Jumbo Saddlebags

[p2rae]

Does anyone have experience of using the Jumbo Strong saddlebags from Tsukayu? I loved the OEM bags on my last Valkyrie Tourer. I now have a Valkyrie standard and want large, lockable hard bags that look right on the bike. The Jumbo Strong bags are 40 liters but do they compromise handling? Do they ground at maximum lean angle? Do they fit without relocating the turn signals? All advice welcome. I live in the UK and so won't be able to see how the bags work till they are shipped.

[Jess from VA]

I don't have them, but I've studied them and seen them on valks and other bikes.

They work well and compromise nothing, unless you do not swing wide enough around a car bumper/object in the driveway or parking lot or gas pump.  A friend of mine just posted a pic of his with a twelve pack and six pack of beer in one bag, and there was still more room.

[pancho]

I put a set on my bike and really like them. I mounted them high so the tops of the bags are level with the fender and that gives me plenty of ground clearance. I drilled and mounted them myself, and if you get Tsukayu to predrill them, I do not know how high they will set...   ask them   ...  They ride just fine and are unnoticeable as far as handling goes, and they hold more than any bag I have had on a bike....  They do not require relocating the turn signals, and as far as I am concerned, are the perfect bag if you like the "Phat Girl"  look,, I like them.   I have to be mindful of them when getting on and off so I do not scrape them with my boot.  I need to go look again, but I don't remember if they will be the first thing to scrape if you go over that far,,,,  I have not been over "that far".

[signart]

Great looking bike, Pancho. Nice job.

[p2rae]

Thanks for both of these most helpful comments. Pancho, your bike looks superb. Only problem with mounting them that high (and I can appreciate why you did it) is that it might compromise leg room for a passenger. Anyone got any experience with that? Otherwise, I'm sold and reckon I'll order a set.

[pancho]

Thanks guys,,,  p2rae, your right about the passenger leg room,,, probably will affect it. 

I just remembered there is something I don't like about the bags,, there is an indentation for the shocks that does not fit the Valkyrie at all.... causes a big hole when looked at from the front.   Let me find a picture and I will post it in awhile.

[Jess from VA]

Just remember, the tourer has the rear guard as part of the bag mount system.  If you laid or tipped the bike over, it came to rest on the forward and rear guards (and protected the bags).  If you do this with a standard, the bags very well may hit, maybe not hard, depending on how hard it goes over.

I always wondered why no one ever came up with a rear guard for standards with hardbags (short of the entire tourer/interstate mount system).  Champion made one years ago, but they are nearly impossible to find.  

The little guards that Tsukayu sells bolt right to the bags, and could easily rip the bolts out of the bags, or crack them in a fall.  Might protect the paint in a gentle tipover. Would need mounted with wide rubber & plastic washers, inside and out.

 
Champion valk guard.


A home built guard need not come up to the top of the bag, just need a heavy duty steel U loop down low, similar to the guard on tourer/interstate.  How/where to mount would also be tricky.

Like this. (maybe a longer loop for the Jumbos.


My buddy with the brand new CVO road king just discovered the bags that come on the bike are extra large (lower), and the (standard) rear guards that come on the bike do not hit before the bags do in a tipover.  Nice work there boys.... and only $30K or so.

[pancho]

Here is a shot from the angle that shows that these bags are not made specifically for the Valkyrie.



However, the bags are solid enough, that if you do slide down the road on them, you will do some body and paint damage, but the bags will probably hold up,, More likely the damage will be on the back at the mounting points. I am planning on making a front (from muffler hanger to bottom of bag) and possible a rear support between the two bags for further stability in case of accident, and still have not given up on modifying a set of OEM or clone bag rails to fit.