It's Happened Before, First For Me

[mark4Jesus]

Tuesday evening I am ryding to work minding my own business...when what to my wondering eyes should appear, but an orange warning window letting me know something was amiss. In the brief moment that I saw the verbage, I believed it was telling that my trunk was ajar. Not to worry I says to myself, gravity will keep it in its designated place. Deciding to be a responsible ryder, I pulled over to close the offending lid. I jump off my trusty steede and suddenly feel a sharp pain upon my leg, a bit lower than my knee. Looking down in surprise, I find that my interpretation of the orange messenger was somewhat amiss, for it was the left saddlebag that was the offending part that set these wheels into motion. I reach down to close the door and suddenly realize that the cavern is empty, oh my! I look down the road from whence I came to see my half-cover in the road, frolicking in the wind.

Man, I'm getting tired of writing like that! Anyway, I walked back down the road to fetch the cover, which, thankfully, was not destroyed by several passing cars and trucks. The only scuff was to my left leg, which is still a bit sore from the loss of a bit of skin.

 

[Zip]

Happened to me, when I stopped and got off the bike I noticed the Rt saddle bag was open and my wife's helmet was sitting on the door. That was a lucky one, don't know how long it was open. I was picking her up so I was lucky it did not fall off as at the time it was the only one she had.

 

[stmike 1800]

Is there something wrong with the latches, or are people not closing them right?

 

[Zip]

Is there something wrong with the latches, or are people not closing them right?

You have to really close them hard, then check them

 

[irvin48]

probably happened to a lot of us, incl me. had it happen quite a few times on the victory
crossroads. just gotta make sure they are latched.

you know something is up when cars go by pointing at your ride. not commenting
on how kool you are!!!!! kind of a humiliating feeling. :yikes:

 

[Grandpot]

Been there, done that, got the Tee-Shirt.

 

[mark4Jesus]

probably happened to a lot of us, incl me. had it happen quite a few times on the victory
crossroads. just gotta make sure they are latched.

you know something is up when cars go by pointing at your ride. not commenting
on how kool you are!!!!! kind of a humiliating feeling. :yikes:

Happened to me once on my Victory Cross Country Tour. Fortunately my son was riding behind me and I turned around and picked up some important papers.

 

[Bob Denman]

Is there something wrong with the latches, or are people not closing them right?

:dontknow: Yes? :dontknow:

I also "have the Tee-Shirt"... :banghead:
My 2010 opened up several times, before I got the message! :gaah:

 

[mark4Jesus]

You have to really close them hard, then check them

Which is good, it shows the seal is tight.

 

[Bob Denman]

:congrats: "Waterproof", is serious business! nojoke

 

[BoxyLady]

do you think locking the compartments would prevent them from flopping open? sure it would be a pain to have to unlock them every time you use them, but depending on how the lock mechanism works, I would think that if you can turn the lock with the key, the door should properly be latched and could not flop open?

We noticed this at the dealership. We opened one to check it out and had to "slam" it about 4 times before it actually latched..

 

[Bob Denman]

If the latching mechanism isn't fully engaged: I'm not sure if locking it will help... :shocked:
The "unintended cargo ejections" are really the cause of some improperly adjusted latch mechanism cables. :gaah:

 

[AeroPilot]

Like Bob said the latches may be a little off

But learning to push the lids closed, rather than a quick slam of the lid also helps. Don't overstuff the sides, and just a little squeeze or push with the side of the leg usually gets the latches to "CLICK" shut. We've all had it happenpps:

 

[Bob Denman]

:congrats: Don't overstuff the compartments! nojoke
In fact: Purchase the hinge reinforcement kit from Doc Humphreys: it'll make it a lot tougher to break them loose! :2thumbs:

 

[Gator37]

YUP, happened to me last year, coming home from St. George. No warning light but a passing motorist warmed me of an open saddle bag. Lost my luggage, a couple of shirts and a pair of Levis. A first for me too. :banghead:

 

[Docster]

do you think locking the compartments would prevent them from flopping open? sure it would be a pain to have to unlock them every time you use them, but depending on how the lock mechanism works, I would think that if you can turn the lock with the key, the door should properly be latched and could not flop open?

We noticed this at the dealership. We opened one to check it out and had to "slam" it about 4 times before it actually latched..

From my first day on the Spyder or Harley I always thought it a good idea to always keep the trunks/tourpaks and saddlebags locked regardless. Protects valuables, equipment and never have to worry about accidental opening

 

[bushrat]

Ditto

The right saddle bag on our 2017 F3L has always been more problematic to close (and keep closed) than the left. Usually takes several attempts at pushing firmly, and making sure the latch is properly aligned. It has popped open at inconvenient times. Now, I always lock both sides and, to avoid further domestic issues, my lady keeps her stuff on the left while I get the less trustworthy right side; we share the rear top case and frunk. :bowdown:

 

[bcer960]

It happened to us on our first big trip with the spyder. We were leaving the hotel in the morning, and after only a couple miles the light came on. I pulled over to see the saddlebag opened. I closed it, pulled a U-turn to find our bag.

Unfortunately, we also put a folder with out itinerary in there. We spent about 1/2 hour picking up papers off the side of the road. In the end, we only lost 2 pieces, and none of the prepaid tickets we had printed out. Probably pretty funny for the other motorist to see two people running around in motorcycle helmets pickling up papers.....

 

[White Lightening]

Bad latch

I had mine in for service a few weeks ago, fluids and tires, asked them to adjust right saddle bag because it would open even on smooth roads. Did not matter whether it was locked or not it would pop open on the road even though when it was locked you could not open it by pulling on it. Turned out to be a bad latch. Good news is the latch is only 99 cents from BRP, bad news it is not an item normally stocked so had to wait two weeks for it to arrive and then pay for labor to pull the plastic and install. So out goes another $100 dollar bill

 

[ARtraveler]

Is there something wrong with the latches, or are people not closing them right?

Six of one, half dozen of the other.