Hard or Soft

[Twofeather]

What is your opinion on saddle bags (hard or leather)? I do a little bit of leather work and was thinking about building my own saddle bags. I have been looking at some of the pictures on the board and I'm liking some of the hard bags that I'm seeing but the cost differences is pretty high. Is there any advantage of having one or the other?

[CajunRider]

Hard bags are GENERALLY better at keeping whatever is inside them dry. 
They maintain their shape empty OR full.
They are typically lockable (which is nice when traveling). 

Soft bags can be stretched/deformed a little bit to fit items that are slightly too wide or long and wouldn't fit in a same size hard bag. 
They look better (in my opinion, which is worth all of 2 cents...), but require a bit more care to maintain the look. 
They are WAY cheaper than a good set of hard bags. 

Ideally, I like leather wrapped hard bags...

[da prez]

Had leather.  Then went hard .(

[hubcapsc]

100% hard bags.

I remember doing and undoing the three belt straps on my Harley's leather bags. Bleggh.

My OEM hard bags and Corbin hard bags have hinges and locks and keep stuff
dry.

-Mike "and look so much better  ... $0.02"

[f6gal]

I much prefer hard bags, despite the much higher cost.  Like Mike said, hard bags have hinges and locks and keep stuff dry.  Also, IMHO, color matched hard bags look the best. 

[Jess from VA]

Besides the advice already provided (hard bags all the way  ), the remaining issues are: what do you intend (or need) to carry, and where do you ride?

Do you ride locally most of the time without need for gear, tools, parts, a firearm which are expensive to lose (theft), and you want to protect better (locks)?  Or do you travel?

Is there no (or little) worry of theft where you (mostly) ride and park? 

Is the weather pretty good where you ride and park, so you don't worry about water damage.

Lots of guys ride around with a $6-800 helmet (or two), they understandably want to lock up (and not carry around all day).

To me, function always trumps form.  To me, painted (to match) hardbags look much better than any leather/vinyl bags (but not to everyone).  Hardbags function trumps leather every day in every way (but they cost more).

[Willow]

As often; you tend to get what you pay for.

[Toledo Mark]

Had the OEM leather and went to Champion Sidecar bags years ago. (No Longer have my Valk).  I prefer hard bags, they lock and are water tight.

[cookiedough]

hard bags unless you have longer or taller items that need to hang out the leather soft bags  on top which at times wish I had leather bags (or fake leather) that stretch a little for oddball objects.  But, overall,  hardbags are better day in and day out.   

Also depends on the cycle you have which looks better IMO both are fine.

[Twofeather]

Thanks for your input. I would like to have hard saddlebags but it probably come down to money as it usually does with things like this as least for me.

[GiG]

I have a set of NEW in the box, never installed, genuine embossed leather Valkyrie Saddlebags...   

[Bret SD]

Thanks for your input. I would like to have hard saddlebags but it probably come down to money as it usually does with things like this as least for me.

I have OEM leather bags and like them a lot, they were pretty clean when I got them off eBay for I think 230.00. The bike had aftermarket hard bags that were fine but not what I wanted. The leathers were slightly deforming when I got them so I installed a stiffener kit, before I did that I saturated them over a few days by brushing on olive oil. Water beads off them and nothing inside has ever gotten wet, I got them mainly for cost but also for looks. They fit visually with the theme I wanted on the bike.

I don't keep anything valuable in there when parked, my helmet is a beat up half helmet nobody wants so I don't even put it in the bags or trunk. To date nobody has messed with anything or opened the bags to my knowledge. I only use the center strap so it's no biggie to open and close them. The trunk I got was also from eBay and cost 65.00, it's great and compares well with much more expensive offerings.
Between the three containers I can shop at Costco, you wouldn't believe all the crap I can fit onto the bike while also using a small box wedged in behind the driver backrest.
All told I don't have a ton of money invested in my baby and she's worth far more than every penny I've put into her. I paid 2500.00 for her, then fixed some mechanical things and added what I liked.

This is what she looked like when I first got her (the motorcycle haha)


And what she looks like now


She's not the prettiest Valk around but I like her

[Serk]

Every time I see this post's subject float by I get excited and think we're finally having a thread about the best types of tacos, but alas....

I like hard bags, although I could see the aesthetics of soft bags if you're going for a 1930's Indian look I guess...

[Robert]

Nice to have things dry and secure with the hard bags, even though the cost is more.

[Bret SD]

Every time I see this post's subject float by I get excited and think we're finally having a thread about the best types of tacos, but alas....

I like hard bags, although I could see the aesthetics of soft bags if you're going for a 1930's Indian look I guess...

Zactly!
I know it's not exactly looking like that, but I still like it.. I need some longer fringe on the bags. I checked out fender skirts but meh.. don't know enough about how that would work, I don't want to drill the fenders.

I get lots of compliments on the bike, especially from the younger set, they seem to really like the leather and chrome.

[Jess from VA]

Hard is good.

But hard all the time is embarrassing. 

[Bret SD]

Hard is good.

But hard all the time is embarrassing. 

Haha, if it lasts more than 4 hours call your mechanic   

[Jess from VA]

Hard is good.

But hard all the time is embarrassing.  

Haha, if it lasts more than 4 hours call your mechanic  

So he can smack it with a wrench?

As the comedian said;  If it's hard after 4 hours, I ain't callin' a doctor, I'm callin' a hooker.  

Not that I've known any.  Though back in the day, I represented a few (Detroit).  

Which reminds me, I was always more nervous going in the woman's lockup than the men's.  The men all knew I was there to defend someone, the women were mean and just wanted to fight someone (and you didn't dare turn your back in there).

I was once offered a fee to represent one.... to be paid in the 3d floor men's room of the courthouse.

I declined, politely.   And people think private practice lacks excitement.  

[Twofeather]

I bought a 99 standard with 93,000 miles on it. I bought it from a friend who bought it new in 99. I have been riding motor cycles my whole life, mostly dirt bikes. This is my first street bike that I own, I have rode other street bikes but this one is mine. I am so excited I can't wait to ride. I think the PO had got some bad gas last summer right before he put her up for winter. So when I got her in January the carbs where all gummed up and the tank is full of rust. I spent all last weekend rebuilding the carbs (10 hours) and I tried to clean out the tank (without much luck). Sunday night when I finally got it put back together I broke 2 bolts and I had a leak on one of the carbs. A little discouraging to say the least. Everyone on here has been a big help and I'm sure I'll need more before it is all over with.


My bike does not have any bags on it as of now but If I go on an over night trip I'm going to need something to carry my stuff in. I have always like leather bags, and I don't plan on being anywhere that I will need to lock it up but you never know.  

[Jess from VA]

A real decent quick fix for storage on trips, is one of those big backpacks that slips over the sissy bar.

Get waterproof, or you have to cover it with a big lawn and leaf bag to keep your stuff dry.



This dry bag (dry even at bottom of a swimming pool) is not for sissy bars but goes across my tail rack.  It holds it's shape even empty, but with the roll top it's slow to load and unload.
https://twistedthrottle.com/shop/luggage/tail-bags/dryspec-d38-rigid-waterproof-motorcycle-dry-bag-multiple-colors-available-38l-total/



When you get to your destination, it comes off and goes inside (easy).

[Bret SD]

Which reminds me, I was always more nervous going in the woman's lockup than the men's.  The men all knew I was there to defend someone, the women were mean and just wanted to fight someone (and you didn't dare turn your back in there).

I was once offered a fee to represent one.... to be paid in the 3d floor men's room of the courthouse.

I declined, politely.   And people think private practice lacks excitement."

Jess, thoughts like that make me soft....  verrrrrry soft..   

[h13man]

I like soft bags for all the reasons aforementioned. On my Saddlemen Cruis'n' Slants I made back panels that form fit inside using 1/4" Lexan and made 12 ga. bottom supports. Both these additions fasten to the Edge/Ghost bracket assembly.