Saddlebag repair

[davewex]

Originally Posted by RHoschett

I"ll look around locally for a leather or shoe repair place to see what they can do for me as my wallet is to shallow for a new set.

It is quite a drive from warrenville, but I believe Kelly's Leathers in Richmond does repairs: http://richmondil.com/?q=kellysleathers.html

good luck!

[OlHossCanada]

Originally Posted by RHoschett

I am busy rehabbing the 1995 VN750 I got and it has original Kawasaki OEM saddlebags on it that need to be reconditioned and repaired. The last owner put the bike down on the right side so the right bag has some road rash and the internal opening stiffener is broken. Can anyone offer up a place I can send them to be reconditioned? The previous owner said they dont make them anymore and I really like the look and size so would hate to part with them...

Here is a link to how to care for leather that I found on the Brotherhood of the Graybeard Riders Forum. It was in the sig line of one of the members, who is a longtime biker and works with leather. I think he knows what bikers want and need. Down towards the bottom is another link to what products they recommend for (re)/conditioning saddlebags. Good luck.

http://www.motorcycleleather.biz/sto...iewDoc&docId=5

[VN750Rider/Jerry]

I seriously doubt the exact make and model you have is still available, I think mine were called "Renegade" by Kawasaki back in '02. They also have 3 buckles and 3 conchos, and are mounted on the Kawasaki saddlebag mount/turn signal relocator brackets. But the bags were not made by Kawasaki, they were made by Auburn Leather. You might try going to their site and see if you can find anything you like. Jerry.

[VN750Rider/Jerry]

Check www.kawasaki.com for Vulcan 750 accessories. They list several models of saddlebags that fit the stock Kawasaki brackets, but they are not cheap. They only have 2 models under $400. However, you might be able to do a lot better than that at an online dealer, such as Michael Andretti or Ron Ayers. I got mine at a considerable discount under list price from Michael Andretti Powersports back in '02, with no shipping and no tax.


There are also much cheaper ways of doing bolt on saddlebags. On my '93, I had the same mounting brackets, but rather that the expensive real leather saddlebags, I had a pair of Willie&Max Compact Slants throwover bags. I took a seam ripper, and painstakingly removed the sewn on yoke, then made holes in the bags that lined up with the brackets. I used a 1 1/2"x1/8" piece of steel with holes drilled in it on the inside as a stiffener, and fender washers between the bags and the mounting points on the brackets on the outside. It worked fine for 80,000 miles. Jerry.

[slimvulcanrider]

I am busy rehabbing the 1995 VN750 I got and it has original Kawasaki OEM saddlebags on it that need to be reconditioned and repaired. The last owner put the bike down on the right side so the right bag has some road rash and the internal opening stiffener is broken. Can anyone offer up a place I can send them to be reconditioned? The previous owner said they dont make them anymore and I really like the look and size so would hate to part with them...

Do a google search on Saddle repair and restoration... you willl come up with hundreds of hits... Mike Brennon of Pistol River Leather and Saddles restored an old saddle for me... did an excellent job... but was very spendy..

[RHoschett]

update: I used a local luggage and shoemaker repair shop to recondition and re-dye my saddlebags and you have to know which bag had roadrash from going down to see the difference. They look almost as godo as new and I'm very happy with the outcome...Cost me $100 bucks but thats way cheaper then new ones or even ebay.

[slimvulcanrider]

Glad to hear you got it fixed... here is a guy on another one of my MC Forums that does leather work... Makes some really good seats. I shot him a pm...

Sure, have him send some pictures of teh bags to my email with a description of what he needs to have done to them and ill get back to him with a quote...

Thanks...
Christian

Xianleather@optonline.net