| Author | Message | ||
     Bearly |
Yep, it's colder out there and I'm assuming that the plastic is getting brittle again. Just broke my third Buell hard bag latch. I already drive all year with bungee cords holding the bags closed just in case one breaks and lets thousands of dollars of camera equipment out on the road. I'm jealous of my buds with their bags having to force them closed with all the stuff they pack into them and I'm having to be so careful about over stuffing them. They are just weak period. Yes I they are under warranty because I bought them with the bike. Yes, the bags themselves are sturdy and have lots of volume. They are water tight enough to ride in the rain all day and have your belongings dry when you get to where you are going. But the where the plastic thins down to go around this tiny little pivot shaft, is just not enough mass or not the correct material for the job. So be careful all with Buell bags now that's it's cold and you have to carry more stuff to wear. Thanks BMC for a great bike that seems to run better as it's gets older. My non Buell friends have all gained respect for the brand now that they have ridden with me for the last year and half on my Uly. I just hate the ribbing I get when something breaks on my Uly. Rant over. Smile returns. | ||
| Saltydog |
I wouldn't say "bad bag latches", I would say BAD BAGS. I changes the factory Fisher Price bags a year ago for aluminum 41ltr hepco becker panniers...then two weeks ago I was rear ended at a stoplight. I have never had a latch break and after being rear ended by a SUV I only suffered a broken turn signal. Not sure the plastic cases would have been able to take that kind of a hit. Get rid of those bags and get some stronger better engineered panniers....  | ||
| Bearly |
bu bu bu... those are aluminum boxes? sorry. Yep, your right there are better bags system out there. And I wish I would have been in a better thought process at the time to just think about the ease of throwing them in the deal, and having them warranted for the duration of the bikes warranty. The Problem is that I didn't. I already spent the money. I like the idea that they more or less look like they are made for the bike. They have the same trim color. It's a shame that someone else might make the same mistake I did and buy those bags. Which I hope no one will and they will get the message. Thanks for your post Saltydog But I'll bite, who makes those and how much? (Message edited by Bearly on November 06, 2007) (Message edited by Bearly on November 06, 2007) | ||
| Dentguy |
I know the Buell bags have had a lot of latch problems, but I can tell you they are tough. After I hit the deer dead center at 55-60 mph, the bike and I flipped over and slid about 15 yards. The left side bag was very worn, but both still opened and closed like new and the bags were still on the bike. I put the broken pieces in them. | ||
| Danger_dave |
They are not up to the design standard of the rest of the vehicle - that's for yupski. | ||
| Crusty |
31,000 miles and I have no complaints with mine. I ride through the winter and use my bags on a daily basis, too. | ||
| Saltydog |
The ones on mine are Hepco&Becker (just like the Buell cases) and the three together were around $1,000 .... but they (H&B) also make brackets for most any bike in production so I can switch these to my next bike down the road. (Message edited by saltydog on November 07, 2007) | ||
| Gotj |
I have followed a couple of these bag latch threads but don't remember any pictures of broken latches being posted. If there have been please send me in that direction. Have all of the failures been the same or are there several modes. I haven't had any trouble yet but wonder what NOT to do to keep from breaking them. I know about over-stuffing and watching for stuff getting in the seam. | ||
| Ulywife |
I believe this was the original thread about the latches breaking. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show .cgi?tpc=142838&post=600835#POST600835 | ||
| Bearly |
Those pictures will work for my latest occurrence. Thanks UW. Thanks for the info SaltyDog.
For me it's usually something like that. Something in the seam or two thing touching that you didn't plan on touching from one half to the next as I close it. It's very sensitive however. Riding with people with Givi bags for instance do not have this problem. I'm sounding like a nag, sorry, I just wanted to get the word out to those who might listen. :-) (Message edited by bearly on November 07, 2007) | ||
| Iugradmark |
Maybe Johnny Uly can provide an update on how the effort to get the quick release brackets built for the Uly is going. If we had those brackets, everyone could choose between factory bags or others made by H&B, Krauser, or Givi. | ||
| Gotj |
UW, Thanks for the link. I hadn't seen it before. | ||
| Slowride |
Add me to the fray too... The day my stator and regulator went out i was mounting the bags on my bike. I had the open when I mounted them and as I closed the right side bag with nothing in it and the straps closed I reached for the top latch and it split right down the middle. It was very brittle. Almost like a sun fade or something. I picked up 2 additional latches from the HD shop for $19 each. Joy! | ||
| Oldnotbold |
My left bag latch broke about the time that most were having problems. When I took it in for the look see, the right side looked like it could break at any time, so both were replaced under warranty. The latch hinge pins are definitely larger that the originals, but I am still careful to not use the latch to close the bags. I haven't had a problem since. Dennis | ||
| Packdog |
This thread came out about 2 days after I ordered the Buell bags for my bike. It's really making me think twice about that decision and I am considering taking the restocking fee hit and canceling the order. Have the latches been failing while moving down the road, or does it happen when actively opening/closing the bags? | ||
| Bearly |
Packdog, (what a name for this thread) I've never had them break while riding. But ever since the first one broke and I noticed the the weak latches, I've always rode with bungees looped around the handles from the grab handles. Matter of fact that's all that holding my left one together for the last few days. It's a shame really. These threads don't get noticed and no significant improvements have been made in three model years. Course I don't know what the percentages are. Like how many people who buy a Uly buy the bags and how many of those have latch failures. | ||
| Michael1 |
I haven't had a latch failure in two years of ownership of the bags. And I've stuffed them to the max and beyond at times. My bags are some of the ealiest versions out there. I just make sure that when I close them, I close them by hand and then latch the bags. Works very well. I also do the ole, bungee strap around handle while riding. Just in case. | ||
| Dickc |
Saltdog, Did those HB aluminum boxes mount to the stock Buell side and top racks or did you have to get a different set of racks. How do the HB boxes attach... the same as the stock Buell bags? Dickc | ||
| Xbimmer |
Packdog one of mine failed while closing the bag, the other just sitting closed in the garage one night. The plastic used for the latches is cheap junk on an otherwise good sidecase. Good, not excellent, since even with the seals fully seated in their grooves (mine weren't from the factory and kept popping out when I opened the cases) the cases aren't watertight. I secure the bags with a web/snap buckle tie to the bike when riding, and also a bungee looped through the handle to the mounting bracket when touring and loaded. I make it a practice to close the bags by hand now, levering down the latch after the lid is snug. Hepco/Becker should be ashamed... (Message edited by xbimmer on November 09, 2007) | ||
| Bigdaddy |
I know that Buell received the new, and improved, latches this week. I have no clue about availability, distribution, etc, etc, etc. | ||
| Court |
no significant improvements have been made in three model years. That's inaccurate. . . I'm just guessing but I think there have been changes and improvements over the life of the product. I could be wrong. (Message edited by court on November 09, 2007) | ||
| Gotj |
"That's inaccurate." Court, Did something happen to your post? That's a way incomplete assertion. Please finish the thought as in "they did this, they did that, etc". George | ||
| Saltydog |
Dickc, I am using the stock racks for them, I had to modify the triple tail thing in order to open the top loading cases. I just cut the sides of the triple tail mount off and had it repowdercoated. Yes, they fasten the same way as stock...and my latches are metal!! I had the tops and insides coated with line-x truck bedliner and now I can strap things on top without scratching them. | ||
| Stevem123 |
I they would make top-loaders with the same shape and strength as the current issue bags I'd be in love all over again. My latches haven't broken yet but they constantly worry me and that makes them a liability issue for me when I want to go on a trip....... BC Steve | ||
| Xbimmer |
BC Steve yes they could break on a trip but it's no big deal...  ... unless the bag is stuffed this works, a tensioning type web strap is even better. No it's not secure but that can be improvised also. None of this would matter if the latches weren't cheap crap. | ||
| Bearly |
Note it was said "Significant improvement". They could have changed something, but if they are still breaking, and we all have to use rubber bands to keep our stuff safe... I would not call that an improvement. Of course this is not a Buell product really. I would image a significaint change would mean bring pressure to bear on H&B. I guess that's complecated. (Message edited by bearly on November 10, 2007) | ||
| Bigdaddy |
I know that the first version of the latches sucked and many snapped, broke, gave up, whatever, and I, also, know that Buell has made every case that I'm aware of right. I'm very interested in the new latches that Buell received on Tuesday and I, too, am hopeful that this will be the fix. | ||
| Saltydog |
Why are some of you OK with having to bungee your $1,000 bags??? That is nuts... | ||
| Bertotti |
Saltydog I agree. I have them and have no problems yet. I would of not bought them though if I had known of this problem ahead of time. I would have went with the aluminum HB cases instead. | ||
| Xbimmer |
Why are some of you OK with having to bungee your $1,000 bags??? That is nuts... I for one agree, it is nuts! But if your latch breaks you do what gotta do until you get it fixed. I also prefer the clamshell case design over the toploader, I agree both designs have their pros and cons. Once again, Hepco Becker has sold us decent cases with crummy latches, I'm assuming also globally with the H/B Journey line, and they need to step up! Hopefully Bigdaddy knows a secret here... | ||
| Bigdaddy |
I don't know any secrets. I do know that there's a new latch, it came in within the last week, it's a improved product. We'll see. | ||
| Jetjock |
Has anyone seen or had experience with the "new" latches? I just broke another side bag latch & the dealer still hasn't received a response from HD/Buell about fixing it (over 1 1/2 week). |
