Just bought Saddlebag Rail Guards off Ebay

[Dubsvalk]

I just bought a set of the saddlebag rail guard from discountcycle off ebay.  I hope they fit like the Hondaline rails do.  Quite a bit cheaper.  After seeing them on other bikes I just had to get a set for my Valk.
Bernie

[JimL]

I got good news and bad news.  First the good news...chances are you paid considerably less than the 469.00 dollars I paid for a set a couple of years ago.

The bad news: That 95.6% approval rating is worse than it appears (and that in itself is pretty bad), it is not worse because they periodically change the name they do business under and restart the counter.  The set I bought from them at first glance looked ok, however after I installed them it was evident that the right side rail stuck out about 1" further from the rear of the bag than the left side.  I contacted them (communication was difficult because I think their native language is Vietnamese) and they told me that all of the rails where the same and that they could not replace it.  I also managed to contact another buyer on this board who had bought a set and they noticed the same problem (don't remember who it was).

Anyway, they would not refund my money.  Fortunately I paid via Paypal.  They gave me the runaround at first, but then instructed me to send the rails back via UPS.  Of course these guys refused to accept the return shipment.  Once Paypal saw that they refused shipment, Paypal took measures to refund my money.  It took 6 months to get my money back (still lost the shipping cost), but I did prevail in the end.  One other thing I hate to mention is that the chrome started to deteriorate almost immediately.

Possibly they have fixed the issue with the right rail and they have improved their chroming process...because otherwise the rails look identical to the OEM product.

[LL]

BEWARE if it's the same discountcycle I bought trunk rails for my Interstate.... PLEASE BEWARE!!!!!
Be prepared to have pictures of them coming out of the box, be prepared to look closely and make darn sure you used some type of secured payment with money back. Took me over a month to get a refund and they tried every trick you could think of to get out of it too. Advertized them as like new and not damaged. If they showed them intstalled on a silver and blue I/S, lookout.
 

[Dubsvalk]

Thanks for the headsup guys!  I did pay with paypal.  I hope they have improved their product because I think those rails look so good on our Valks.  I will let you know how it turns out!
Thanks again!
Bernie

[LL]

Looks like he is currently reselling the Trunk Rails I bought and returned .........

[hubcapsc]

Those dudes started showing up on eBay right about the same time that Matt from Carolinabikeandtrike got his
ready to sell... his weren't cheap like theirs, I bet they were really good... but for whatever reason
he didn't keep selling them, too bad...

-Mike

[9Ball]

Don't be afraid to ask opinions here before you buy something....obviously the response shows a lot of people have first hand experience and can steer you clear of bad choices.

Good luck...sounds like you might need some.

[HayHauler]

 If they showed them intstalled on a silver and blue I/S, lookout.
[/quote]

Man, I got sucked into those trunk rails.  I opened the box to make sure that they weren't bent and were packaged well, but didn't take them out of the bubble wrap.

I guess I need to open them up and at least hold them up to the bike (old rusting rails) and see if the holes will line up...

OH well, live and learn.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Dubsvalk]

IU will just have to wait and see what I get.  If it is junk it will go back and Paypal can get my money back for me. 
You guys are right.  I should have checked here before buying.  Next time I will definately be asking questions! 
Thanks again for the insight.
Bernie

[fudgie]

got a link or something cause I have no idea what or who your talking about?

[Stude]

 Look at it this way if it's "F.U.B.A.R." when you get and they don't want to refund your money.
Put your thinking cap on and figure out where they went wrong and fix it, then send it out to be re-chromed. Keep track of what you spent and file a lawsuit for 10 times that amount.

[HayHauler]

Item #:   260695032659
This is the same blue and silver IS that was on the ad with my trunk rails.

Fudgie, this is the guy we are talking about. 

Hay
Jimmyt

[fudgie]

Ah. ok. 

[HayHauler]

Had to figure out how to tell you what the item was without posting the direct link...item number it is!

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Pretty sure I read either here or on the VOAI board that the dude building these " fixed " his jig and corrected the fitting problem....These are not the one's I was talking about on the phone today Bernie....You may luck out 

[Alaskamike]

got me too.... we'll see....

shipping has been REALLY SLOW.   I've been waiting a month, and several emails.  They respond and promise delivery but no rails yet.   Should'a , could'a, would'a been wise to ask here 1st.   

[Spirited-6]

I just went thru twenty pages of reviews on this guy. He moves a "LOT OF STUFF" and I think most of his problem is slow or no follow up on complaints. He has been a Ebayer since 2009 under present name. You realley can`t do the volume that he does with out bad feed back. He needs to be quicker on responding to his customers. 
Maybe like Joe says; new fixes on rails. 

[Dubsvalk]

I just received notification from UPS that they have picked them up.  I should get them by the first of the week.  I hope you are right, Joe!
Bernie

[MP]

Good luck!  Hope the jig is fixed!  Please let us know if they are straight!

MP

[Willow]

I have a set of those on my Blue and White.  They're not perfect, but with a little slight redirection of the mounts (bending, but gentle bending) they work fine.

Mine is not a show bike, but I do like it to look nice.

I have a set of the Hondaline rails on my Interstate.  there is a distinct difference in quality, but whether it's $200 difference and whether it's acceptable is something you'll have to decide for yourself.

[wlgrice]

I just bought a set about a month ago and they fit pretty good, their is a little differance in the left to the right side, but you only see one side at a time so to me not a big deal. The only problem I have had is the bolts they send with the bike, dont do what you need to do. Be ready to buy several to make everything bolt up correctly, over all not bad for 300 dollars, better than spending 7 or 8 hundred dollars for a set of used honda rails.

[Psychotic Bovine]

I actually just sold a set, so when I saw this post's title, I thought they were talking about the ones I sold.
No idea if the person who bought mine is in the VRCC, but I made a point of saying that mine were genuine Hondaline ones.  I did get a decent amount, but I should have charged more on shipping, but it's all good.  I have seen the non-Honda ones on ebay and I know that is why mine didn't sell for as much as I figured they would. 

[OverdueBill]

I got a set last summer.  Not bad.  Fit ok.  The mount under the bag needs a tweek.  The hardware can be tossed in the trash for the most part.  Got to the hardware store and get some more.  The chrome isn't dazzeling but looks good.  So far.  I'd buy them again.  You can get two sets or more of these for a set of new hondaline.

[BF]

Bump.

Trying to keep this at the top.  I wanna hear Dubsvalk's report when he gets those rails in. 

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Bump.

Trying to keep this at the top.  I wanna hear Dubsvalk's report when he gets those rails in. 

He started ridin' with us last week and plans to go again tomorrrow ....Whenever he get's them mounted I'll post some pictures 

[Walküre]

For what it's worth, I bid $120 twice, on two different sets from this seller. Needless to say, one set went for over $300, the other was $250 or so. I received a "second chance" offer on my $120 bid, so got a set for $120.

The way I see it, I own a Valkyrie. I ride a LOT. I do all my own work, build my own mounts for stuff, built my own tow behind trailer, went dark-side on the rear, etc, etc. I most certainly can do a little "hootenizing" on a $120 set of rails, to make them look ok. Can't do much about the chrome, so hoping it holds up for a while, but we'll see. I just couldn't justify $400-$800 for a set of Hondaline, seeing as they are more "pretty", than "functional".

Hopefully, they come fairly soon...

[fudgie]

For what it's worth, I bid $120 twice, on two different sets from this seller. Needless to say, one set went for over $300, the other was $250 or so. I received a "second chance" offer on my $120 bid, so got a set for $120.

The way I see it, I own a Valkyrie. I ride a LOT. I do all my own work, build my own mounts for stuff, built my own tow behind trailer, went dark-side on the rear, etc, etc. I most certainly can do a little "hootenizing" on a $120 set of rails, to make them look ok. Can't do much about the chrome, so hoping it holds up for a while, but we'll see. I just couldn't justify $400-$800 for a set of Hondaline, seeing as they are more "pretty", than "functional".

Hopefully, they come fairly soon...

Let me know how they/or you get to work with your hitch. My hitch is the only thing holding me back. I could care less if one side is a hair different. I bought it to ride not show.

[Walküre]

Will do, Fudge - which hitch do you have? HitchDoc?

I looked close at a bunch of pictures of the Hondaline rails - this HAS to be somewhat close, and if so, shouldn't be a problem. But, will let you know when I get it.

Roger

[fudgie]

Will do, Fudge - which hitch do you have? HitchDoc?

I looked close at a bunch of pictures of the Hondaline rails - this HAS to be somewhat close, and if so, shouldn't be a problem. But, will let you know when I get it.

Roger

No its a Markland or something like that. I think they would all be the same. But yes, do let me know.

I bought a set of MC Ent set and a hitch a few winters ago. Both wouldnt fit together so I kept the hitch. Chopped up the MC Ent to get to fit but didnt look good.

[Alaskamike]

GOT MY RAILS FROM DISCOUNT CYCLE - finally!  Took over a month and several emails.  They are using a mailer from TX.  The good thing is they fit okay, My rails are even both sides, and the chrome work looks good.

Some no-so-good...

Broke a bolt they sent with the rails... cheap.  Get good ones if you can

They charged me $95 for UPS shipping (to Alaska) but sent them USPS for $18 slow-boat-to-china, hence it took over a month.

The rails were bubble wraped, but loose in the box, one was poking through the boX!  Fortunatly they were not damaged.

I am modifying (bending ) the mounts slightly, but it is easy to do.   

Overall, I am okay, like the rails, and am glad I got them.  Mike.

[Jess from VA]

Overall, I am okay, like the rails, and am glad I got them.  Mike.

Be nice if you could post a couple detail pics of the final product when finished. 

I have my Hondaline rails, but others may be interested.

[Dubsvalk]

Just got my rails in this evening but won't get the chance to open the box and try them until Friday.  Hopefully, they will be good ones like others have posted.  Joe said we were riding to Stearns, Kentucky saturday and I hope to have them on by then!  Stearns is about 92 miles as the crow flies but knowing Joe, it will take two days of hard riding just to get there! 
Bernie

[Gary]

I had got my generic brand saddlebag rails off ebay after several attempts at bidding. I wouldn't go over a certain amount and did well in the end.

The rails arrived within a week, not the best packing job but bubble wrapped with no shipping damage. They did not line up perfectly but did not show any noticable differences. I was able to use only some of the provided hardware.

I took a 10 day trip shortly after getting the rails installed and still need to get the brackets that attach to the bottom of the saddle bags bent to line up just right.

Chrome = fair

For the price I paid I felt it was a good deal (about $175 total which included shipping & insurance), not equal to Hondaline but overall acceptable in my book and not the outlay for the Hondaline.

Heck, she made Miss August (with her little sister) in the 2011 VRCC Calendar.   Calendar shot taken at June Lake Loop on that 10 day trip.


This ain't the calendar shot but a shot just the same.


Good luck!  

[Big IV]

I'm glad this has become an ongoing discussion. I have a neighbor that just bought a Valk and he'll be needing a set of bag rails after he fixes the damaged bags that were on it when he bought it. I'll have to remember to tell him caveat emptor if he asks again.

[PAVALKER]

Will do, Fudge - which hitch do you have? HitchDoc?

I looked close at a bunch of pictures of the Hondaline rails - this HAS to be somewhat close, and if so, shouldn't be a problem. But, will let you know when I get it.

Roger

No its a Markland or something like that. I think they would all be the same. But yes, do let me know.

I bought a set of MC Ent set and a hitch a few winters ago. Both wouldnt fit together so I kept the hitch. Chopped up the MC Ent to get to fit but didnt look good.

I tried the same MC Ent rails with my Hichdoc and did the same thing you did...  tried to cut the rails up to get em to fit somehow.... but it didn't work out too well.  I'm interested in this rail thing too. 

[Dubsvalk]

Gary,
I got no instructions but looks simple enough.  Do the rails bolt to the top shocl bolts?  Did they supply a bolt for this or do you use the original shock bolts?  The box they shipped mine in had holes in it and the hardware was shipped loose and several pieces were lost.
Bernie

[Walküre]

Gary,
I got no instructions but looks simple enough.  Do the rails bolt to the top shocl bolts?  Did they supply a bolt for this or do you use the original shock bolts?  The box they shipped mine in had holes in it and the hardware was shipped loose and several pieces were lost.
Bernie

Bernie - reading what others say about hardware, that might be a GOOD thing!

[Sneaky Snake]

Bernie,
If your new bag rails are similar to Hondaline, those instructions are here in "Shoptalk"
http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/Manuals/BagRails1.pdf
http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/Manuals/BagRails2.pdf

These instructions leave quite a bit to your imagination. 
Show us some pics in progress and finished product.
HTH's
Chris

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Gary,
I got no instructions but looks simple enough.  Do the rails bolt to the top shocl bolts?  Did they supply a bolt for this or do you use the original shock bolts?  The box they shipped mine in had holes in it and the hardware was shipped loose and several pieces were lost.
Bernie

Hondaline use the original shock bolt ...I'm sure the knock-off's do as well since they copied the Hondaline .

[big turkey]

It's all about the Chrome.

To impress people that don't really care about us at all..

Strange isn't it.

Trace Adkins - Chrome	powered by Aeva