Hard or Soft Bags?

[mittico68]

Just my 2 cents... It looks too much squared in face of the smooth curves of the fenders.

[bambam0099]

Looks kinda big IMHO for the drifter.

Thanks for the feedback.  I think you are right.  Luckily I paid hardly anything for the trunk!

[Old Drifter]

Looks kinda big IMHO for the drifter.

[bambam0099]

I bought this trunk off Ebay for $32.  it's smaller than most trunks at 19"x15"x12".  I just didn't like the looks of really big trunks plus, I think this looks more old-school.  The chrome polished up really nice, the locking mechanism is solid and it's sturdy.  I plan on replacing the rack with something slightly bigger depth wise.  The bike is in storage so I haven't put it on it to stand back and look at how I like it but so far, so good...

I put the trunk on the bike to see how it looks.  Granted, it wasn't on a rack but it gave a good perspective on size in relation to the bike.  It didn't look too bad or too big but I wasn't really feeling it.  Maybe because it was too square looking or just blah without the lights and rack.  Not sure.

I'm just wondering if I would like these Boss bags and trunk instead.  (http://www.bossbags.com/images/67BBFClg.jpg)

Then you've got the Iron Bags that I love ( http://www.ironbags.com/images/content/customerpics/1_001_big.jpg )

So many decisions but there is one thing that I'm sure of ... my wife will jack my ass if I spend all that money (if she finds out about it :-) )

[Zoar]

I knew I've seen that bike before, it's on Heathers Leathers home page ( http://heathersleathers.com/ ).  Duh on my part (short term memory!)

Looks like it's just a leather "flap" hanging under the seat.

Looks like a bag under the seat to these eyes.

[bambam0099]

Does look like a small bag under the seat......

I knew I've seen that bike before, it's on Heathers Leathers home page ( http://heathersleathers.com/ ).  Duh on my part (short term memory!)

Looks like it's just a leather "flap" hanging under the seat.

[CDNRatMan]

  Does look like a small bag under the seat......

[bambam0099]

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.

Say this pic today and thought of this thread.  Beautiful, bagless white Drifter

[pcarrell]

I wouldn't hammer ya on that one!  That'd be like the pot calling the kettle black!

[CDNRatMan]

 have to be a large suit case to get my fat ass in there........and you would need a fork lift to get it in the car, you could not lift it........there said before PC could hammer me....

Have a nice holiday and don't worry about the shop.....I'll look after it.....trust me........

[RockinRollin]

Better than that Ratman, I have a very large suit case...,

[deadeyedan]

I AM IN CANADA EH   HAVE A 99  1500 DRIFTER PUT A SOLO SADDLE FROM A 99 CLASSIC  WENT  GTHROUGH THE MOUNTAIN FRON VANCOUVER BC TO THE MONTANA BORDER LAST YEAR  HWY 3 AND 33 EH   BOUGHT A  MOOSE TUNNELL BAG FOR 120 DOLL. EH CHEAPER IN THE U.S.A EH  PUT A REPRO  57 OR SO HARLEY  RACK ON THE REAR FENDER   WORKED WELL FOR MY 2 WEEK TRIP . SEWED SOME FLEECE WHERE THE BAGS WERE AGAINST THE FENDER EH   THREW  THEM OVER MY SHOULDER  WHEN I COUCH SURFED AT MY FRIENDS  PLACES  COME UP TO CANADA THIS YEAR  FOR A 100 YOU CAN GET 143  WORTH OF BEER O MILKSHAKES  .ONLY 37 MILLION PEOPLE HERE AND AT 7 IN THE MORNING THERE IS NO TRAFFIC GOING THROUGH THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.  EH ROCK AND ROLL

[49Reo]

I used a set of old Harley leather bags.

[CDNRatMan]

  So Uncle (favorite Uncle of course) Ronny I just have to go to Pearson and get my ticket at the counter correct.......

49 be nice this is a family forum.......

[49Reo]

And 800 owners are really nice people too......

....most of them.....

[RockinRollin]

I will be thinking about it. You will be the first one I contact.

[mittico68]

Soooo, have a nice Holiday and while you stay there drinkin' & havin' fun on those wonderful beaches, just think about sellin' your bubblebags to an italian fella...

[RockinRollin]

When I arrive here? You're going to Mexico too?

[CDNRatMan]

I won't be able to see them until I get back as they will arrive while I'm gone.

gone so when can I expect you to arrive here, you are coming to visit your favorite nephew correct........
funny I don't remember you saying anything about going away......

[RockinRollin]

I feel the same about  trunks, You don't want one so big that it makes the bike look small. The Indian trunk was the smallest I could find but very expensive also.  I have looked for some time to find one thats the right size and doesn't look too modern. Good find!

[bambam0099]

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.

I bought this trunk off Ebay for $32.  it's smaller than most trunks at 19"x15"x12".  I just didn't like the looks of really big trunks plus, I think this looks more old-school.  The chrome polished up really nice, the locking mechanism is solid and it's sturdy.  I plan on replacing the rack with something slightly bigger depth wise.  The bike is in storage so I haven't put it on it to stand back and look at how I like it but so far, so good...

[RockinRollin]

The bid was accepted and they are on the way
But there is another fella that is selling the same bags but for more.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Indian-Vintage-OEM-Leather-Saddlebags/321946994188?_trksid=p2050601.c100085.m2372&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140211132617%26meid%3Df265f5d4d3c5480cbb8e45b7f655aae5%26pid%3D100085%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D321946994188%26clkid%3D2585468786382761909&_qi=RTM2247625&autorefresh=true

He doesn't respond to offers (I tried) but hey maybe I softened him up for you.
For Greenbarn - I think they are a partial hard bag, solid everywhere except on the front panel?
I won't be able to see them until I get back as they will arrive while I'm gone.

Thanks again DC for the heads up . Here is a quote from the ad.
**Different from 2014 leather; leather was changed in 2015 for better UV protection**
If you buy some make sure they are 2015 bags.

[greenbarn]

Those are hard bags, right???   If you don't buy them, I'd like to get a shot at them...  I looked for a set for quite a while, only finding singles here and there...

[RockinRollin]

From what I read it was the pre 2015 bags, the 2015 and up are supposed to be better.
The bags I'm looking at were made in late 2015. They were taken off a new Indian and replaced with black bags.
See picture below. I made an offer , now it's wait and see. Thanks for the heads up.

Measurements

The length is about 22in.
Width is about 8-1/2in.
Depth is about 12in.

[DC]

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...

One thing to keep in mind is that there have been fading problems with the leather on the new Indians.  I don't remember if this was the seats, bags, or both, but I read it a while back on the Indian discussion board.  I also talked to an Indian dealer and they are doing "sun" testing with some of the newer models that supposedly have the next gen leather that addresses this problem.  So I don't know what version you'd end up with if you ordered just the Indian bags.