Hardbag Shootout - TSUKAYU STRONG (or Jumbo) vs CHAMPION PATRIOT

[StrikingViking]

Hey all...

Looking for honest feedback from people who have, or have had, or have researched these two brands of hard bags.

Both look nice in photos... but the Champions are more than twice the price.  Worth it?

Looking forward to your responses! 

Thanks!!!

[Jack B]

I have a set of Honda hard bags for sale if interested check the classifieds.

[hubcapsc]

People like both, both are supposed to be high quality...

Check out this bike with, I think, Jumbo Strongs:



Here's a picture of the same bike, before painting, showing how you can see the bags aren't made
for a Valkyrie if you look from some angles...



The Patriots are almost the same shape as OEM bags.

-Mike

[Hef]

I have the Tsukayu and like them very much. The only complaint is I've had trouble with the seals.

[PharmBoy]

I put Champions on a 1500 Kawasaki and liked them very much.  Well made, lined, didn't leak, and mounted solidly.

[Black Dog]

Both are good quality 

I purchased the Champions long before the Strong was available, and have no complaints.  Very sturdy mount, lined, clones of the OEM bags.

Gotta be close to 13 or 14 years I've been running them...



Black Dog

[Bighead]

I put Champions on a 1500 Kawasaki and liked them very much.  Well made, lined, didn't leak, and mounted solidly.

They look good on that Kawi.

[StrikingViking]

I put Champions on a 1500 Kawasaki and liked them very much.  Well made, lined, didn't leak, and mounted solidly.

I agree with Bighead... they look real sharp on your Kawi!  Nice paint work!

[StrikingViking]

I have a set of Honda hard bags for sale if interested check the classifieds.

I saw that, Jack... thank you, but with some hardware missing, and needing new locks, and hole patching (and then painting), at the end of the day I'd be into them for $2000, and that's more than I can/will spend.

[BF]

I have the Mustang bags.  They are the same as the Tsukayu "quick release" Strongs.....except that they are covered with Mustang's leather like material.  

They're a very nice hard bag, they come lined and come with very nice lock sets.  

The Patriots are just about double the price.....HOWEVER....if I had the money, I'd have bought the Patriots.  The Patriots also come lined and with very nice lock sets.  

If you do it right, you can utilize a set of the oem saddlebag guard rails with either the Mustangs, Tsukayu Strongs or the Patriots.  

[blackvalkyrie]

I bought the Tsukayu Jumbo strong and love them...btw, the do NOThave that big gap that someone posted a  pic of..must be really old bags....I can shoot you a pic of em when I get home

Hey all...

Looking for honest feedback from people who have, or have had, or have researched these two brands of hard bags.

Both look nice in photos... but the Champions are more than twice the price.  Worth it?

Looking forward to your responses! 

Thanks!!!

[BF]

I bought the Tsukayu Jumbo strong and love them...btw, the do NOThave that big gap that someone posted a  pic of..must be really old bags....I can shoot you a pic of em when I get home

Post it here.  I'm sure others would like to see your bags as well.   

[blackvalkyrie]

I tried, I hit insert image but just got words....help!

I bought the Tsukayu Jumbo strong and love them...btw, the do NOThave that big gap that someone posted a  pic of..must be really old bags....I can shoot you a pic of em when I get home

Post it here.  I'm sure others would like to see your bags as well.   

[blackvalkyrie]

I tried, I hit insert image but just got words....help!

I bought the Tsukayu Jumbo strong and love them...btw, the do NOThave that big gap that someone posted a  pic of..must be really old bags....I can shoot you a pic of em when I get home

Post it here.  I'm sure others would like to see your bags as well.   

[O-B-1]

I tried, I hit insert image but just got words....help!

You have to post the images on a site sucha as photobucket.com, then copy and paste teh link from teh image there between the two image headers like so...

[StrikingViking]

I bought the Tsukayu Jumbo strong and love them...btw, the do NOThave that big gap that someone posted a  pic of..must be really old bags....I can shoot you a pic of em when I get home

Hey all...

Looking for honest feedback from people who have, or have had, or have researched these two brands of hard bags.

Both look nice in photos... but the Champions are more than twice the price.  Worth it?

Looking forward to your responses!  

Thanks!!!

Thanks for clearing up the gap issue. That seemed odd to me... like someone mounted a bag that was originally mounted on another bike,  or something.

Would you say the hardware is decent quality? I'm just trying to understand why the Champion bags are so much more money.

I'd love to see a few pictures posted.  I didn't have any success posting photos until I opened up an account with photobucket, and posted from there.

One more question... on this photo of someone's bike with the basic "strong" bags... the lid is only partially open. Do they open all the way?

[98valk]

on closeout $299, might be able to make them fit on a real valkyire

http://rifle.com/LeatherLyke-Cross-Country-Saddlebags-for-Honda-VTX-1800C-No-329-P2192.aspx

[StrikingViking]

on closeout $299, might be able to make them fit on a real valkyire

http://rifle.com/LeatherLyke-Cross-Country-Saddlebags-for-Honda-VTX-1800C-No-329-P2192.aspx

Lol.... thanks, but that's what I have right now. It's not the look I'm going for. Plus functionally, they're too small. I can barely stuff my jacket it it.

[Xtracho]

Don't know anything about the Tsukayu bags. My '98 came with the Champion Patriot bags. They were great. Rock solid and looked good on the bike. Recently purchased a set of OEM bags from another member. The Patriot bags took a hit from a deer a few years ago but I still ran with them with not one issue other than cosmetic & needing new hinges. They are sitting in my garage along with a brand new set of mounting hardware. I'll be cleaning up the minor damage to them, sand & prime them, add new hinges, then eventually list them for sale.

[blackvalkyrie]

I bought the Tsukayu Jumbo strong and love them...btw, the do NOThave that big gap that someone posted a  pic of..must be really old bags....I can shoot you a pic of em when I get home

Hey all...

Looking for honest feedback from people who have, or have had, or have researched these two brands of hard bags.

Both look nice in photos... but the Champions are more than twice the price.  Worth it?

Looking forward to your responses!  

Thanks!!!

Thanks for clearing up the gap issue. That seemed odd to me... like someone mounted a bag that was originally mounted on another bike,  or something.

Would you say the hardware is decent quality? I'm just trying to understand why the Champion bags are so much more money.

I'd love to see a few pictures posted.  I didn't have any success posting photos until I opened up an account with photobucket, and posted from there.

One more question... on this photo of someone's bike with the basic "strong" bags... the lid is only partially open. Do they open all the way?



The lids do  open all the way.... I will try to post to photobucket this weekend... mounting hardware is nice, strong, good chrome finish... DO get the connecting bracket under the bags..without it your bags will flex a lot...... also I'm going to add another bracket to the top just for good measure... but the jumbo bags are really large... I can fit my half helmet in them plus more.

[BF]

I bought the Tsukayu Jumbo strong and love them...btw, the do NOThave that big gap that someone posted a  pic of..must be really old bags....I can shoot you a pic of em when I get home

Hey all...

Looking for honest feedback from people who have, or have had, or have researched these two brands of hard bags.

Both look nice in photos... but the Champions are more than twice the price.  Worth it?

Looking forward to your responses!  

Thanks!!!

Thanks for clearing up the gap issue. That seemed odd to me... like someone mounted a bag that was originally mounted on another bike,  or something.

Would you say the hardware is decent quality? I'm just trying to understand why the Champion bags are so much more money.

I'd love to see a few pictures posted.  I didn't have any success posting photos until I opened up an account with photobucket, and posted from there.

One more question... on this photo of someone's bike with the basic "strong" bags... the lid is only partially open. Do they open all the way?

The lid opening.....it depends on which mounts were used.  If they are mounted close to the fender/rear of the bike, the lids can and will hit the seat.  My Mustangs do the exact same thing.  However, it's just a thing to lift the seat up to get the lids to open all the way.  No big deal IMO.  

The reason you'd want to mount the bags as close to the rear fender as much as possible is to mimic the OEM Honda bag mouting.....and even more so if you'd like to use a set of the OEM saddlebag chrome guard rails.  

IMO...bags mounted to the bike with a huge offset from the rear of the rear fender just don't look right hanging way out in the wind.  

As for price differences.....again and IMO, they're just about equal in the quality department.  They are both great bags.  Both come lined and both come with very nice lock/latches.  

The reason the Patriots might be worth more would be that they are a very much nicer bag than the original OEM Honda hard bags...AND...they are exactly the same size and same dimensions as the OEM Honda bags.  They look factory....except they're a much better quality bag than the factory bags.  

Is the price of the Patriots worth it?  Only if that's exactly what you're looking for and have the bucks to spend.  You're getting a quality bag, but only you can decide if the price is worth it to you.

I would have loved to have had a set of the Patriot bags for my bike back when I was doing my bike, but....I simply could'nt justify the price of them at the time....and I could never find a set of used ones at the time either.  I looked hard for options and finally settled on my set of Mustang bags.  

At the time, I wanted a quality bag and I wanted looks,  functionality and style....AND something no one else had.  I think I got that with mine. 



 

[Jess from VA]

I believe the Tsukayu are made in Hong Kong.

The Champions are made in CA. 

Thus the price difference.

[blackvalkyrie]

They are made in Hong Kong....but quality is pretty good....

I believe the Tsukayu are made in Hong Kong.

The Champions are made in CA. 

Thus the price difference.

[Jess from VA]

I was only commenting on cost, not quality.  A buddy put the Jumbos on his std and they are great bags. 

They are made in Hong Kong....but quality is pretty good....

I believe the Tsukayu are made in Hong Kong.

The Champions are made in CA. 

Thus the price difference.

[Jopson]

I found a set of used tsukayu strongs with mounting hardware on eBay for $200 last fall, so far I'm very impressed with them, I would still be impressed with them even if I had paid full price for a new set.  
Hopefully, when finances allow I would like to do something like BF has done with the bag rails, til then I'm happy with what I got.
I do think that I might add a support brace between the two bags soon though, I noticed on my inZane trip when they were fully loaded that there was maybe a bit too much flex in them.

[StrikingViking]

Thanks for the feedback and comments... very helpful!  And thank you for posting the pics Hairyvalk!  This gives me a great look at them on the bike!  $200... wow... what a steal of a deal!

[The emperor has no clothes]

I found a set of used tsukayu strongs with mounting hardware on eBay for $200 last fall, so far I'm very impressed with them, I would still be impressed with them even if I had paid full price for a new set.  
Hopefully, when finances allow I would like to do something like BF has done with the bag rails, til then I'm happy with what I got.
I do think that I might add a support brace between the two bags soon though, I noticed on my inZane trip when they were fully loaded that there was maybe a bit too much flex in them.

When riding behind them you can see them flex (not yours but others). I think you would do good to brace the bottoms 

[Jopson]

Thanks for the feedback and comments... very helpful!  And thank you for posting the pics Hairyvalk!  This gives me a great look at them on the bike!  $200... wow... what a steal of a deal!

Thanks strikingviking. Yeah for $200 I figured I couldn't go wrong! Only thing is the bag lights were a but crappy and dim so I changed them to red LED rope lights in each recess they are much brighter now (have them wired up as brake/turn) one day I will figure out how to make them look a little nicer though.

When riding behind them you can see them flex (not yours but others). I think you would do good to brace the bottoms 
[/quote]
Yeah fully agree with you there meathead, when empty they don't move but as soon as you put some weight in them there do start bouncing!

[skinner]

I have the jumbo bags from Tsukayu on a 97 standard love them no problems fit well and solid they do open all the way up would add pix but not sure how to