Saddlebag Size

[Mikey]

I'm looking at getting a new set of detachable throwovers, but am wondering what size is the biggest (Height) that will fit without the pipes becoming a problem? Or if saddlebags sitting on the pipe is a problem (I'm going to assume that it is, but, if someone knows different). I've got my eye on a nice set of Saddleman's, but I don't want to drop the money on them if they don't work out.

[Bob E.]

Not sure what model of Saddlemen bags you are looking for, but here is a pic from when I had their Jumbo Slant Drifter bags.  Even though they were the "Jumbo" size, they still looked rather small on my Valk.  Plus, I could never get them to hang right.  As you can see in the pic, it seemed they always rode with the back sagging lower than the front.  These weren't really throw-over bags, though.  they had a leather strap that laid under the rear seat that had these little twist-lock buttons.  The other problem I had was that the back walls of the bags were plastic and would crack around the holes for the twist-lock buttons.  It was always the left side bag that would crack, which is the low side when on the kick-stand.  I think this in addition to the odd angle and stress added to the straps due to the chrome fender rail caused it to pull harder on the back wall than if it were able to hang more naturally.  To Saddlemen's credit, they did replace them for me twice for free even outside of the warranty.  But that was enough for me...I built some custom fiberglass bags and sold the 2nd replacement set new in the box to Warlock here on the VRCC board.  He was mounting on a VTX1300 and was happy with them as far as I know.

[Mikey]

That's the bags! I think pretty much all bags are going to look a little smallish on the Valk. Thanks for the pic. I am thinking that's the way i'm going to go. Would it be worthwhile to come up with some type of underbag support? or do you think the eyelets would still crack?

[MNBill]

PM me if you need some supports, I have some I will let go cheap

[Gondul]

I used to have a set of Leather Connextion www.leatherconnexion.com BK-2900 Jumbo bags that I bought back in '99 or so;  aside from a little sagging here and there they were still in good shape we I sold them about a month ago.   These were mounted with the easy brackets.

[Bob E.]

That's the bags! I think pretty much all bags are going to look a little smallish on the Valk. Thanks for the pic. I am thinking that's the way i'm going to go. Would it be worthwhile to come up with some type of underbag support? or do you think the eyelets would still crack?

Under-bag support would be good...or at least help.  I had the Cobra bag support brackets behind mine and they kept the bags out of the rear wheel, but provided no vertical support for any load in the bags.  The real problem, I believe, was where the line of buttons/holes fell in relation to the chrome fender rail.  The fender rail pushes the bags out.  Raising the bags makes this problem worse in relation to the buttons/holes.  Lowering the bags would probably help some, but the leather strap under the seat is too short.  The leather strap is actually 2 pieces that attach with velcro under the seat.  I had it where it was barely even connected...at least as little as I felt safe using it...and that pretty much placed the line of buttons/holes right on the fattest part of the chrome fender rails.

I really would not recommend these bags for use on a Valk without redesigning some sort of attachment method.