disappointed with my leatherlike saddle bags

[sacred_dog]

Hi Guys,

I'm disappointed with my leatherlike saddle bags. Have had them on for a month, and they have already cracked. Also, they leak like mad.

I'm planning a long trip next month. Any recommendations for saddles bags? Any chance I can find a used pair that fit my 2002 VTX 1800 C?

is there such a thing as a used cruise control? or throttle clamp? (I think the trottle lever thing is just not going to cut it.

thanks,

Tim

[x rated]

Im getting rid off my hondaline bags hear in the next month or so. Ive had em for 2 yrs and there great just wish they had locks and wish they were removable. other than those 2 there great. Im just going to the beetle bags for the look.

[Cruz'N]

http://www.hondadirectlineusa.com/stores/product.asp?pid=4648&str=11&ID=700957907

Kuryakyn Grantour Bag, I prefer this over saddlebags. Easy on and off and holds alot of stuff. Also if you are solo riding you can use it as a back rest. Comes with a rainfly that completely covers it.

I had Leatherlykes before on my old bike and loved them. I bought tourmasters for my X and they dont' hold as much. one has already come loose and got burned on my pipes.

[4inchpistons]

Best I've found anywhere for the money:
http://www.leatherconnexion.com/Saddlebags-Honda-VTX-1800C-C57.aspx

[tom cat]

I like them. but I just throw them over the passenger seat and snap them down.

[NDAna]

FWIW no issue with my LL bags. Just wish they were bigger.

Update post: Just sold even though they were nice bags. Just wanted bigger. Am looking at leatherneckjim's bags. May be a bear to get them mounted as there is the Honda DLX sissy bar and a HitchDoc to deal with.

[jagular]

FWIW no issue with my LL bags. Just wish they were bigger.

+1. They could be about three inches deeper, no problem, and thus much more efficient. My wife rides a Shadow Spirit 750 and her LL bags are the same size as mine and, because the bike is smaller, the bags look better on hers.

[netdoug]

The only complaint I had regarding my Honda bags was they leaked. I solved that by buying waterproof garment bags, and putting everything in them. It kept everything dry and had the added benefit of organizing the stuff in the bags as well as making it easy to move the contents to the motel room.

Doug

[cobratwo]

I use the K Drive saddlebags on my 1800c. Enough room for every thing you would need on a trip. They come with chrome supports, so you can run with the bags off and it looks good. The bags are very easy to put on/take off, and they can be locked on with a key. I also run with a tank bag, and a roll bag for extra room, and pack everything in a rainproof bag.
Jim

[wildcat5415]

Hi Guys,

I'm disappointed with my leatherlike saddle bags. Have had them on for a month, and they have already cracked. Also, they leak like mad.

I'm planning a long trip next month. Any recommendations for saddles bags? Any chance I can find a used pair that fit my 2002 VTX 1800 C?

is there such a thing as a used cruise control? or throttle clamp? (I think the trottle lever thing is just not going to cut it.

thanks,

Tim

have you tried contacting leatherlyke?? they may send you a new set for free. http://www.leatherlyke.com/ i had a set of saddleman bags once that messed up and they had me send them back and sent me a new set and they were much older than a month, leatherlyke should stand behind their bags as well. i had leatherlykes on my last bike and loved them, no problems with cracks or leaks.

[devil]

I agree with you on the leatherlyke bags. they leak really bad and i actually hit a large bump at a construction site and one of them came off the bike at aobut 50 mph. Now i have one that is all scratched to s#%$.

I like the size but wouldn't buy them again

devil

[JerryH]

Wow, I've got a new set in the box just waiting for the weather to stay bad enough to park the bike for a while. I've read alot of good things about them and I like how they close and lock and are removable. Hope I have better luck with mine than some of you.

[monkeyman]

Ive used mine for about the last 25k, with no probs.-- I like em. Others on this board, have had this cracking prob. where they attach--- Calls to Leatherlyke have gotten them no where. Leatherlyke denies that there is a prob. and that the owner must have been overloading them. Whatever-- Someone on this board has come up with a simple but effective fix for this cracking-- it is basically reinforcing the bag between pts. of attachment with a 1" x 3/32" bar that is riveted to the bag tieing the two pts together. Do a search-- it looked pretty slick to me, and if I ever did have the prob. I'd sure do it. Should solve your prob. and no doubt you will be able to load quite a bit beyond the reccomended wt. :D

[jwhok]

I'm like monkeyman. Had mine for 12-15k with no issues or leaks and I've
spent several hours riding in the rain with them. Made two, week long trips
with my wife (Daytona and Marysville,OH.) and had them stuffed for a
week each time and no cracking. Both trips were about 1,700 miles each.
Sorry to hear of your misfortunes.

[benandjennifer]

I have them on mine and i really like them. I am an electrician and i ride my X to work some. I can haul everything in there except my ladder. :D

[Randy The X Man]

Have to say I have 35k on mine. No problem. They work great. Stuff stays dry in the rain. I did drop my bike (forgot to put kickstand down ?) once last summer. Bike fell on the engine guard and left LL Bag. Did not notice any problems. That was early in the year. So many rides with lots of gear since then. I did at the end of the season find that the Left bag front mount was cracked. I attribute that to the drop. I used jb weld to patch it back together. Seems solid. Looking at the new LL trunks. Would add a new set in a second to any bike.

Thanks
Randy The X Man
www.nwbikers.com (http://www.nwbikers.com)

[twofish Richard]

So far I’m happy with mine,
except I wish they fit a little lower on the bike.
http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/12/33922325219.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4190589)

[ChangMode]

I installed Iron Bags on my 1800 retro two years ago and have been extremely hapy with them. They are in Wisconsin. Go to the Iron Bags website and check them out. I would highly recommend these bags to anyone, over what you normally see out there.

C-

[dufus]

105000KMS. on my bags and I am happy with them.
I have stuffed the crap out of them and I have rode through hours of terential rains with only a tiny bit of water in the bags.
HAd a problem with the mounting bstuds seizing on but when I phoned Leatherlike they sent me new ones right away..
Pretty good prople to deal with.

[bohnman]

My leatherlyke's cracked in less than a year I called them up and they told me that since I couldn't find the reciept I couldn't get a replacement even though I bought htem directally from them. I glued the crack with plastic epoxy and it seamed to work well my buddy showed me a seceret with the epoxy put a layer of epoxy down then a piece of fabric then more epoxy like a fiber glass layer and it work for a 1200 miles so far. i also want to buy the supports that http://www.glensvtxgarage.com sells I just haven't gotten to his house yet. To many rides. :lol:

[jtk27]

On ebay someone has developed a reinforcement kit for the leatherlykes. It costs 30 bucks and looks effective and easy to install. Just do a search for leatherlyke or vtx and you'll find them.