My new Road King Classic has developed a baggy-top on one of the saddle bags. The leather has ballooned-up - probably caused by the heat from the sun. The Dealer said it is normal but it doesn't look great.
Has anyone else had similar problems... or can offer a solution please?

 

go to ebay and look for harley bag sytem it is tubing that goes inside your bags and makes them stand tall and look like new hope this is some help

 

I have an 07 flstc and the top on the bag on one side is sagging down. My plan is to make a pattern for the top and glue it on the iside to flatten it out, not sure if this will work, but worth a try...might be an option for you. If it dosen't eventally I will get pissed and buy new ones.

 

My RKC saddlebags were subjected to more than a few rainstorms and plenty of hot sun. I always gave them a good leather treatment every four months. Everyone is going to get some warping of the leather, but mine never had anything that approached "ballooning-up". The overall look never bothered me with the aging of the saddlebag. If these were new saddlebags I would return them for a new set. They shouldn't show that much distortion with being in the sun.

Having said that, I finally changed out to hard color matched saddlebags. I got tired of the cleaning and preferred to have locked bags. I kept my old leather bags though-I still like to cruise around with them once in awhile for the more nostalgic look. It's a look that's hard to beat.

 

Don't sweat it. It IS a normal characteristic of the leather. Miine does it off and on depending on temperature/humidity/exposure. Just do me a favor.....Ride the HELL out of it! 07

OH, and welcome to HDF, Glad ta have ya. "Hold onto your wallet"!

 

yeah mine wrinkle and look wierd when I get it soaked in the rain but they always come back into shape. get them wet and let the sun dry them out then put some good conditioner on them.

 

I guess I never really payed much attention to mine. I just keep them conditioned with bees wax.

 

If it is just the leather that is "ballooning" up it is not unusual. Soak the leather with water and let it dry. It should tighten up. Then rub some leather treatment into the leather. Mine was pretty bad until I rode in a three day rainstorm and then a day in the sun. Much better now. Still not perfect but it probably was not perfect on the cow either. Ahh, the natural beauty of leather.

 

My 99 RKC was really bad when it came to the leather bags. As you said, it sort of caved in from the sides and the leather got wet and would stretch and the sun would then tighten. It also looked like it was scratched by a cat after a few years. Just marked up really bad. One buddy changed his bags out for hard bags. I would have done the same had I kept mine. I would never get leather bags again.

 

Thanks to everyone for their help -cheers!