2015 INDIAN CHIEF VINTAGE Structurebody Problems

SADDLEBAG MOUNTING SYSTEM ALLOWS SADDLEBAGS TO BECOME DISCONNECTED AND FALL OFF VEHICLE. LATCH MECHANISM APPEARS TO BE INEFFECTIVE WHEN BAGS ARE LOADED, OR ROUGH ROADS ENCOUNTERED. RIGHT SIDE SADDLEBAG HAD COME LOOSE 3 TIMES OVER A 2 MONTH PERIOD. ON A LONG TRIP, WHILE TRAVELLING AT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE RIGHT SADDLEBAG FELL COMPLETELY OFF THE MOTORCYCLE, WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE, ENDANGERING OTHER MOTORCYCLISTS AND HIGHWAY USERS BEHIND ME ON THE INTERSTATE. INTERNET SEARCHES FOLLOWING, INDICATE THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON ISSUE, WITH MULTIPLE REPORTS OF SADDLEBAGS FALLING OFF. AT LEAST TWO COMPANIES NOW MAKE AFTERMARKET ATTACHMENT SPOOLS TO PREVENT THIS, INDICATING THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD ENOUGH TO WARRANT A NEED FOR AFTERMARKET SOLUTIONS TO THE STOCK SADDLEBAG MOUNTING SYSTEM.

WHILE RIDING MY INDIAN 2015 VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE, THE RIGHT HAND SADDLE BAG FELL OFF CAUSING THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING ME TO SUDDENLY HAVE TO REACT TO THE HAZARD BY SWERVING BUT HIT THE BAG ANYWAY, CAUSING THE BAG TO BE COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND UNDER CARRIAGE CONCERNS FOR THE OTHER VEHICLE. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE, I FOUND THIS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON OCCURRENCE AMONG THIS MODEL. 2014 -2016 MODELS ARE ALL THE SAME, NO IMPROVEMENTS OFFERED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE PROBLEM IS COMMON ENOUGH THAT SEVERAL AFTERMARKET COMPANIES HAVE DESIGNED A BETTER DESIGN THAT CAN BE PURCHASED FOR ABOUT $100.00 PER SIDE. THE FACTORY DESIGN IS WEAK AND PRONE TO CAUSE THE BAG TO ONLY BE PARTIALLY ATTACHED. HUNDREDS OF OWNERS HAVE HAD THE BAGS FALL OFF AND ESPECIALLY IF A MOTORCYCLE IS FOLLOWING IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS AND POSSIBLE DEADLY. THIS HAPPENED ON ROUTE 19 NORTH, APPROXIMATELY...