My buddy has a pretty nice 1986 FLT. You know, the big touring bike with the goofy looking fixed fairing. Anyways, he needs a left (or complete set) saddlebag. So our questions are this:

1. Are his year bags the same size, bigger or smaller than other years? What years are they bigger or smaller than.

2. What years are a direct bolt on with zero modification?

3. What years are close enough that with reasonable modification you can get them on?

4. Can you get an old set of Shovelhead hard bags on an '86?

 

There's some useful relevant info in this thread that helps answer your question.

1 and 2. Any of the bags with the r/h battery cut-out will fit, from 1980-ish up to around 1992, when the battery was moved and we got a whole r/h bag.
3. Don't think there are any of those!
4. Shovel bags were a different shape, except on early FLTs.

 

And I thought there would be a picture included ... you know of that goofy looking fairing set up ... lol

I've got a set I could sell but they come with a bike attached.

Didn't realize how rare they are getting.

If money is of no concern you should be able to get the aftermarket extended bags.

 

Thanks guys. Yeah, it looks just like johnnyC's bike only two tone red. Let me tell you something, he put the bike on craigslist last year for four grand and could NOT sell it. It had just 39K on the ODO. So he said screw it and is fixing it up. With the popularity of the new Road Glides, that style seems to be coming back into favor due to its excellent handling characteristics. If I can get a picture I'll post it but he's an over the road trucker and "doesn't do" the internet. LOL

 

These guys always have alot of parts from wrecks. I don't know what years wil fit.
http://www.pinwallcycle.com/
I would call them. Their websit isn't that good. They are around 50 miles from me. Its a big place.

 

They're more like 5,000 miles from me, but even I've used them!

 

Thanks for that link. To be honest, this has sparked my interest in hard bags for my Dyna. I have been poking around the idea of some Shovel hard bags for my bike...... hummm.

 

That's what I did to my FX1200 back in the 70s, but they just bolted straight on! I have seen a Dyna with V-Rod bags which look neat, as an alternative idea.