Factory saddlebags, reflectors and logo plates

[Donkey Hotey]

Three motorcycles, three different bag configurations:

1525: bought it brand new in July 2000, along with in-stock factory saddlebags. I personally installed them. The bags came pre-punched for the EH logo plates that go in the lower-rear corner of each bag. Interestingly, they also came with round reflectors but were not specific about where to mount them, nor was there a hole to mount them. The instructions said to drill or punch a hole and install it (which I assume most owners didn't do).

1989: A Touring Limited Edition. Obviously came from the factory with the bags installed. Since the bags block the normal reflector location (on the side of the rear fender), the factory moved the same rectangular reflectors to the sides of the frame, ahead of the bags. EH logo plates installed into the bags at the factory.

0333: This is the reason I started the thread. The bags on this bike are clearly OEM EH accessories. They even include the same warning label inside each bag. The only difference is: they were never punched for the EH Logo badges. They also--obviously--lack a reflector.

So my question: were the badges supplied with 333 and just lost or never installed? Were those early owners really on their own to locate the badges, drill the holes in the leather and mount them? Or were the very early bags not supplied with those badges? I poked through other early bikes in the registry and I see badges on all of them. Maybe those were all later bags. I don't know.

I have a chance to purchase a set of NOS badges but, if this was the way the early bags were supplied (sans badges), I'd rather leave them original.

(I'm discovering lots of interesting little differences between the early and later bikes)

[Jumper]

Depending when they bags for 333 were bought. After the Factory closed, Waz spearheaded a saddle Bag project. I think the Vendor ( National Cycle ?)had spares and enough material to build ? sets of bags. Xer's that missed out on the first factory round, ended up buying sets through Waz. The Badges were a separate project that may eXplaine why some bags are not drilled.

Jumper

 

[Donkey Hotey]

Yup, I remember the leftover bags and I considered that possibility as well. That might also make sense for 333 because it doesn't have the proper mounting studs. These bags were just mounted with long, socket head cap screws. So I don't know if the change to the mounting studs was a running design change or, the result of none of them being available anymore when the bags were sold.

On the other hand, it has the EH warning stickers inside. The bike also has the highway bar and windshield. I don't remember which accessories ran out first. Being an early adopter, I'd have imagined that Gregg would have bought all this stuff when it was fresh from the factory.

I'm on the fence as to whether or not to add the EH badges. My original plan was to pull the bags entirely and put them on the shelf. I've already bought the replacement button head screws. I wanted one of my bikes to go totally naked but, the bags are so convenient.