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(More customer reviews)Although shipping from Motorcycle Superstore was faster than expected I had some problems with the Dowco Rally Pack Value Saddlebags. They look nice but are difficult to put together, don't hold much and can't be mounted securely.
They have some stiff plastic support panels that you are supposed to be inserted inside the bags to stiffen them and give them some shape but the panels don't fit. When I tried to get the support panels into the saddlebags according to the directions I found they wouldn't go, they were too stiff and curved the wrong way. The directions in step 4. say to "Insert support into pocket inside the front of the bag" then in step 5. it says to "insert support into rear pocket inside the bag" however the pockets are too small so the supports won't go in. They are also too close together and the support panels are too long and won't fit unless they are trimmed down but there is a cover sewn on around the edges so that's not possible without ruining them. Also, the supports were curved the wrong way from the factory and I had to let them heat up in the sun and bend them the correct way into a U shape but that caused the covering that is sewn on to bunch up. I ended up just pushing the supports down into the bag and they fit pretty well that way but don't stay in securely and the ends won't go in all the way and interfere with the zippers.
Then, I tried to mount them on the bike, an FZ1, and that didn't go very well either. The bike has plastic body work that sticks out on the sides that interfere with the bags. About all that holds them are two straps that go across the bike held together with Velcro but that doesn't seem very secure. The directions say to stick the Velcro strips together and throw the bags over the fender, don't they know that sport bikes don't have fenders? The only way I could find to route the straps was under the seat but now they are in the way of getting things out from underneath the seat. The turn signals keep the bags from going back far enough so they cover up the passenger foot rests. There are 2 small straps, one on each end that the directions say to tie to the frame but they aren't very sturdy and don't hold up any of the weight of the bag, they just keep the ends from flapping around. The bags have some female buckles attached to the back that could be used for more tie downs but they didn't come with any straps that fit those buckles. I'm afraid they will probably fall off if I put anything very heavy in them. They aren't big enough to be of much use though. They won't hold a helmet or coat and are too shallow to hold a gallon jug, grocery bag or gas can sitting upright. I don't think anyone ever tried these things to see if they could be put together like the instructions say or mounted securely on the bike so they could use a few improvements!
After only a year of use the black color has faded badly from the sun and they are now a shade of gray instead of black and the zippers are worn out so it's time for a new set already!
BTW, the Dowco tail bag doesn't fit very well either.
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Dowco Rally Pack Value Saddlebags The Rally Pack Value Saddlebag from Dowco features 1680 denier nylon, neoprene pad for surface protection and aluminized panels to protect against exhaust heatA sewn in rain hood, zipper pulls with extenders and quick release buckles are standardMeasures 16" x 7 " x 10"
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