They just need to be broken it a little bit.

First time is a bitch but they fit nice and snug, they're designed not to sag.

The other suggestions of bags off and snap the bottom first.

 

Good timing. I just installed a set on my RKC I got from an ebay seller; large left bag, smaller right bag w/water bottle.

RIGHT: I snapped the top on first, then the bottom wouldn't fit. Started over with the bottoms first, then got the tops snapped...didn't remove saddlebag.

LEFT: Fought/fumbled with lower snaps for a while...finally removed left saddlebag and got them snapped. Top snaps were easy then.

I'm right handed; donno if that made one side easy, and the other side difficult. Also, lean on the jiffy may have made left side more difficult.

 

I had to have my wife sit on the bike while i pulled my butt off but it stretches and fits snug........... Looks good and tight

 

Hell, at least you can still drink C R ............... With the onset of diabetes, all that is long gone! Btw, the ones from River Road are just as bad if not worse. Un like the old style with the twist closers on the flaps, the new ones are made of a synthetic leather looking material similar to that which is used for the soft boots on convertibles. Sadly, it won't stretch as will leather. I have one snap on the lower left corner of one of my bags that won't stay closed. The compression ring inside the top cap is stretched it seems. Find a good boot repair shop or, a saddle repair shop and have a new snap cap installed.

 

I've done the s-e-a-r-c-h so don't flame me ... ...

Has anyone come up with a clever way to secure the Harley guard bags to the bike/guard to deter theft. At least one member here mentioned his were stolen. I know nothing can prevent theft but sometimes a small measure of security helps.

I was thinking about drilling out one of the snaps and replacing it with an Allen head bolt/nut kind of like I did on my hard bags, and maybe have a leathersmith put a latch on the flap so my tool kit doesnt wander too.

Any thoughts/experience here?

(And, yes, as I get older I am feeling my paranoia sneaking in. )

Thanks,
Murph

 

I have profile saddlebag guards and I bought Hopnel left saddlebag guard bag. This bag uses velcro straps instead of snaps like the Harley ones. Guard bags generally will not work with profile guads, however, I bought a helmet lock and made hole in the bag for the clamp and then mounted the helmet lock to the guard. It will not go anywhere. You can use this tip for Harley bags as well, but didn't want to spend $70 to put a hole in it. I found the Hopnel bag on ebay for really cheap.

 

I snap the lower portion. Then pull the bag away from the bike and snap the inside upper snap (do it just about where the bend in the bar starts). Then I push the bag toward the bike (close to its final position) and snap the middle upper snap. The last one I snap is the outside top one.

 

After a season they work in and the leather loosens up a little.

Cannon

 

Use an old bar of soap on those snaps.

 

The good news is that it gets easier after a few times off and on. As far as securing the only thing I can think of would be drill a hole or 2 and use a nut and bolt through the flaps. If somebody wants something bad enough they are gonna get it. I am not prone to leaving my bike parked far from site and when I am in a store such as walmart I park on the sidewalk out of the way of pedestrian traffic. Pretty common practice around here.