Support

We start with a 10-11 ounce firm leather which will hold up for many years. We offer many custom options and our bags come with standard features as described below. Our leather is treated at the tannery to be UV resistant and water resistant. We offer may customizations for our line of saddlebags, tool bags, solo bags, luggage rack bags and windshield bags. Here are some of our features:

     * Quick Release buckles hidden behind the buckles on the straps, so you can open and close the bag with ease.

     * Carry Handles on the top of the saddlebags so you can easily take them with you.

     * Black Metal clips on the tops of most of our medium and large saddlebag which allows the use of bungee cords for            extra storage on top of the saddlebags.

     * Real Indian head nickels on most all of our products is your proof of an authentic Leatherworks product.

     * Stress points are machine riveted for extra strength and only industrial nylon strength thread is used to guarantee                the products will last for many years.

      * Small zippered pockets inside the saddlebags to hold registration and small items.

We use a 10-11 ounce full grain leather which has been drummed dyed black so the color won't fade away. It is tanned to our specifications and part of that is how firm the leather is. Our bags last many years and part of that is called temper which regulates the firmness of the leather. Temper is measured on a scale from 1 to 100, and our leather comes in at a 6, so the bags will be firm and hold their shape.

The leather is treated at the tannery to be UV resistant and water resistant. This means that the sunlight won't cause the leather to fade and if the bags get wet in the rain the leather won't spot or swell. However, chemical washes will strip this finish away so please do not wash the bike with the bags on.

Interesting side note is the cows are raised in Texas, tanned in Milwaukee and made in California. So American Made!

Our Tan, Medium Brown and Dark Brown leathers are a firm 8-9 ounce full grain leather.  The leather is made for the equestrian market so it is treated to be UV resistant and water resistant, which means it can stand up to the weather and not fade or stain from sun and rain. The finish can be stripped off with chemical washes so do not wash the bike with the bags on the bike.

During the late fall and winter time a set of saddlebags customized with the listed custom option takes about 7-10 business days to make, usually a bit less.  If your custom options include hand braid, hand carving, basket weave or a change of color of the leather then the realistic expectation is 10 days. Shipping time is not included in these estimates.

During spring and summer custom saddlebags can take up to three weeks, especially with the hand braid, hand carving, basket weave or change of color of the leather.

If you want a completely custom bag which changes the size or shape of the bag,  you will have to talk to us to order it and we will give you an estimate at the time of ordering.

We currently are stocking all solo bags and tool bags in plain black.  Any customizations including chrome studs and Conchos may be in stock but not guaranteed.  We are currently running 1-2 weeks on production.

We have the following saddlebags in stock.  Unless otherwise noted, these are all in plain black.

103 as zipper detachable throw over

106 as zipper detachable throw over

110 as Bolt On, in plain black and with the chrome studs and Conchos

112 as zipper detachable throw over

112P as Bolt On

128 as Bolt On

118

116X

116XP

113

The Economy Bags in stock are 

404 as Throw over

403 as Throw over

We may have missed a common model and year in building the site. If your bike is not listed, please look at a prior or later year to see if it is listed.  In either event, please email sales@leatherworksinc.com so we can correct the mistake.

If the bike not on the list is not one of the common cruisers that we deal with, that does not mean we cannot put bags on it. You can see in our Other Motorcycle Gallery some of the more unusual motorcycles, trikes, bicycles and cars we have done.

The starting point with bikes outside our listed cruisers is how do we attach the bags. Once attachment is figured out, the size of the bike will help us figure out which bags you can use or we can build bags that will work specifically for your bike.

We have tried to show the most popular bags for specific years, makes and models.  With some modifications the larger bags may fit.  We don't want people buying bags that we know won't work on stock bikes so we don't show them.

Smaller bags will usually work but since the average customer wants as big as possible we don't list the smaller bags. 

We don't always know which tool bags and windshield bags work on some bikes, so they are not listed where they may work just fine. We find that if you know it will work then it usually does.

If you are sure that a different bag will work feel free to buy it, we will be checking all orders so if we have any question about your choice we will contact you.

If you want to ask a question about a specific fitment feel free to call 888-265-9650 or email sales@leatherworksinc.com

We know the motorcycles and which of our bags will work on what bikes. 

Some customers make modifications to the bike that will allow other bags to work.  There are also many models of bikes with exterior shocks and if bags without a wide angle are purchased to use with the Easy Brackets, the bags will not work. These are just a few of the pitfalls we try to prevent.

In order to prevent returns and wrong bags being purchased, we require the motorcycle information to be included with the order so we can verify that what is ordered will work.

Sometimes the saddlebags are involved in a crash and only one side is damaged. Or sometimes the bike has high pipes and can only use one bag or one bag is the look that is wanted.

Yes we sell one side of the set. 

The listed price for the saddlebags is the price for the set, both sides. The price is for the set of bags as pictured in black. Custom options or changes to the color will increase the price and the increase price is for the set of the bags.

Yes it is the same leather that Indian uses and it is an exact match to the leather on the 2015+ Scout and Chief. We purchase the leather from the same tannery that Indian buys the leather so it is the same exact leather.

If you purchase a plain black bag, open the box and go "Oh my God, What was I thinking." or hold it up to the bike and see it will not work, then you may ship the bag back to us and we will refund the cost of the bag. Please call us for an RMA number.

Our products rarely if ever have any problems and with a little bit of care they will last many years. We have customers who have had our bags for 20+ years and bring or send them to us for minor repairs.

We will warranty anything on the bag for one year as long as they were properly installed, not involved in a crash or other acts of god.

We warranty for the lifetime of the bag the plastic quick release buckles and the nickels. In order to replace the buckle/quick release which is one piece buckle and comes right off the strap you need to know if it is on a tool bag, solo bag or saddlebags. If on a saddlebag you need to measure across the strap and tell us if it is a 1" strap or 1 1/2" strap. We will mail only what is broken, if you want extras we can sell them to you.

To replace the nickels we need to know if you have the long straps which come across the top of the bag or if the strap starts at the nickel.

Both are mailed for free by contacting us at 888-265-9650 or email sales@leatherworksinc.com

We always answer all customer emails within 24 hours, usually much less. If the email is sent during weekends or holidays we will respond on the next business day if not sooner.

With a little bit of care these saddlebags will last you many years.

We recommend cleaning and conditioning the bags with products like Tannery, Leather Honey or Lexol. If you ride a lot you should clean and condition every couple of weeks, otherwise every 4-6 weeks should be fine.

I do not recommend using mink oil or saddle soap, they were made in the 1940s and should stay there.

Please do not chemical wash the bike with the bags on. The chemical wash can strip the UV protection and weather protection finish off the bags. 

If the bags get soaked from riding in a long storm or sitting in the rain, then stuff the bags with newsprint, change the paper out every 30-45 minutes until the bags are dry.  Then clean and condition.

If you live in an area where you don't ride during the winter or you plan to not ride for a while, stuff the bags with towels and store in a dry cool place.

The bags will last many years if not left on the bike outside all the time. If you don't have a garage take the saddlebags inside with you,

We recommend using leather cleaners and conditioners on a regular basis.  With the non-black bags we recommend products by Bee Natural, although there are other options that will work as well.  With any cleaner or conditioner that is used on something other than black, it should be color tested on an unseen area of the bag. This means apply a small amount of the cleaner or conditioner to a small section of the bag either on the bottom or one of the ear flaps that extend inside the bag. Wait a few hours to be sure the product does not change the color of the bag to something you don't like. Once the color test is done use the product according to instructions. 

I do not recommend using mink oil or saddle soap, they were made in the 1940s and should stay there.

Please do not chemical wash the bike with the bags on. The chemical wash can strip the UV protection and weather protection finish off the bags. With colored bags it is best to remove the bags from the bike entirely before cleaning them.

If the bags get soaked from riding in a long storm or sitting in the rain, then stuff the bags with newsprint, change the paper out every 30-45 minutes until the bags are dry.  Then clean and condition.

If you live in an area where you don't ride during the winter or you plan to not ride for a while, stuff the bags with towels and store in a dry cool place.

The bags will last many years if not left on the bike outside all the time. If you don't have a garage take the saddlebags inside with you,

There are three ways to attach the saddlebags to a motorcycle.

First is to make the saddlebags Bolt On and to use the quick release Quick Mounts.  

Second, is the old school throw over saddlebags.  These bags are connected with a yoke which goes under the seat. We recommend the saddlebag support brackets to keep the bags out of tires and calipers and to keep the bags from flapping around like Dumbo ears. Saddlebag support brackets can be purchased online or through a dealer. Our throw over saddlebags are zipper detachable, so you can take the saddlebags off and take them with you.  The yoke stays on the motorcycle. Our economy line have the yokes sewn to the bag and tie under the seat.

Third is to permanently mount the saddlebags to the side of the motorcycle.  We recommend the saddlebag support brackets described above. With the support brackets installed then drill through the back of the bags and mount them to the side of the bike using the same holes the saddlebag support brackets are using. This is a custom application and you need to contact us to order the bags this way.

Quick Mount Brackets will make your saddlebags attach to your bike in seconds! These mounts attach to the backs of ANY Saddlebags with hard flat backs and make it so your bags can come on or off the bike fast. And when the saddlebags are off the bike the bike looks stock. 

They attach to the existing holes on the fender so there is No drilling or need for special tools to install the easy-to-use Quick Mounts.The Quick Mount brackets come with all the hardware you need to make your saddlebags Quick Detachable in just a couple of hours. 

Our Quick Mounts are designed to fit a wide range of motorcycle makes and models, ranging from Harley Davidson to Indian to Triumph to Honda and more. Find  the Quick Mount that will work with your bike Here.

Click any of the links in this FAQ for more information.

Some of the Harley Davidson motorcycles, such as the Dyna or Sportsters will have to relocate the turn signals. Many Softails will not require relocation unless larger bags are desired. Turn signal relocation will be covered in each Quick Mount description and you can also find a turn signal relocation kit here. We also have kits that will relocate the side mounted license plate and turn signals to the rear of the fender.

Most metric bikes do not need to relocate the turn signals. 

We can make saddlebags in one of our four shades of brown or bright white. We have tan, medium brown, dark brown and distressed brown. You can see a sample of each color here or take a look at the Colored Leather gallery where we have several pictures of bags in each color offered. Anything that you see that has been done to one bag can frequently be done to any bag.

Long Straps LS come over the top of the lid and extend below the bottom of the bag. They can be used to stow rolled up jackets, chaps or other items on the top of the bags. When they are not in use they tuck into strap holders on the bottom of the bag so they don't flap around while riding. A sample picture can be seen here as well as on the product pages.

The long straps are stock on some bags. The bags that they are not stock on the strap starts at the nickel and ends at the bottom of the bag.

Chrome studs S are the round decorative buttons commonly seen on saddlebags and seats. Conchos C are the larger round decorative items that have a tassel coming out the middle and are most commonly found between the straps on the body of the saddlebags.  These are added to saddlebags because it matches the seat on the motorcycle or because the buyer likes the look of it.  Pictures of stud locations and conchos can be seen here or on the product pages of each bag. You can add just studs, just conchos or both studs and conchos, SC.

The chrome studs are added to the perimeter of lid of the saddlebags, along the flap edge and on the box top bags they are along the top of the bag and on the bottom of the skirt or valence.  On medium and large saddlebags they are also on the face of the bags, where the buckles are located. 

There are many pictures that show bags missing studs in some of the above locations, or different spacing of the studs. The same is true regarding the conchos. To have the amount of studs and condos changed or their location it is  best to call us at 888-265-9650 or email sales@leatherworksinc.com

Colored studs are the same as the chrome studs except they are not silver in color.  The different color studs available are shown on the product pages as well as in the custom saddlebag gallery and a picture here. The colored studs replace the chrome studs in the standard patterns as described under the section "What are studs and conchos" and per the product page.

We may have access to some other studs if you are looking for a different color than what we show.

We do mail out samples of the color studs if you email sales@leatherworksinc.com or call 888-265-9650 we would be happy to send you samples or answer any questions about placement. 

Rear pockets P are small pockets added to the back of the saddlebags, back is facing the road. They make it easier to access the small items like phones, cameras, keys etc that tend to drop to the bottom of the inside of the saddlebags. Pictures of the rear pockets can be seen on the product pages, custom galleries, or here. 

The pockets add about 3" to the length of the bike and there are bikes that the pockets either do not work or make the bags too big for the bike. If uncertain about whether they will work please contact us, 888-265-9650 or email sales@leatherworksinc.com

There are pictures that show the pockets on the face of the bag or the front of the bag, these are custom applications and best added by contacting us.

Fringe, F is the cut strips of leather frequently seen either on the bottom edge of the lid or along the bottom of the saddlebag. It is an option chosen because the seat has it or it is a look that the buyer likes. Pictures of fringe can be seen in the custom galleries or a sample is here. 

The standard location for fringe is the bottom of the lid and is put on the bottom of the bag by special request. Best to call 888-265-9650 or email sales@leatherworksinc.com for questions about custom applications.

Black bags have piping or black welting in a variety of places, along the bottom edge of the lid, along the face of the bag, at the junction of the top of the lid and the valence or skirt. Some bags do not have piping along the flap edges. Standard piping can be seen in the pictures on the product pages, if colored piping is chosen it simply replaces the black piping in all the standard locations. Pictures of colored piping can be seen in the gallery or a sample of it can be seen here. 

When brown bags are ordered we have complimentary brown piping that is used on the bag and there isn't an extra charge for the standard color used. The same is true for white bags. 

Occasionally a customer wants a piping color to match their seat or paint. The colors available are seen on the product ordering page and we do mail out swatches of the colors available to be compared to the bike color or seat. 

We can also make piping so if a color is not available as one of our common colors it may be possible to find the material and make the piping. There are times that  the buyer does not want all the piping to be a different color, but just one area of the bag changed. For changes or samples it is best to call us 888-265-9650 or email sales@leatherworksinc.com

There are two options for locking saddlebags.

The pad lock function, LK is a small prong that is riveted to the front of the body of the bag. This prong comes through a small metal grommet on the lid of the bag and a pad lock can be put through the prong to lock the bag. A sample picture of it can be seen here.

The pad lock function can be added to any of our bags, tool bags, windshield bags and luggage rack bags.

The key lock LK2 is a two part system. There is a spring ratchet bar that will sit against the top of the bag, it has small teeth like a saw. When it is fed into the small locking mechanism, when the key is turned the lock catches between the teeth on the bar and the bag is securely locked. A picture of it can be seen here. 

This system can only be added to bags with the box top lids. It does not work on the bags with flap lids because the flap comes down over the locking mechanism.

Hand braid BR is a triple weave that can be added to the bottom edge of the bag. It is actually weaved onto the edge and cannot be added anywhere else. It replaces the piping on the bag and can be added to the bags that don't have piping on the lid. Some of the bikes have seats with a similar weave so this will match and some customers find the weave to be an elegant finish and choose to add it to the bags. Pictures of braid can be seen in the custom galleries or a sample can be seen here.

There are pictures of a couple different kinds of braid in our galleries. These match specific bikes that had a couple of years of production runs and can be added as a special request by calling us at 888-265-9650 or emailing sales@leatherworksinc.com.

Basket weave BW is a hand stamped pattern similar to what is seen on the police leather equipment and belts. Some motorcycle seats also have a basket weave on them and buyers add this option to match the seat or because they like the look of it. Sample pictures of basket weave can be seen here or on some of the product pages.

Our standard basket weave is a 5-8 rows of the stamp through the mid section of the lid, starting by the top of the nickels and going down. The bags with the "split lid" look has the small back flap area completely done in the basket weave. Items like our 95 tool bag and 116 duffel bags have an inlaid section of the basket weave. These are the standard basket weave.

Hand carving is where we tool an image into the bag. We have a leather artisan who is very good with the process and creatively hand draws the image and adds detail to the image. We do not add any color so it is important to consider how the image will look on the bag without color. Due to space limitations the use of words in the carving is difficult and should be short words or the main focus of the carving. Pictures of hand carving can be seen in the hand carving gallery and a sample can be seen here.

Overlaid bags are most frequently made to match a seat. It is done using the matching soft seat leather which is usually the same weight as garment leather such as is used to make a vest. That leather will not make a very sturdy set of saddlebags.

We cut a bag out of the soft seat leather and a bag out of a complimentary colored heavy leather. Then we glue and sew all the pieces together to make one sturdy bag. This process is like making two bags into one. Pictures of overlay bags can be seen in our custom gallery or matching seats and bag gallery. 

 The upcharge over the black bag price is usually $300.00 for the set of bags. If a higher price seat leather is chosen the price could go up. We can use the same process with matching accessories like tool bags and luggage rack bags, the charge will be lower for the smaller items.

Inlay is a custom option to have a design cut out of the leather and a different color leather placed behind the cut out. It allows a shape to be inserted into the bag, but there is no detail on the cut out. Samples of inlay can be seen in the Hand Carving gallery.

We can make saddlebags that match seats made by Corbin, Mustang, Le Pera and some other seat manufacturers. We use the same seat leather to make an exact match of bags.  See the Overlay FAQ for more information on how this is done.

We are currently not recovering seats, but we can work with you to get a matching seat from Le Pera or Mustang and Corbin. We can also use our Medium Brown to have a matching seat and saddlebags.

Pictures of some or our work is in our Matching seats and saddlebags gallery.

Due to the cost of matching seats and saddlebags we need to be sure that the orders are correct and fitment is correct. We work closely with Le Pera seats and Mustang seats to make matching seats and saddlebags. We can sell you the seat and bags at the same time.

If you already have a seat we can work to match the seat, doesn't matter who made it, we can find something that is close or direct you on how to get the material.

We start by mailing out swatches of the leather to be sure we match the seat you already have or like the color we are offering. Pictures can vary due to lighting and the colors can vary picture to picture. Please request the leather swatches you want to see, we mail them for free.

To order the matching seat and bags it is best to call us at 888-265-9650

For saddlebags where we use the seat leather to make an exact match, see the Overlay FAQ. Otherwise the upcharge for the colored leathers is on every saddlebag page.

We do offer several options for the seats, ranging from driver side flaps with the hand braid, basket weave, chrome studs, conchos and fringe. Solo seats start at $400.00, two up seats start at $600.00 and two up seats with a backrest start at $700.00. As the options get added the price may go up.

We do make all of our products so we can make custom sizes or if you want to recreate the shape we can do that as well.  We have done many custom bag applications which are pictured in a variety of our galleries. The best way to begin the process is to figure out how it will attach to your bike and have an idea of size and shape. Then give us a call at 888-265-9650 or email sales@leatherworksinc.com.