too.

Any thoughts/experience here?

(And, yes, as I get older I am feeling my paranoia sneaking in. )

Thanks,
Murph
 

Last edited by Damascus; Jul 20, 2010 at 10:48 AM.
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2010 | 11:59 AM
  #16  
SBW Cycles's Avatar
SBW Cycles
Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 246
Likes: 3
From: New Jersey
Default

I have profile saddlebag guards and I bought Hopnel left saddlebag guard bag. This bag uses velcro straps instead of snaps like the Harley ones. Guard bags generally will not work with profile guads, however, I bought a helmet lock and made hole in the bag for the clamp and then mounted the helmet lock to the guard. It will not go anywhere. You can use this tip for Harley bags as well, but didn't want to spend $70 to put a hole in it. I found the Hopnel bag on ebay for really cheap.
 
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2010 | 12:29 PM
  #17  
piasspj's Avatar
piasspj
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 372
From: Central Illinois, Between I-80 and I-74
Default

I snap the lower portion. Then pull the bag away from the bike and snap the inside upper snap (do it just about where the bend in the bar starts). Then I push the bag toward the bike (close to its final position) and snap the middle upper snap. The last one I snap is the outside top one.
 
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2010 | 01:24 PM
  #18  
Jonny Cannon's Avatar
Jonny Cannon
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 2
From: canada
Default

After a season they work in and the leather loosens up a little.

Cannon
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 20, 2010 | 02:12 PM
  #19  
itsmf's Avatar
itsmf
Road Captain
15 Year Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 514
Likes: 134
From: Clayton,N.J.
Default snaps

Use an old bar of soap on those snaps.
 
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2010 | 02:22 PM
  #20  
strtarrow's Avatar
strtarrow
Thread Starter
|
Banned
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,259
Likes: 5
From: NW NC
Default

Originally Posted by Damascus
I've done the s-e-a-r-c-h so don't flame me ... ...

Has anyone come up with a clever way to secure the Harley guard bags to the bike/guard to deter theft. At least one member here mentioned his were stolen. I know nothing can prevent theft but sometimes a small measure of security helps.

I was thinking about drilling out one of the snaps and replacing it with an Allen head bolt/nut kind of like I did on my hard bags, and maybe have a leathersmith put a latch on the flap so my tool kit doesnt wander too.

Any thoughts/experience here?

(And, yes, as I get older I am feeling my paranoia sneaking in. )

Thanks,
Murph

The good news is that it gets easier after a few times off and on. As far as securing the only thing I can think of would be drill a hole or 2 and use a nut and bolt through the flaps. If somebody wants something bad enough they are gonna get it. I am not prone to leaving my bike parked far from site and when I am in a store such as walmart I park on the sidewalk out of the way of pedestrian traffic. Pretty common practice around here.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:18 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE