Saddlebags by
Carolina Leather Works
WHY? I like the "solo" look, but sometimes I need the carrying capacity of saddlebags. I like the type that throw over the fender, but I don't like the looks of the chrome braces used to support them. With my chrome fender rail I can use a pair of bags without them rubbing on the fender, and if the bags are less than about 12" deep they won't need braces. I saw a recommendation on the ISRA bulletin board for bags by Carolina Leather Works and checked out their site. They had a nice selection of 10 oz (really heavy) leather bags, and I found a set (#788P) that seemed to fit my needs. I placed the order online.
SERVICE. Excellent. The site is easy to understand and navigate. Ordering was simple. The bags were in stock and arrived in five days--not bad since I ordered during the Christmas shipping rush. Packaging was good and was proudly marked "Made in America." I was really impressed with the quality of the workmanship of these bags. Construction was of extra heavy leather and seams and piping were neat and straight. I believe that they will hold up much better than the flimsy bargain bags. I opted for the bags without a lot of decoration, but I consider them to be very nice looking.
INSTALLATION. A real no-brainer. I just threw them over the fender rail and tied them down. Installation took about 30 seconds. Later, I modified the bags to use a set of Ghost Brackets. See the write-up here.
RESULTS. Great. They fit my needs exactly and look good on the bike, too! If you are looking for a quality set of bags you should check out Pete Yates at Carolina Leather Works.
Worth the money? Definitely.