After market or OEM saddle bags, hard caes?

[CoreyP]

My bike has soft saddle bags on it, those are fine but some places I go to have people I don't trust all that much. Example, in Savannah, Ga I have good luck finding parking places by a some sort of shelter. They give out meals and do laundry etc for homeless people.  Not so sure whatever I put in my bags will be there when I come back. When the weather is nice I would rather leave my jacket in the saddle bags but they don't lock and my jacket is too expensive to be giving to charity. Usually my wife is with me so double that.

My choices are after market hard bags, anyone have a good choice for those? I would like them to look very close to OEM.

Anyone think it's worth it for me to track down OEM hard saddle bags? If I did that would I need a special OEM bracket/hanger for the OEM bags? Is the hanger for the soft bags able to work with the hard bags? I can paint and do some body work but I'm not sure if that would end up a money pit?

If someone knows how to secure a soft saddle bag that would work also but I don't think it can be done? 

[98valk]

these might be your best deal and they have a set that is larger than OEM. Also the Shadow Tourer uses the same bags as the Valkyrie, just that none of the hardware fits.

https://www.tsukayu.com/Bike_Honda_Valkyrie.html

[mbramley]

these might be your best deal and they have a set that is larger than OEM. Also the Shadow Tourer uses the same bags as the Valkyrie, just that none of the hardware fits.

https://www.tsukayu.com/Bike_Honda_Valkyrie.html

I second Tsukayu bags. I have had their jumbo strong bags for about 4 years and they are holding up well. Of course no matter what bag you have if someone really wants in locks on fiberglass isn't going to stop them. It is nice to be able to lock them though. They don't make them specifically for the Valkyrie so you have to drill your own holes in them. The way they describe to mark them didn't work well for me so I put tape on the back of the saddlebag and ground a point on a couple of set screws that i put in the threaded holes on the mout to mark the location for the holes in the saddlebags.

[CoreyP]

Those aren't looking like a bad idea.

I was also looking at these, little cheaper. https://www.vikingbags.com/products/38l-baldur-xl-shock-cutout-honda-valkyrie-1500-standard-painted-hard-saddlebags

[h13man]

As I mentioned on FB a while back, the lids need to clear the seat if lid opens front to back. Rear to front opening works best on most bikes. This illustration show the lids have some height to them compared to my Saddleman 28L Cruisin' Slants which are just 1" above the fender rails with back to front opening, these may have enough clearance. These 38L look really good IMO. If you carry a passenger, the height can play role on how low you have mount them for clearance.

The side opening HB's on my 1600 Vulcan was my favorite as things are easier to find and remove and had bag liners also. Yes side opening takes some getting used to over top loaders.

[TrapperAH1G]

I have GIVI bags on my Valk.  I really like the way they look, the lines of the bike and bags compliment each other.  Side opening, lot of storage and good locking system.

Reallly liked the bags on my Nomad (side opening), kinda helped me go GIVI.

[CoreyP]

I'm not seeing bags for a Valk on GIVI's website...

[h13man]

Was doing a search for EZ Brackets mounting brackets and came across these:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125951836064?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-166974-028196-7&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=125951836064&targetid=2274951440814&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9016735&poi=&campaignid=22451449643&mkgroupid=175007254261&rlsatarget=pla-2274951440814&abcId=10271382&merchantid=603886692&geoid=9016735&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22451449643&gbraid=0AAAAAD_QDh_UfMPcRLLU5QBJUxa9m4NfB&gclid=CjwKCAjwqKzEBhANEiwAeQaPVd2NFpM8rg0BiH5_hXn7CofaaKHO4QMHaYHIQ_Jdz1aLGM1IxQwSNxoCBk0QAvD_BwE

[crow]

My '86 Honda gl650i  has suit case saddle bags.  Come right off. Then carry.   It's one of the best bikes ever!       

Lots of ground clearance so you can really lean it over. Skinny tires so knifes through the rain.  I pass so many

Cages  on rainy interstate travels.