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Chilhowee 787 Sportster/FXR Quick Release Saddlebags
Finally a saddlebag that fits like it should and can be removed in moments. And they won't break your wallet! Our Deluxe 787 throw-over saddlebags are very roomy saddlebags and are made specifically for Harley Davidson Sportster, FXR, and other brands and models with turn signals mounted in the middle of your fender strut. These saddlebags conveniently detach from the motorcycle by two quick release mechanism on each side. That way you can take them with you! They include inverted seams and piping for distinctive styling. They're a great value and are available with or without chrome plated brass studs. These saddlebags fit the Harley-Davidson Sportster, FXR.

Have you ever seen a nice looking bike with droopy, sagging saddlebags? Not a pretty sight! If you buy the 787 Sportster/FXR Quick Release Saddlebags, you'll never have to worry about that happening to your saddlebags. These thick, hard latigo leather saddlebags are designed to hold their shape year after year - no worries!

These heavy, 10 oz, stiff leather saddlebags are designed and built for strength, durability, and ease of installation. The 787 Sportster/FXR Quick Release Saddlebags are drum dyed and finished with hi-technology formulated black waterproof topcoats to withstand everything Mother Nature will throw at you. They are sewn with heavy rot-proof stitching, every stress point is riveted for strength, and only heavy-duty chrome-on-brass buckles and chrome-on-brass studs are used. Guaranteed not to rust or discolor! These saddlebags are made right here in the USA by American craftsmen!

The 787 Sportster/FXR Quick Release Saddlebags are designed with an adjustable yoke that connects the two sides of the saddlebags together. This yoke is designed to go under the passenger seat of your motorcycle. We recommend saddlebag supports for all of our throw-over saddlebags. These supports or "U-brackets" are usually easy to find and will keep the bags from getting caught in the shocks, gears, wheels, and other parts of your motorcycle. Click here to find out how to convert your throw-over saddlebags to removable "bolt-on" saddlebags.

Eight Things to Look For in Saddlebags

1. Full Grain

Chilhowee 887 Low Profile Saddlebags are carefully made from heavy, full grain latigo leather - ready to take whatever Mother Nature dishes out. Today's technology has made it more difficult for even experienced leather crafters to quickly recognize natural grain leather. After finishing, many of the composition (man-modified) leathers are hard to distinguish from natural cowhide! Look carefully at the inside of the bag. Natural full grain cowhide will be rough or have a "grainy" appearance. If the leather is slick and shiny, the leather is probably modified (typically inferior), and the life of the saddlebag leather has been compromised. While they may look good on the shelf or when you first mount them on your bike, the saddlebags won't stay that way. The bags will ultimately break down, sag, and look like worse than you'd hoped.

2. Leather Thickness

The 887 Low Profile Saddlebags are made from 10 oz, stiff, shape-holding full grain leather. The thickness of the leather used in making saddlebags is important. The industry rates thickness in terms of ounce weight. Each ounce weight of leather (per square foot) is 1/64 of an inch thick. Good bags are made of a minimum of 8-ounce leather, and the best bags are made of 10-ounce or thicker leather (3/16").

3. Leather Quality

Our 887 Low Profile Saddlebags are made from hand-selected cuts of leather. When shopping for saddlebags, you should look for flaws in the leather. Cattle are not smart animals, and occasionally walk through barbed wire, cactus, etc. In full grain leather, the scars from these cuts (often called range marks) give it character. If the scar or range mark is near a seam line or on a stress point, look at another bag!

4. Stitching

Stitching should be rot-proof nylon and recessed just below the surface of the leather. Stitching that lies on top of the leather is more subject to wear and may break prematurely. Stitching should be symmetrically spaced, with no less than five stitches per inch. Chilhowee 887 Low Profile Saddlebags raise the bar and actually exceeds these recommendations.

5. Saddlebag Design

A saddlebag should be made with no more than four (4) pieces of leather. One piece should be used to make the bottom and side panels, another piece for the front, one for the back, and one for the lid, which is sewn securely to the back. Because of the weight of the contents in most saddlebags, the bottom should never be sewn into place. Each piece should be precision cut, designed to fit together without gaps or pinches. Finally, the edges of the leather should be finished (slick and slightly hardened) so that you cannot scratch them with your fingernail. Chilhowee 887 Low Profile Saddlebags are made the right way - from as few sections of choice hide as possible for structural integrity and durability.

6. Dyes and Finishes

The leather used to make our 887 Low Profile Saddlebags is dye-struck. That means that the leather is black all the way through the leather. The dye and finishing process, affects the longevity of the saddlebags. Many saddlebags are simply finished with a coat of black dye and a cheap acrylic finish. Rub a Kleenex over the surface; it should come away without any color on it.

7. Hardware

Chilhowee 887 Low Profile Saddlebags use only the highest quality chrome plated brass studs, buckles, and other hardware - guaranteed not to rust or discolor! Inferior saddlebags often use inexpensive cast metal hardware that may malfunction or break, and that will look cheap when exposed to the elements over time.

8. A Solid Guarantee

Chilhowee guarantees the workmanship and quality of the saddlebags you purchase from us. You can return any item you purchase from us for an exchange or a full product refund. And there'll never be a hassle, either. We want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase!

Quality handcrafted leather is a work of art produced by craftsmen with years of training, practice, and hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars in special tools. Whether you order from the web, mail order, local motorcycle dealer or store, examine the bags closely and make sure you are getting quality once you've received them. Handmade may be the most expensive, but they are also the best. Make sure you purchase saddle and tool bags from a reputable crafter.

Convert Your Throw-Over Saddlebags to Quick Release Bolt-On Bags
That's right - you can convert nearly any throw-over saddlebags to removable "bolt-on" saddlebags. It's easy with Easy Brackets Quick Release System. By purchasing Easy Bracket Quick Release System instead of a "U" shaped support bracket, you'll have the flexibility to remove your saddlebags in seconds - leaving no ugly hardware on your bike. The back of the saddlebags should be flat and relatively rigid. You should probably attach a piece of rigid material similar to thin aluminum, plywood, or Plexiglas to the inside or outside of the back of the saddlebags to create a rigid, stiff surface to mount the Easy Brackets on. The yoke of the throwover saddlebags may be cut off and the exposed edge dyed with black dye or black shoe polish. The lockable Easy Bracket quick release system makes your saddlebags quickly detachable so you can ride streamlined when you don't need the storage or keep your valuables safe by taking the saddlebags with you.

Click here to check out Easy Brackets for your bike.

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