Saddlebag Quest

[signart]

Hello fellow Valkyrie riders,
Newbie to the forum. Signed on as I tackled my first major maintenance job on my '98 standard, just in case I got tripped up somewhere. Repaired a severe leak in fuel rail, after research on this site & others. All going well so well so far, and I not as intimidated as I was before. (Replaced air rail, fuel rail, intake O rings). All I lack is putting the fuel tank back on. Ran extremely well before, so I didn't touch the carbs internally.

Anyway, the real reason I'm writing today: Is anyone using the Champion Patriot hard bags. If so, pro & cons maybe a pic. I give up trying to score oem bags. These appear to have the basic shape of the factory ones. Also thinking of painting solid color. Thanks in advance for any replies.

Art Woody
Crossville, TN
Blue & cream '98 Standard

[Jess from VA]

Art, the Champion Patriots are the nicest bags you can get... certainly better quality than OE, they are also the most expensive by far.  Their paint is reputed to be top quality too.  Their customer service is more like.... we'll talk to you when we feel like it.  Though nobody makes a better bag-mount than OE.

If you haven't seen them, take a look at Tsukayu Strong (and Jumbo Strong) bags.  They are also very close to OE shape and size, except much more swept back on the front edge.  Many here have them. About half the Champion price.  Upgraded locks/latches are supposed to be a good idea.

http://www.tsukayu.com/Strong.htm
http://www.tsukayu.com/strong%20photo.htm
http://www.tsukayu.com/JumboStrong.html

http://www.valueaccessories.net/Tech%20Tips/Tsukayu%20Installation%20Tips.htm


Oh, and welcome to our forum, where motorcycles are often discussed.  

[Master Blaster]

My first Valk was a 98 Blue/Creme Std that I bought new.  Great bike and one of the best colors.   Now to your question, I put on a set of the Champions with their bag guards, and they were great.  They mount different than the stock bags, but are very sturdy.  Some complained that the latches were cheap, but I never had a problem with them.  I ordered them painted to match the bike and they were perfect, even the orange pinstripe between the colors.   Dont remember the cost, but even back then they were pricy, but worth it.  My Son still has the bike, and the bags are still  good.  Now that stock accys are getting rare and very expensive they are probably a better buy than then.

[BF]

Champions pros.......great bag, good locks, lined, solid mounts, you can use the oem bag rails, same size as oem bags.  

Champions cons......$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

If you don't have to have Champions, I second the Tsukayu bags.  They're a realy good bag, come lined, and have pretty good lock sets too.  Look very much like the oem bags, but like MB said already, they have more of a steaper sloop at the front....other than that, they're pretty darn close to the oem's.  

I've got Mustang bags on mine and I really like them.  They're the same as the Tsukayu "Quick Release Stong" bags except covered in Mustang's material.  

[Bigwolf]

Art, Welcome to the Inzanity.

I too have been looking for hard bags but I am hating the prices.

Anyway, I am in Crossville quite often.  Just live a few miles away.  Always looking for other Valk riders that live close enough to share some wind.

Bigwolf

[Black Dog]

Welcome to the zoo 

Like Master Blaster, I've had my Champions for better than 10 years, still look great, and still love them    I also have, the no longer available, Champion Crash Bars    While I got mine a long time ago, I thought their Customer Service was great...  Got a real live person to talk to, and they took care of my (crash bar) issue, no problem.

The only down side I know of is they are 'KaChing $$$' 



Black Dog

[Paxton]

WELCOME!

Be Warned: If you choose a solid color other than Black, you'd be riding a much slower bike! 
You could put 6 Super Chargers or just paint it Black... am just sayin...'   :

Kiddin' aside;
In choosing Saddlebags I wanted LOW BUCKS and GOOD LOOKIN' SaddleBags ...
MY CRITERIA was: Anything "just for Show" and for the proverbial "Honey, on your way home, don't forget the gallon of milk and a dead chicken drill"  

Well, $345 on eBay brought them to my front door.

SEE PHOTOS INSTALLED ON "She Dragon..."
https://picasaweb.google.com/103917731019176896112/2000ValkyrieStandard?authkey=Gv1sRgCMmdjLG26rq5xwE#5679059134205357138

I now need a replacement set.  ???

Their current price is $305 + $60 shipping. They will be at my house entrance (again! > for under $366. 
You'd love the paint finish. They now come in three solid-color choices.

If you need VERY strong, long-distance travel bags, these are not them. But with some well designed reinforcement and brackets they'll go a long way.
This time 'round I'd do that. I think you'd agree that they are nice for the price. 

In hindsight, had I purchased the better installation hardware and had I reinforced them, I would have exceed the maximum 10 lbs per bag. 

They'd look great on Any Standard or Tourer Valk. 

BREAKING NEWS... err...
Err... before Christmas 2011, "She Dragon" laid on me and the right saddlebag cracked as the pressure increased in slow-mo... over my right leg.

My boot got caught under the truck stack pipe.  :'(   Frankly, while contorting with pain,
I would have expected the bag to crack / break off way sooner.

Fast-Forward...
Today I purchased  Valk-Tourer's Saddlebag OEM hardware. Laterish... I'll be buying these same bags.
Indeed, these bags are UNIVERSAL and will fit any large cruiser. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-RS-Hard-Saddlebags-Saddle-Bags-Road-Star-Roadstar-11-/230768872548?hash=item35bae58c64&item=230768872548&pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr

NOTE: Meanwhile, I've purchased a used set of "Leather-Like" Saddlebags for long treks. Lucky for me, both my VTX1800R and "She Dragon"
share bags, windshields, Batwings, shocks, tires, front wheel and other Bling. 

"If you have no intention of loving or being loved by your Fat Lady,
then the whole journey is pointless."