Hey gents, this is a continuation from my previous thread. I'm trying to decide on a set of hardbags.

Yesterday, I posted questions about the Matazu HL hardbags. To be honest, I'm not comfortable with the feedback that I've gotten about them. And, I'm shocked that the price is so low ($235). I'm wondering if it's a simple, cheap set of hardbags thrown together. I'm even more concerned about the mounting system.

As an alternative, I also looking at the Cavalry saddlebag ($775). These bags comes with a solid looking mounting system. Some of the key points that I noticed about these bags are:

1 - Made of fiberglass and strong;
2 - the interior is made of a velvet cloth (Peach/Light Brown color);
3 - The Storage Capacity (measured using water): - 23.2 Liters;
4 - The lock assembly is made of heavy duty stainless steel. The lock is made of brass and has a chromed finish. The lid opens away from the bike and has a nylon support strip to
prevent the lid from over extending.

Here is a link to the Cavalry website http://www.cavalryfiberglass.com/store/

My gut is telling me to spend the extra cash and choose this product.

Does anyone own or have experience with the cavalary saddlebag?

Thank you!

I don't haqve any experience with them but I almost went that way for those same reasons. I have seen pics of them on some harleys and read their opions on the H-D forums and they get very good reviews there

You get what you pay for.

I like Cavalry's HD & Honda mounts better though. They look like you could carry an elephant.

Kryinggame I have the HL bags and can say you get what you pay for. But I only had HL money to spend so I made an extra support for the bags and it made them solid (no vibration). Then I drilled the brackets that came with them so that I could put additional bolts in near the top of the bags. I decided to change the holes in the bags so that’s what the white patches are.They are plastic everything that looks like chrome is plastic the inside hinge is rubber. I reinforced the rubber hinge using washers so that the screws didn’t rip through the rubber hinge. The bags are a few months old now and have held up really well I ride 65 mile a day for work five days a week using interstate and back roads through some heavy rain with no problems. The bags will hold 3 one gallon jugs with room in the top. The one bag carries about 15 lbs the other one about 10 lbs. This is my first set of hard bags so don’t know much about others. Here’s a link to some pictures of the bags and brackets the pic’s where made for me not really for show so they aren’t very good but you get the idea. Hope it helps sorry if I rambled but this was the info I wish I had before I bought them. Bottom line I would buy them again unless I had the big $$ then I would definitely go that way. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rd2d65/sets/72157628708878639/

Can't speak for the Matazu Bags cause I've never seen them in person but at that price Im guessing you get what you pay for. I have the Cavalry hard bags on my bike and couldnt be happier!!...even my Harley buddies think they're better than theirs!! lol They are made with superior fiberglass, the inside plush interior looks cool and the latches closest to the fender are hidden inside the bags...unlike Harley's which are on the outside, definitely cleans up the look. I bought the saddle bags made for the Road King and am using the brackets made by BadDad.com specifically made for Road Stars. The bags have the channel that runs along the entire length of the bottom of the bag so they sit right on top of the lower bracket. It also uses the same locking pins as the Harley so its a quick release set up. If you havent already viewed it check out this YouTube link, they really beat the shit out of these bags! Spend the extra dough my friend, you wont regret it. If you have any more questions feel free to give me a shout, cheers....Major

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clLbTMve0iA

Here's a pic of the bags on my bike. I can email you some more if you like, cheers....Major

and one more......

other side of the bike.....

major443 wrote:
other side of the bike.....

Major, thank you for those pictures. I've seen pictures of the Matazu HL hardbags and quite honestly, they look cheap.

Do you have any problems with the bags shaking or hanging low or any caution with the bags?

I'm really impressed with those pictures, thanks for helping me out.

The only issue I have with any type of shaking is the dreaded tail wag of the rear fender, mines a 2003. If you go with the bracket set up I mentioned its very solid. A friend of mine also fabricated a brace that runs inside the fender connecting the bags, similar to some Harley models. If you notice on my bags they have ribbed sides to them, something that makes them a little unique and different than the Harley bags, a get alot of compliments about them. The bags aren't cheap but if you look at what Yamaha charges for their hard bags(almost a thousand bucks!!)they're a steal for the quality you get, cheers....Major