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Saddle Bag Inserts

Discussion in 'Motorcycle Tech Talk' started by ringo912, Dec 29, 2007.

  1. ringo912

    ringo912 Active Member

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    Does anyone have any experience with the inserts that restore the leather saddle bags to their original shape on a Heritage classic? There's a couple companies that make them, Got Saggy Bags, Saddle Bag Shapers, etc. Some are made out of ABS and some are made out of Polystyrene.

    Just wonder if anyone has used them and can give me some feed back on how they perform.
  2. Red Rider

    Red Rider Well-Known Member

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    Years ago the bike I had carried soft saddlebags and had need of the same help. I fixed 'em by cutting up a plastic bucket (I think it was originally a cat litter bucket) and it worked great. So I don't see how the products mentioned could be any less satisfying than cut plastic - more expensive, sure, but a lot classier than a litter bucket!
  3. SkyKing

    SkyKing New Member

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    I used the 'Got Saggy Bags' kit on my wife's 2000 Heritage . It made a vast improvement in the look. They don't look new but much better. However...the bags don't just get saggy, they also shrink up some. Fought with them a bit to get them into the bags. Ended up trimming some because I could not stretch the leather back out. Cut some plywood to the shape of the lids to use as clamps. If I ever get another set of leather bags, I will not wait for them to get saggy before installing a kit.
  4. skull2007

    skull2007 Active Member

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    i'm thinking the reason bags get saggy is the use of oils. bag leather should be kept hard with very little penatrating type oils ever being used. oils make them soft then they sag big time. thats my thoughts on the matter:devil:
  5. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

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    I've seen them installed and thought about it for my bags, make sure the kits lower portion has a rail edge that fits over the top inside edge of the lower bag, that will get it straight,

    Buddy of mine just took some thin metal, cut and curved it to the inside of the bags and then bolted it through the top of the leather, then covered the little screws with more chrome buttons.

    I would think you could glue it on too.

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