I am looking for a nicer set of saddlebags than what I currently have on my bike (River Road Classic medium slant bags). I will probably upgrade my bike this season so I will probably get throw-over bags so I can transfer them to the new bike, though I might cut the yoke off and install Easy Brackets (or similar) when I get the new bike. Still, I don't want to wait until the bike upgrade since it might not be immediately, I want to take some trips, and the current bags are looking pretty weathered (especially the rust on the buckles).
I'm thinking something in the $200-500 range (preferably $200-300, but up to $500 will be considered). I want leather. I might go with hard mount and Easy Brackets, but as I said above, I'm leaning towards throw-over bags (I hate to spend around $150 for Easy Brackets for my C50 which will need replaced in a few weeks to a couple months depending upon when I make the purchase of a new bike). I would like something a decent size, but with the fat/high top pipe on a C50 I can't go with a bag that is too tall, most of the size has to be front-to-back.
I'm leaning towards Fox Creek saddle bags or U.S. Saddlebags, probably either company's "Fat Boy" model:
Fatboy Saddlebags - Fox Creek Leather
Throw Over Leather Saddlebags for Motorcycle Cruisers
Does anyone have any feedback on these particular brands? Anyone have any idea which is better? (They are very similar on price). I'm also open to other suggestions.
Finally, a less likely option, but one I'm considering, is to get cheaper sub-$100 bags from Jafrum or Leather Up that will work for now and just sell/trade my bike with the bags and get a hard mount bag for the new bike when I get it. I don't know how good these cheaper bags look, I don't want anything that looks too cheap or looks like junk, but obviously it doesn't matter so much how long it lasts. I doubt the bags would add much of anything to what I could ask for the bike (and I really doubt they'd change the trade-in value at all), but if I sold the bike myself, and if the bags looked decent, it might make the bike sell faster.
I'm thinking something in the $200-500 range (preferably $200-300, but up to $500 will be considered). I want leather. I might go with hard mount and Easy Brackets, but as I said above, I'm leaning towards throw-over bags (I hate to spend around $150 for Easy Brackets for my C50 which will need replaced in a few weeks to a couple months depending upon when I make the purchase of a new bike). I would like something a decent size, but with the fat/high top pipe on a C50 I can't go with a bag that is too tall, most of the size has to be front-to-back.
I'm leaning towards Fox Creek saddle bags or U.S. Saddlebags, probably either company's "Fat Boy" model:
Fatboy Saddlebags - Fox Creek Leather
Throw Over Leather Saddlebags for Motorcycle Cruisers
Does anyone have any feedback on these particular brands? Anyone have any idea which is better? (They are very similar on price). I'm also open to other suggestions.
Finally, a less likely option, but one I'm considering, is to get cheaper sub-$100 bags from Jafrum or Leather Up that will work for now and just sell/trade my bike with the bags and get a hard mount bag for the new bike when I get it. I don't know how good these cheaper bags look, I don't want anything that looks too cheap or looks like junk, but obviously it doesn't matter so much how long it lasts. I doubt the bags would add much of anything to what I could ask for the bike (and I really doubt they'd change the trade-in value at all), but if I sold the bike myself, and if the bags looked decent, it might make the bike sell faster.
