In May I purchased a pair of Saddlemen Cruisn' Shock-Cutaway saddlebags for $170 (retail $215). I do not recommend them and will not buy another thing from Saddlemen's.

The first time I used the carrying handles to carry the bags into a motel room a rivet popped. So I guess the handles are for decoration only. In August I was on a ride and both of the twist lock buttons on one of the bags broke off. If there was no velcro on the lid it would be trash.

I cannot understand why any company would build & sell something so cheaply made.

Steve

 

I've looked at a lot of Saddlemen stuff and it always looks like cheap crap to me - I wouldn't buy any either, even at a reasonable price, but they are way overpriced for the quality.

 

It's all about the DO REY ME

 

I have 'em on my bike. Popped a handle rivet as well after one year.
Replaced it with a screw in rivet. Problem solved. Never had any other issues with 'em.

 

I've looked at the saddleman stuff they have over at iron pony. doesn't look up to par with the willie and max bags and such.

 

I've got the Saddleman "deluxe" roll bag. It seems well made.

 

My husband tried establishing a business making saddlebags. Problem was, people didn't want to pay the price he had to charge for good quaility, hand made (totally hand stitched, etc), for leather bags. He couldn't compete with "pleather" bags from the likes of Willie Max, Saddlemen, etc. OR .. the ones that sell supposedly leather bags, that yes, are technically leather, but are the "pressboard" of leather - ground up, and reconstituted. Some of these look O.K for a while, but just do not hold up like good quality leather bags. But they are affordable to more people.

Hubby actually bought a set of Saddlemen bags at the beginning of riding season this year. They look really nice, (although starting to sag a bit). At the time he was able to buy them for about what he would have to pay for quality leather to make his own bags, and figured he didn't have the time right then to make his own and his workshop needed too much straightening out to work in properly. They will do until he can make his own again.

 

I have some of their saddlebags - they were cheap, I don't like the look of them, but they are highly functional and have kept my gear dry and secure.

I did recently purchased their Deluxe Tail Bag and really like it. See my thread: https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...-tail-bag.html

 

Sorry to hear about that Steve. Yeah I've never been impressed with the quality of Saddlemen. I'd try and send em back and if they give you S@#t about it tell em there's 500 Forum members ready to boycott the bastards if they don't make it right. Let's see them survive this economy by being blackballed...If you wanted crap for quality we'd be riding rice.....F#$%^er's