Im looking to put newer style saddle bags on my 97 Heritage. Can I buy new brackets to mount the new bags, or do I have to make my own somehow. My current bags are cracked from lack of leather dressing from the previous owner. I'm also getting tired of the buckles. Any help would be great.

 

Depends on what you want. I put 2003 hard bags on mine: wanted the locking and waterproof features. Go check out Cycle Visions. They are WELL MADE. Have mine on for about 3 years, overloaded most of the time and have never had a problem.
Worth a look...

http://www.cyclevisions.com/

The only thing I added was Brukus hardware.

 

I already have the newer bags, I was just looking for any brackets that might allow me to bolt them on the bike. I might could come up with something on my own. I'll have to do some more thinking on this and come up with a plan if nothing is out there.

 

Check out the Baggertail that Dr. Vtwin on the forum sells. I believe they are made by Cycle Visions. They allow you to mount hard bags on a softail. I have them and they are pretty dang stout.

 

Our product, SaddlebagSecure mounts to the brackets. If you have the brackets - you only need our product. We have had customers tell us this was a cheaper way to go and it is very secure. You can call us if you have any questions.

 

I think I haven't clearly explained myself. I have leather saddle bags that came off a twin cam heritage softail. What I'm trying to do is find a way of mounting these bags on a 1997 Heritage Softail. The hole locations on the EVO bags are different than the TC bags. I am trying to find a mounting bracket or some kind of way to mount these on my bike. I don't know if it is a swap that people do or not. I like the TC bags because they don't use buckles and they are not dry rotted like my old bags.

 

Not quite the same thing, but I am installing a set of late hard bags on my older bike. My rear mountings are fine, but I have made up new front ones. If you can make up brackets yourself that would obviously be great, but I haven't seen anyone mention leather bags. I decided it was too much effort to look around for alternative brackets when I could make what was necessary.

 

I'm not familiar with the newer heritage saddlebags but if the back is a hard plastic you might try these.

http://www.jpcycles.com/product/840-058