Just bought saddle bags on ebay

[Buda]

OEM LEATHER SADDLEBAGS1997-2003 Hondaline OEM - GL1500
item #300502517891
Anybody using them...What do ya think of them?
Thanks
Tom

[f6rider]

They look great in person and  the factory mounts are the best

[Flat6Valk]

I have a set in fine condition, and they are 3 yrs old.  However they have not been wet.  Not even a little wet.  I have seen plenty of pictures and some in person that are warped beyond acceptable condition and some that are warped beyond usuable.  Im not sure why that happens.  Probably a combination of things like getting caught in storm conditions, drying of leather, UV rays, leaving untreated, etc.

I take mine off in the winter and use Leatherlyke bags in the wet months or on long trips so my leather bags stay nice.  The OEM leather bags are fine looking bags.  No doubt about it.  They are not durable and extra care is in order to keep them looking nice.

[NITRO]

I bought a set of sagged bags for my Standard and used them for two years before getting a new set. The bike was totaled after 2 weeks of using the new bags, so I don't know how they would have held up, but I recommend using a high quality leather conditioner (I used Obenauf's heavy duty lp http://www.obenaufs.com/lp.php?osCsid=dbf0d918a88c54552a66125d8d4266b0) and seriously considering leather lid's support system (http://www.leatherlidinserts.com/). You could also make your own inserts if you wanted.

I had done both for my new bags and figured they would last about as long as the Valk. I now have an Interstate and the OEM hard bags. The OEM leather bags look great on the Standard (assuming they haven't sagged), but are a PITA to open and close because of the three buckles on each bag.

Here's the Standard with new bags this past spring just before the accident:



And here's what she looked like with the saggy bags:

[Westsider]

Had them on my 98 were awesome...You can fit many a odd shape thigs in em with leaving them unbuckeled for short trips to the store or what evere and you can fabricate stiffiners to install in the inside of them to keep them in shape....i liked using the black cream polish...classic valky bags...

[Buda]

Thanks Guys...Making some sort of frame inside of the bags  for holding the shape shouldnt be to big of a deal.  Wood...what did you guys do?
Thanks
Tom

[Challenger]

http://gotsaggybags.com/  Check this site out, can order just what you want or the entire kit. or just use for blue print.

[Buda]

cool...just what I was lookin for