| Author | Message | ||
     Andymnelson |
First off, thank you to those who put so much effort into this community. Seriously, you all make the Buell ownership experience a much better one. In particular today, I am thankful for the warnings about the prone-to-break stock bag latches. I had one break on my way to work this morning. In that side case was my bag woth my MacBook, iPad, personal cell phone, work cell phone and my wallet! Because I had my safety straps on, all was good. You can buy them from vendors such as Palmer products, but I made my own with about $7 worth of parts from JoAnn Fabric store. If you run stock bags and don't have these straps- GET THEM!  | ||
| Brucespoint |
P.O. of My Uly made Liners out of what Look like to Plastic translucent File holders. Gives a Pocket to put things in, so IF latch lets loose, at Least the Heavy stuff will stay. Can see bout getting pics if desired, bout half height on Opening side, pull out to use the liner bags. b. | ||
| Britchri10 |
Thx for the tip! I just installed the 42 liter bags. I didn't know that this is a potential problem. I just ordered a set of straps from Palmer. Thx again. Chris C | ||
| Pons |
I didn't know this could be that big a problem but I listened to the experts here and put them on when I first bought my ULY. Glad I did now  | ||
| Orangeulius |
Thanks for the reminder! | ||
| Argentcorvid |
What year is your bike? I was under the impression that the latches got updated? | ||
| Andymnelson |
Mine is an '06, bags are from an '08. I do not believe that they ever fixed the problem. | ||
| Portero72 |
I snapped a latch a few weeks ago, after many tens of thousands of miles with my original latches. Was loading the bike in about 25 degree weather, and SNAP. Bungee saved the day, and American Sport Bike got me a replacement in short order. New one seems exactly the same as the old one. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
So, Andy, first of all, thank goodness you were diligent about using those straps. I'll always use them if we are taking a trip but will be lax sometimes commuting to work or running errands. Appreciate the reminder: All the straps, all the time. Second, how cold was it on your commute? Is cold weather a common factor in these latches breaking? Portero had failure at 25 degrees, I'm guessing, without looking at weather.com that it was similar in the twin cities. Side note, pretty awesome that you are riding to work on your Uly on Jan 30 in Mpls! | ||
| Lastcyclone |
The latches were updated and re-designed (reinforced). I had one snap 5 years ago. Went to the dealer, showed them the problem. Had a new set installed a couple of weeks later and have not had a problem since. This seemed to only be a problem with bags made before 2007. I don't know if there is any way to find the build date on the bags, but the install sheet on the new ones has a newer date on it and the brackets have be changed a little since the originals. The mounting holes have been enlarged a bit for easier installation. That may a good way to tell if you have original bags or the newer ones that probably came with updated latches. | ||
| Andymnelson |
It was 55 degrees in the AM. I have moved to Kansas City tho! But still pretty awesome that it got to 66 degrees on January 30! I'll see if I can find a build date. | ||
| Dynasport |
Most of the failures I had heard of took place when closing the latches. This one concerns me much more in that it took place with the bike going down the road. I am always very careful when I close the bags to avoid using the latch to draw the bags together. I do wish I had the Outdoorsman bags and that they fit correctly on the racks I have. Oh well, I'll just have to keep a close eye on them. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
So if I order two new latches from H&B, they will be the updated ones? | ||
| Lastcyclone |
I would suspect that they would be, especially if you explain the problem, that I believe they are well aware of. Only trouble is, it is very difficult to order directly from HB. They will refer you one of their US vendors. You might be best off finding them from one of the suppliers in the the sponsors page.http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/171 43/17143.html? Or from whomever you usually order Buell OEM parts from. | ||
| Motorbike |
Andymnelson, where did you get those cool buckles with the little red reflector? Thanks. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I knew about the latch problem, so just ordered a replacement from American Sport Bike and I put them on the shelf in the garage, and pack them (with my new axle and bearings) in a "jump kit" to bring along on trips. Haven't needed either yet on my 2007. I thought the failures were all breaking on closing? My 2007 bags are holding great despite very frequent use commuting. During my crash, the bike did a stoppie into the side of a moving Corolla, which spun the entire uly to come crashing down on the left bag, which contained my laptop in a bag and a poor innocent Kindle. The latch held firm, in spite of the broken outer cover (they glossy grey part broke nearly into two pieces), bag mount bolts ripping out of the subframe, and the left footpeg assembly shearing off. It was pretty remarkable actually... I got a lot of respect for the bags as a result. The laptop survived, though it blew a hard drive about a month later (maybe related, maybe not). The kindle was not so lucky... poor little guy... | ||
| Hooper |
It broke while the bike was in motion?!?!? | ||
| Mnrider |
Great looking straps Andy. Our loss is Kansas Cities gain! | ||
| Badrap |
Are there any pics of the broken latches? | ||
| Court |
Not sure it this is the latch you are speaking of . . . .  I am unaware of it EVER being updated. Although significant efforts and pleas were made to have that done, I'm not sure it ever happened. Hepco-Beceker was of the "it's good enough" mindset. It would be quite unusual for this to break in motion. I'd suspect it had broken during closing and was noticed while in motion. It's a design that should be improved and I'd expect better of "German Engineering". Thank goodness the days of HD limiting "how good" Buell can make something are over. This would have NEVER happened on Erik's watch. These latches need to be respected and treated gently. I once broke one on a friend's bike. | ||
| Xbimmer |
//http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=142838&post=600835#POST600835 My retainer strap (lost the little red reflector):  Fixed 'em for good: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142838/534107.html My Ace Hardware hinges still working fine, and I operate both sides several times daily. | ||
| Andymnelson |
It may very well have begun to break as I was latching it, and finally snapped going down the road. I will say this tho: I am VERY careful to fully close the case and then latch it, and not use the latch to pull it shut. I guess it was just their time to break. Got the strapping and latches at JoAnn Fabric. | ||
| Paul56 |
FURTHER WARNING!! I've had 2 case-to-bracket latches fail on my top case(s). The first resulted in the loss of the case somewhere on my 35 mile commute. A repeat disaster was avoided on the second case by adding p-clamps around the bracket and bolted through the bottom and front side of the case. The problem turned out to be vibration (over time- 20k miles a year usage) damaging the lock portion of the latch. Its position under the case allowed the latch to open when the lock failed. Beware! | ||
| Skifastbadly |
Interesting. I've got about 30K miles on my bags and have never had a problem. And I've carried a lot of crap in them. (When I was in Utah I used to run over to Evanston and load 'em up with beer, I've gone hundreds of miles with a case in each bag.) I have only heard about them breaking while being forced closed. | ||
| Etennuly |
I lost my top bag one time in my yard. I forgot to lock the bag to frame latch, duh! I removed it as many as six times a day moving the trucks that I used to do daily for four years of the Uly's life. I was bound to forget one time. I broke one side bag latch when the bike was new by over stuffing it and levering it shut. I haven't lost one since, but I am real careful about them. |
