.......you could watch where you ride and avoid the big bumps and potholes.

Kidding, kidding!
I know some bumps in the road are unavoidable.
This is a great tip.
I would **** if one or both of my bags popped open going down the road.
I will be locking them from now on.

Thanks

 

I always lock mine too

 

BINGO!
This causes the latch to not secure. A simple fix to a simple problem. No need to lock them as you ride. The tether actually gets wedged in between the lid gasket and the top edge of the bag.

 

Someone shared that some time back about the tether getting stuck under the latch. Started paying attention to that and now I can tell by the feel of the latch closing if that has happened.

 

Yeah, the same thing happen to me , going up route 11 to youngstown, Ohio . A guy yelled at me that my saddle bag was open. I lock them always now.

 

Those little springs aren't strong enough after a while due to over use, it happened once but I put new ones on and now I keep em lubricated from rusting and loosing strength. I was told by a friend to lock em or you are going to have your dirty underwear flying out on the hwy.

 

This happen to me just last weekend. I was packed and headed to Americade in Lake George NY when I saw something in my mirror go flying behind me. About the same time a car started blowing it's horn. I looked down and the lid was open on one one of my bags. I pulled over and went back to pick up my jacket linner which had blown out.

The nice thing that happen was that while I was pulled over on the interstate walking to get my linner two different riders stopped to see if I needed any help.

As dozens of cars went by without so much as slowing down it was nice to see that fellow riders are ready to lend an hand.

 

I don't think they are properly latched. When latched properly with nothing interfering with the lid or the over center locking mechanism they won't pop open. I have ridden 130000 Ultra miles over the last 7 years and never had one come open. Probably happen tomorrow.

Bwana

 

Stupid tether has folded the wrong way on me and made mine unlatch a couple times, never lost my dirty laundry though, damn. Might lock em now.

 

my latches pop open sometimes if i don't lock them.. luckily the lid never popped open..the manual says to ride with them locked for that reason..