Hard or Soft Bags?

[RockinRollin]

Greenbarn - Yeah, I really wanted the Bucos to work but I just don't think they would work for my bike.

[pcarrell]

You southern boys crack me right up, my mail box is large enough to park the dog sled in.......

Just in case the snow storm is so bad that the mail man can't continue until morning?

[CDNRatMan]

  I think the hockey bag and kitchen sink look you had at Drift In 14 was pretty nice.......

[greenbarn]

Just got in on this thread....    Ronny, I have looked at the new tan Indian bags- IMO they are gorgeous and would look great on a drifter.  If memory serves me correctly, I believe they are leather-covered hard bags??  Can someone verify that?   Anyway, I looked at them last spring, and looked for some last summer - but prices were VERY prohibitive - I found damaged stuff going for as much as I'd want to pay for a brand new set.  And the leather would be hard to match for repair...

I agree with you the buco bags (although look great) would be hard to paint for your bike.  I'm not sure what you'd do there.

I bought a set of leather-covered HD hard bags last fall, and plan to try to get them on my 1500, if I can figure out mounts.  I like the looks of them, and they are a lot roomier than my soft bags.

IMO I agree with you - I tend to lean towards looks over function (with a few exceptions) on the Drifters.   I prefer the look of leather on them.

[CDNRatMan]

You southern boys crack me right up, my mail box is large enough to park the dog sled in.......

[RockinRollin]

Heh heh heh, big mailbox.

[Hoggy]

Wait a minute. You say it was in your mailbox today?

He must have a big mailbox too.

[pcarrell]

I thought about that.  It's not a bad option really, and I could do it myself.  Add some studs and I'd be in business.

[DC]

You could also get the HD tourpack covered in custom-colored leather to match any soft bags you got; like desert tan.

[pcarrell]

I just bought a cheap, Harley tourpak type trunk to see if I like the looks.  If I do, I'll either do some repair work on it or buy one that doesn't need work.

That's what I did.  I bought a current model trunk, and then I found an old Shovelhead trunk.  I liked the more vintage look of the Shovelhead trunk, so it stayed.  I adapted a current wraparound backrest to it for comfort.  Now I just need some matching saddlebags and I'll be in business.  (It sits level, but the pics make it look angled.)  The last one is with my mom.

[RockinRollin]

For hard bags I was considering this Corbin hard trunk made for the Indian but again it might be a little too modern? (and expensive) But once in awhile one comes up on ebay for a reasonable price. And it would match their seats. With a solo seat I would move it right up behind the driver over the fender. 

[RockinRollin]

Yep, that does look good and the price is right. Too bad I couldn't find one in desert tan. But I was thinking of building a rack for the back and putting on one of these on by itself without the trunk.

"Indian Motorcycle Indian Motorcycle Trunk Rack Bag 2880296-05 Durable genuine leather and polyolefin fabric Two exterior side pockets"

[bambam0099]

bamBam check this out I can not vouch for the quality or the workmanship on the product but it was in my mailbox today, so perhaps it would met your needs.
I followed Troll and put a leather travel trunk on my bike.

Yes, I like the look alot.  I saw Trolls bike and loved the leather trunk.
http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=40974.0;attach=19279;image

I just bought a cheap, Harley tourpak type trunk to see if I like the looks.  If I do, I'll either do some repair work on it or buy one that doesn't need work.

[RockinRollin]

We'll let it go. I didn't realize you were up all hours of the night shovelling snow.

[CDNRatMan]

  Sorry the ad for the beer box was in my e mail box, and I ordered the Travel trunk from Jafrum.com and it came within like a week. I was up late last night and so there......when you come up north for a visit I'll show you snow........

[RockinRollin]

Wait a minute. You say it was in your mailbox today? And here it is on your bike , in your driveway? There should be 4 ft drifts on your Drifter. I'm calling you on this!

[CDNRatMan]

bamBam check this out I can not vouch for the quality or the workmanship on the product but it was in my mailbox today, so perhaps it would met your needs.
I followed Troll and put a leather travel trunk on my bike.

[RockinRollin]

To BamBam - Thanks BamBam, I was looking at an Indian hard trunk for awhile but they look too modern, what type of trunk were you looking at? I hate covering up the fenders also but what to do with stuff? I put in a bid on some leather bags this morning.

[RockinRollin]

To the Ratman - Thanks. The red is a Candy Apple Red Metalic used on the Chevy Cruise and the white is pearl white (metalic) . That is another problem, getting hard bags painted to match the color of the bike. They should have all been done at once but I still haven't decided on the bags. Leaning towards leather. As far as following the fender lines , the Bucos are not really shaped like the fender on top. It's hard to describe but they are actually pointed on top , not rounded like the side view makes them look. I think they would look smashing painted one color or perhaps the lids painted red and body white.

[bambam0099]

RockinRonny, gorgeous bike!    Looking at bikes like yours made me think, "what a shame covering up that beautiful back fender" so, I am taking a diferent route.  I bought an old trunk and am going to have it painted and mounted back and high.  I want to expose my fender but yet, I need storage space (nothing worse than going on long rides and you have to keep wearing your leathers when it gets hot because you have no place to put them).

The buco bags look great but I prefer leather to go old school look.  If this trunk I;m putting on looks good, I will be going bag'less.

[RockinRollin]

They came with the bike. I powder coated the passenger floor boards but not sure if they are going back on. I may use the brackets for a spot to bolt on the bags.

[DC]

The voice of wisdom. 2 bikes , why didn't I think of that?
@ DC - That is a Corbin seat is it not? A really good match. Here's pix of what my bike looks like so far.

Looks good.     I like the powder-coated rims and the fishtails.  Did you make those passenger peg/floorboard brackets?

[CDNRatMan]

  I think if you mount them bags on the bike and then follow the lines of the fender and paint it like the fender it woul be really nice. The bike is coming along really nice, what is the colour of red you used, I don't know if we talked about that yet? I think it is coming along very nice.

[RockinRollin]

The voice of wisdom. 2 bikes , why didn't I think of that?
@ DC - That is a Corbin seat is it not? A really good match. Here's pix of what my bike looks like so far.

[DC]

Exactly why I picked them up, if I could figure out how to tie them in with the paint job they would be my first choice. But so far no inspiration. I really thought I would have come up with something by now. Does anyone have the Osprey bags made for Indian motorcycle? What about DC, how did he match the bags with that Corbin seat?

The bags on my bike came with it.  There are no markings on the bags to tell who made them.  I've asked others and the opinions go from Osprey, to Heather's Leathers, to Singh. So I really don't have a good idea who made them.  I will say, despite the loose fit of the top flaps, the insides remained perfectly dry when I rode through a torrential downpour at highway speeds, with spray flying everywhere.  I came out of that ride completely drenched, but the inside of the bags were bone dry.

My opinion on the Buco vs. leather decision is to get a 2nd bike.  Do one with the Bucos and the other one with leather.   Case settled.