Looking for hard bags, H-D for Sportsters are too pricey, National cycle, dont like the look, it is looking like leather-lyke contemporary is the only other way to go. Does anyone know of any other company making hard bags for sportsters? Looking for another winter project to get her totally toured out before spring. :tour

At Zanottis the H-D bags are in the $535 range.

I am in the same predicament as you. I like the HD bags, but $$$ is in low supply right now. I bought the nylon ($199) throwovers, but they are small and goofy looking. They'll do until I find some lackable, quick-detatch hard bags......

We're planning on ordering the Leatherlyke Contemporary bags too...

I've only found one other set that I liked for a reasonable price, but they come unpainted and you'd have to finish them.

Let me see if I can still find the link.

Here it is... www.hardbags.com

$305... universal fit.

Hard Saddlebags (http://www.hardbags.com/index_files/page0005.htm)

Looks neat and if I wanted painted bags I'd go that route. But the Leatherlykes look like they'll take more abuse and not show it!

Kev

LeatherLykes are great. I have put the bike down on the right side twice at low speed, and the bags were scratched, but that's it. Not really noticeable because of the "leather like" finish.

If I were going to do it over again, I would get some ghost brackets and mount some ammo cans. But that's just me.

I would really love some 8" Jesse (http://www.jesseluggage.com/odyssey.html) bags,but I don't think Al Jesse has much interest in Sportsters, unfortunately.

If you get a set of ghost brackets you can attach any kind of bag or box you want. I have leather bags on the brackets now, but am considering attaching some lockable army surplus metal panniers at some point just for kicks.
The nice thing about the ghost brackets is that they come off in seconds.. I generally remove them and bring them into the motel room with me when travelling.

I'm not familiar with "ghost brackets" care to educate me?

a link would ROCK...

K

http://www.ghostbrackets.com/

http://www.ghostbrackets.com/


thanks man...

doesn't look like a bad set-up... great way to mount whatever you want.

Hmmmm, wonder how f'd up Jenn's sporty would look with a set of Givi bags mounted via those brackets...


naaaahhh, she'd kick my ass, I'd better stick to the Leatherlyke plan.

K

Corbin makes Beetle Bags. Woopps....apparently they discountinued them! Well, that's sucks.

http://www.corbin.com/harley/xl/flbag.shtml

Some of the guys over at advrider (http://www.advrider.com/forums/) swear by pelican (http://www.pelican.com/cases/cases.html) cases.

I don't know how good they are but they sure look pretty hardcore.

A pair of pelicans mounted with ghost brackets...

Next thing you know, you're getting a bash plate, long shocks, and a pair of TKC80 knobbies! :tour

...A pair of pelicans mounted with ghost brackets...

Great idea, except ghostbrackets are rated for a maximum of 10 pounds each, including the bag/case. I checked the web site to find this out.

http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=14250&highlight=leatherlyke

Corbin makes Beetle Bags. Woopps....apparently they discountinued them! Well, that's sucks.

http://www.corbin.com/harley/xl/flbag.shtml


THAT SUCKS????? ah-ahhhhhhhh... that's AWESOME. Those were possibly the most HIDEOUS POS's ever thought up by micheal... whath the HELL was he thinking. EEWWWWWWWW.

When Jenn was looking for a replacement for her R65 she was REALLY leaning towards a BMW R1200C... well, as fate would have it, we went to the Harley dealer first and she fell in LOVE with an 883L (thank GOD!) and then to put the final nail in the coffin of the BMW we went to a dealer who had a used R1200C at a decent price and low n' behold it had BEETLE BAGS... Jenn almost threw-up on the thing it was so ugly. She looked at me and said "HARLEY... no question" :banana

Great idea, except ghostbrackets are rated for a maximum of 10 pounds each, including the bag/case. I checked the web site to find this out.


God who EVER listens to those weight ratings... I never have... on bag after bag after bag...

K

I have dreamed of putting those awesome H-D hard bags on as well, but also know that the price is way out of my league! So... I searched the internet & ebay and found several to chose from. I went to http://www.motors.ebay.com/ and typed 'hard saddlebags' for a search and it came up with 62 items ranging in price from $30 to $300.
My personal favorite is this one http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-Motorcycle-Saddlebags-Hard-Bags-Harley-Honda-SILVER_W0QQitemZ4585185306QQcategoryZ84146QQrdZ1QQ cmdZViewItem

Happy hunting
pete
:clap

Has anyone tried putting roadking hard bags, on there sporty? They already have a shock cut out, and would look great. Ive seen them mounted on a V-rod at the local dealer, and they looked good.

I have dreamed of putting those awesome H-D hard bags on as well, but also know that the price is way out of my league! So... I searched the internet & ebay and found several to chose from. I went to http://www.motors.ebay.com/ and typed 'hard saddlebags' for a search and it came up with 62 items ranging in price from $30 to $300.
My personal favorite is this one http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-Motorcycle-Saddlebags-Hard-Bags-Harley-Honda-SILVER_W0QQitemZ4585185306QQcategoryZ84146QQrdZ1QQ cmdZViewItem

Happy hunting
pete
:clap

I picked up a set of these on ebay,they are well made bags and look great.
However,they are smaller than leatherlike and I think would not look good on the sporty,I resold them on ebay.

Has anyone tried putting roadking hard bags, on there sporty? They already have a shock cut out, and would look great. Ive seen them mounted on a V-rod at the local dealer, and they looked good.

This I would like to try.

Those hard bags from eBay look really interesting... excuse my lack of electrical savvy, but I wonder if the brake lights could be wired as turn signal lights? Since it looks like you'd have to remove/relocate the stock lights anyway.

everytime i look at those bags on ebay, i wonder the same thing about the lights.
i have the aux brake light kit on my bike. iwonder if i just unplug from the signals themselves then plug into the ones on the bags?!?!?! i might not ever find out 'cause it takes money to do these things.
pete:frownone

As the seller about the lights,I think I did,just do not remember the answer.
The bags I bought had LED lights if I remember correctly???
Been a while.

bought some hard bags on ebay for $100 shipped. used the lights on the bags for turn signals.

the guys at the H-D dealer likes them.

hey, cool! how much of a pain in the @ss was it to install and wire up? I'm wary of anything billed as "universal fit". Too many companies seem to think "universal Harley fit" means "all Softails".

it wasn't to hard to put on... just have to get creative... about an hour or so to install.

Did those come with chrome bars around them? They look great, by the way!

yes, they did come with the chrome bars but it made them stick out too far. looks better without the bars.

Leo yeah they do look good, how do you feel there made? Do they look like there made pretty good? Do you have a picture from the back?
Thanks

the bags are decently made, made out of abs plastic not fiberglass. sorry but no back picture yet.

I found these bags online for 500 painted black or 450 primed. One style looks alot like the HD bags.

http://www.bikersden.com/products.aspx?CategoryID=61

Well I think I will bite the bullet and go with the H-D hard bags, try to find a used set.

Here's my 2 cents: ghost brackets work great and are well made. I've got 'em mounted to ammo cans and I have had well over ten pounds in them. They are really sturdy and they live up to the quick lock/unlock, quick release/install claim.

5051I know the Harley bags are pricy but they work great and in my opinion fit the style of the bike.

Ya I saw a 2003 w the sporty bags and it looks sooooo clean... so I will save my pennys and look for a used set...

saddleman makes a nice cheap set of hard synthetic leather bags as seen on my bike here check out a picture of them in my gallary.

I have the LeatherLyke, and they look great!

I found these universal bags and mounted them to my '05 Custom. Bought the mounting rails and installed them to the shocks and the fender struts. They are being replace by the real FLHT bags and are for sale ($150 inc shipping) if anyone is interested. They do have locks and work well. If you gotta have new, I can send you the link...........:tour

Looks sweet Snowman

I found these universal bags and mounted them to my '05 Custom. Bought the mounting rails and installed them to the shocks and the fender struts. They are being replace by the real FLHT bags and are for sale ($150 inc shipping) if anyone is interested. They do have locks and work well. If you gotta have new, I can send you the link...........:tour

I like that fairing set up. :tour

I found these bags online for 500 painted black or 450 primed. One style looks alot like the HD bags.

http://www.bikersden.com/products.aspx?CategoryID=61
Those are nice bags. I'm looking into getting those int he future. I have some nice leather bags now that I orginally purchased for my Kaw800B. And I like the leather look. Hubby has found me a leather tour pack that will match them. Also have put a National Cycle Plexifairing on her and floor boards. Soon she will be my Mini King has hubby calls her....lmao
We're shooting for us biking to TN for vacation. He's done it 3 years in a row and I really want to take this trip also.

Well, I went ahead and ordered the black HD hard bags when I ordered my '06 XL1200R. With the "new bike discount coupon book," I got 15% off all accessories I bought in one visit, but had to spend $1500 minimum ... which was no problem (was "no problem" in ringing up that many accessories ... it wasn't necessarily "no problem" paying for all of it).

Well congrats on the new scoot. Make sur eyou post some pics of it when you get it all together and home. Would love to see.

Check these out: www.bbreproductions.com. I called the company and they did not have brackets for Sportsters, but I was thinking why not get them without mounting holes and just fit them to my ghost brackets? Haven't the spare money to try yet.

those are ugly as hell if you ask me. But I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Heck I bet mine is ugly to some too.
Do they come in colors? Maybe they would look better to match the bike.

Why does that look like a Starfleet insignia? :rolleyes:

Well congrats on the new scoot. Make sur eyou post some pics of it when you get it all together and home. Would love to see.

Will do when I'm done installing stuff ... and when I figure out how to post pix here. Just finished hanging the H-D saddlebags, painting the rear alloy wheel & sprocket, mounting the detachable backrest & rack (with locking latch), installed a locking gas cap, and replaced the chrome air cleaner housing with a black one. I've yet to replace the mirrors with black pieces, install the H-D seashell sport fairing, and paint the front wheel (painting the cast surfaces black like the wheels that come on the XL883R). BTW, the bike has all of 4 miles on it.

I ve just bitten the bullet and forked out for the colour matched quarter fairing and colour matched hard panniers (saddle bags) from HD . When Ive finished putting it all together Ill post some pics. have a good new year

I ve just bitten the bullet and forked out for the colour matched quarter fairing and colour matched hard panniers (saddle bags) from HD . When Ive finished putting it all together Ill post some pics. have a good new year
Cool can't wait to see!

Okay fairing and panniers are fitted and I'm very happy. How do I go about posting pics, I have a digital camera

Will do when I'm done installing stuff ... and when I figure out how to post pix here. Just finished hanging the H-D saddlebags, painting the rear alloy wheel & sprocket, mounting the detachable backrest & rack (with locking latch), installed a locking gas cap, and replaced the chrome air cleaner housing with a black one. I've yet to replace the mirrors with black pieces, install the H-D seashell sport fairing, and paint the front wheel (painting the cast surfaces black like the wheels that come on the XL883R).

All of the above work is complete, but I can't say I'm totally happy with the relocated rear turn signals (mounted on brackets directly behind the hardbags). If I could mount them on the rear fender, then I could unbolt the hardbags whenever I want, and avoid having to relocate the signals and wires each time. Well, I found a bullet rear turn signal bar kit (PN 68615-04) that's supposed to go on a Softail, and it fits the curvature of my rear fender like a champ. I'll mount it in a few days, and remove the signals from the hardbag brackets. I'd post a photo here, but haven't learned how to do so yet.

Looking for hard bags, H-D for Sportsters are too pricey, National cycle, dont like the look, it is looking like leather-lyke contemporary is the only other way to go. Does anyone know of any other company making hard bags for sportsters? Looking for another winter project to get her totally toured out before spring. :tour

this may or may not work and havent really looked into it but they make hard bags for bicycles. sounds dumb but at 50.00 a bag you might wanna look into them. ive found a few other bags that have potential like rack bags that fit perfectly on solo rack at 30.00 . most bike stuff is made to lightweight specs but very strong.
just a thought

Okay fairing and panniers are fitted and I'm very happy. How do I go about posting pics, I have a digital camera
Ok what you do is go to the members gallery and sign in and towards the top of the page on the right hand side you should see upload pics, you want to click on that and another screen will come on with a button that says browse. Click the browse button and it will pop up another window to your computer where you can go to the folder you have your pics in and choose a pic to upload. You can get there by clicking on the link in my sig. I hope this is helpful.

Thanks, Sno. Pix uploaded.

Thanks, Sno. Pix uploaded.
Very cool. Nice bags. So do you have a two into one pipes on your bike? Are they loud or quiet? Nice bike! Love them sporty's. I know I love mine. lol

Thanks! Stock pipes ... will keep 'em that way 'cause I ain't too fond of being loud. Besides, the neighbors would frown when I pull out at 5:30AM weekdays and wake 'em up. I almost wish the pipes were a little more quiet. I added a couple photos today of the Softail rear signals on my bike. They fit like they were made for the Sporty fender. Had to drill four holes ... two for mounting bolts, and two for wires (had to supply my own rubber grommets for the wiring).

Looks great....how much are those been wanting to change mine too....might do that this summer......and where did you pick them up at?

Thanks. H-D part number 68615-04. They were $130 at one of the local H-D dealers. You may be able to get them for less. They plugged right into the turn signal sockets inside my tail light.

vicks
I had a set of police bags on my 92 had to take them off, not enough travel or space to mount them. If you want hard bags, you will have to whatever you can afford, of whats on the market. If you are interested, I have a sporty tour box. e-mail me and we can talk I also have a fmstereo and 6 dics cahanger, that fits inside this tourbox Best of luck in your endeavor
rigidrider

Thanks. H-D part number 68615-04. They were $130 at one of the local H-D dealers. You may be able to get them for less. They plugged right into the turn signal sockets inside my tail light.
Thanks so much. I will look into those this summer...love the look.

I bought these ex-cop bags on ebay for $50.. they were on a Dyna but went on easy using Easybrackets. But I think the easybrackets make them stick out too far. If I decide to leave them on, I may hardmount them without the Easybrackets, since they have a shock notchout already. I just took the turnsignals off since I live in Jacksonville Fla where nobody uses them anyway. I have some new flushmounts on order that I will mount to the bags.There are pics in my gallery, but I haven't figured out how to post the link here yet.