Topic: Hard Bags or Soft Bags?

[DiscoEd]

First i'm posting this in the other bikes forum because this pertains to my Suzuki VL800. (I am shameful!)

I'd like to get some new saddlebags for the VL800, but I'm having a hard deciding what to get. I'd really like to find something that conforms to the contour of the skirted rear fender. I've been looking at both hard and soft bags and was wondering what some of the pros and cons might be of one vs. the other. Any advice guys?

Regards,
DiscoEd

[RRRToolSolutions]

Me personally (you asked) I dislike the leather saddle bags. I would never have them on a bike. I think they would be fine on a 1945 or 50 model when they were used much like those of cowboys on horses - you through them over your sholuder and on the bike as you got on/off. The "retro" look of leather bags and studs all over the seats and bags is something that just turns me off.

Hard bags are the way to go for anything made since 1950 in my book -

[crazypj]

Throw over soft bags for low rider style cruisers.
 Hard bags make it look like you couldn't decide between a cruiser or a GoldWing
Hard bags are somewhat waterproof if your touring  but don't fit in with the ruff, tuff, hairy arsed motybiker image
PJ

[DiscoEd]

Me personally (you asked) I dislike the leather saddle bags. I would never have them on a bike. I think they would be fine on a 1945 or 50 model when they were used much like those of cowboys on horses - you through them over your sholuder and on the bike as you got on/off. The "retro" look of leather bags and studs all over the seats and bags is something that just turns me off.

Hard bags are the way to go for anything made since 1950 in my book -

Bikes,
What brand of hard bags are on the Vulcan in your picture? My brother has a drifter and I'd like to pass the info on to him.

I'm still not sure what I like better the idea of hard or soft bags, but I do like the "streamliner" look of some of the hard bags for cruisers.

One thing that I do like with my current leather bags is that they expand a bit and allow you to squeeze some odd shaped stuff in there. Not much give to a hard bag.

Regards,
DiscoEd

[DiscoEd]

Thought I would post a picture to give everyone an idea about what I want to put the bags on...



Regards,
DiscoEd

[RRRToolSolutions]

These are the OEM bags that come on the Nomad touring bike as standard equipment. Those don't look bad with the white walls and I'm very proud of you for not having studs or worse - spikes rivited all over them..