Saddlebag advice

[freeindeed]

I'm thinking of replacing the original leather saddlebags on my 97 standard. I still prefer the leather type. The bags are in pretty good shape as far as the leather goes but kind of deformed at the tops. At the seams even, to the point where I don't think they'll ever hold their shape the way I'd like them, and effort spent reinforcing the lids will probably prove to be a waste of time. I've looked at 'leatherlids' at one point, but decided they would be no better.
 So, I think I'd like to find a replacement set. Be great to find a really nice set of OEM's. While I won't hold out for them, there should be some other available options. I think size and shape of the current bags Honda got right. As you know some aftermarkets don't look like they belong on a Valkyrie. I want to avoid that and will just keep what I have rather than wreck the looks of it. I have seen some nice bags I think from a Road King that are nice looking but I don't know how they would look on one of our bikes. Plain bags, no studs or conchos. Though I'm living with the studs that came with mine. Any advice, like specic brand and size, suggestions or even a picture would be very helpful to me. I know many of you see more bikes in a month than I'll see in a year and have a better eye for it....Thanks in advance

[-mike-]

I like the leather bags, too, and mine were deformed beyond belief when I bought the bike.

The Leather lid inserts I tried.
Ordered and they wouldn't do what was promised.
So I sold them again. Unused.

Instead I reinforced the side with an inner plate, made from black 3mm polycarbonate and the lid with a pre formed strip made from 3mm PE glued and riveted (black rivets) onto it.

Before I softened the leather with water and saddle soap, stuffed the bag with styro pieces back to the original form and dried carefully with a hot air gun.

That's how they came out rebuilt:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uXnQWHytLfY

But if I would need a new set, I'd go for vinyl covered Tsukayu Hard bags.
Best if both worlds, imho.

https://tsukayu.com/JumboStrong.html

That's how the biggest ones look on a Valkyrie
https://tsukayu.com/jumbostrong_Valkyrie_3.html

The OEM saddle bags in acceptable condition go for about 700 a set. IF you still can find any.

Good luck,
-mike-

[freeindeed]

That is a beautiful bike. I would be happy with bags that looked like yours. They are straight. Mine might be considered acceptable condition then. If I can just get the leather softened up enough to straighten out the seam where the top of the lid meets the side of the lid. (Yours are very defined) And get rid of the sag.
 So you used polycarbonate (for the sides) and pre-formed polyethylene to form the lid? I like the idea of the black rivets. I didn't even notice them in the video.
Water and saddle soap will soften them enough to get the corners pliable enough to work the leather?.
It's coming near riding season here and this job looks like it will take time and a good measure of  patience to get them to look like yours but with the info you provided, it looks very doable next winter
Thank you sir

[Timbo1]

I'm no leather worker but I can tell you some of my experience.  I had a old set of saddle bags that were dry, collapsed and deformed that I wanted to attempt to salvage.  I filled a trash can with water and stuffed them in and let sit for a few days.  After that they were pliable enough to re-shape.  So I stuffed them with blankets & latched the straps to get them back to their original shape and let them sit for a few days to dry,  might have even been closer to a week.  But after they dried they maintained the correct form.   Unfortunately I wasn't able to salvage them as I found some of the leather was so dry rotted it tore while tugging & pulling into shape but it was a good learning experience for me.