How to Install Saddlebags on a Harley Davidson Sportster Motorcycle

Just like any other rider, Harley-Davidson Sportster motorcycle riders also love customizing their bikes themselves. The passion to tailor their bikes for unique, individual body size, aesthetics, and performance modifications is something only a Sporty rider can understand.

Just like the other modifications, installing motorcycle saddlebags on your Harley Sportster is fun and a passion. It can be difficult or easy, depending on the type of mounting option. Here are different ways to mount leather and/or hard saddlebags on a Sportster motorcycle:

1. Throwover Mount

Most of the leather saddlebags feature throwover mounting, which can be quick and easy. It doesn't require any model-specific brackets, but it does require a yoke that sits well under the seat. Though support/guard brackets are recommended to use to keep the bags straight and prevent rubbing against the rear fender, wheel, and/or shocks.

2. Hard Mount

This is relatively difficult compared to the throwover; the difficulty level can be moderate to high based on the requirements, mounting hard and installation instructions. So, before we go on to explain how leather and hard saddlebags are hard mountedon a sportster motorcycle, it is important to select your bags from a well repurted brand that offers authentic installation instructions.

Viking Bags has a great reputation as a luggage brand that offers hard and leather saddle bags with free mounting hardware, brackets, and bolts specifically for each Harley Sportster motorcycle. The installation instructions (available in video and pdf formats) are also very well explained, so one can mount the bags themselves without seeking help from others.

One just needs to carefully read and follow the instructions to install the saddlbags, but if you want to avoid the hassle, you may also get help from a local mechanic to help with it. All the hard saddlebags come with a hard mount option only, whereas leather bags can be mounted with both the throwover and hard mount methods.

3. Turn Signal Relocation

Some of the Harley Sportster motorcycle models may require turn signal relocation to clear the space along the rear fender to successfully install the saddlebags. It depends on the size of the bags and the space on the rear end of the Sportster bike.

4. Support Brackets

If you have mounted your leather bags with throwver yokes, it is strongly recommended to use support brackets to prevent your bags from moving and causing imbalance by contacting the rear fender and shocks.

5. Conclusion

Generally, all hard Sportster saddlebags come with hard-mount options, whereas leather Sportster bags offer multiple mounting options, including throw-over and hard mount.

Turn signal relocation may also be required, depending on the size of the bags and the available space at the rear of the Sportster motorcycle. All the Viking Bags Sportster motorcycle saddle bags come with a specific hardware kit; you can also get the turn signal relocation kits.