Stay away from the HD bag. It's a real POS. Don't ask me how I know.

 

Slightly better picture of my Willie & Max version, snapped the pic before riding today. It holds some essentials, sub-$100 and solid quality. I did use the leather straps / buckles that came with it for mounting. I put the buckles inside the bag, punched a new hole in the straps so I could snug it up the way I wanted. I didn't do much research before buying it, and the others mentioned here look cool too. I wasn't paying the H-D price!

 

That's what I have. From what I've seen they're the best quality out there and I like small owner operated businesses.

 

Categorically agree. HD bag is a complete, utter, never again, POS.

 

Great advice on here. I think I'm leaning towards the Garage Leather double strap solo. Tired already of carrying wallet and phone in my jacket along with my touring handbook. Been using a backpack. Long term, that just isn't going to cut it. I want the saddle bags for my deluxe, but they're really expensive. I'm surprised they don't just come stock with the bike, considering what it costs.

 

I bought my bag from Dead Creek Cycles. They are a forum sponsor here. Great quality and looks. Got their hard mount kit also. Nice and strong. You should check them out deadcreekcycles.com. I got the "reaper bag"

 

No offense to Deadcreek...but with a few handtools and a trip to the hardwae store, you can make the hardmount yourself and save a bunch of $$$$

I used the setup outlined below....

No issues with over 20K miles since...

FWIW - The plexi-glas backing sheet weighs less than a metal plate which I could see causing fatigue on the mounts. The hardware used below adds very little weight on top of the bag.... Either way, I routinely check for fatigue or cracks at the mount points.

Those leather straps that come with the bags suck.




Everything is so tight to the swingarm I doubt I can get a better shot.

I basically did what others did. I used 1" coupler nuts for the forward/top and lower chain guard mounts. The rearmost chainguard mount, I used a 3/4 " spacer and a 1.5 inch bolt. This all allows the bag to sit approx 1/8th inch off the swingarm. Inside the bag is where I used plexiglass.

All hardware is 5/16 and in assembly order. (I painted all visible hardware black)

8x11 plexiglass sheet cut to fit inside bag.

Lower mount

3/4" set screw or stud (threads into chain guard/frame)
two spacer washers
1" coupler nut
Fender washer (against the bag outside)
3/4" button head bolt and a washer (inside bag)

Front mount upper

1" bolt (replaces original shorter bolt, reuse existing washer)
two spacer washers (other side of chain guard)
1" coupler nut
Fender washer (against the bag outside)
3/4" button head bolt and a washer (inside bag)

Rear mount upper

Begin inside bag
1.5" bolt and a washer
Fender (or smaller) washer against the bag outside)
3/4" spacer
Thread into existing hardware in chain guard.








__________________

 

Can anyone say if the swing arm bag would fit If I have the curved tag on the left side of the bike (rocker c)

 

"the swing arm bag" ???.....depends on the brand and model, but as long as you have an axel mount or swing arm mounted plate holder (pushed all the way back), then yes...see the_enforcers' pic above. The Breakout and the Rocker have the same swing arm set up....

 

I have the Leatherworks swingarm bag fitted on my Breakout. I'm using the leather straps, no hard mount. The bag clears the axle nut when mounted as far forward as possible.