Thanks for that MikeO. I had seen that site in my cyber wanderings too. The only bags there that I would consider are the Tourmaster Cruiser II ones. All of the others don't make it onto my "possible" list either because of price, size, or style.

Still looking, and at this point I seem to be leaning toward either the Nelson Rigg CL-900's, or the Fieldsheer Contour bags, both available on newenough.com for very attractive prices. Decisions decisions!

(I've also looked at the Tourmaster Cruiser III bags as "possibles").

I have a Givi trunk but wanted some more storage for long trips. I just ordered some soft saddle bags that I think will work. I looked at the leather ones that zipped off and were nice. Then I found nylon ones that zip off also. They have two velco strapes that go over the rear seat. They are made for a motorcycle but will work on my silverwing. I can put one section under the trim which will hold it on. I will have to lengthen the strap but that's not hard. I think I can get a lot in these. I think they were about $120. I found them at Competition Assessories (Springfield, OH)and they have an on-line catalogue also. They were on sale on line. They came in black, red and some other color.

Coralee,

It sounds like you've chosen the Tourmaster Cruiser III bags (I looked at the website for the company you mentioned, and those are the ones that zip off and cost $120).

These are on my "maybe" list, and I'd be interested to hear from you more about them when you've mounted them on you Swing.

Give the Motorcycle Superstore a try. Good prices and fast shipping. They also have a nice selection. Competition Accessories has moved from Ohio to I forget where, but their shipping is longer...and their customer service isn't as good as the Motorcycle Superstore. I am also in the market for a top box and saddle bags....happy hunting!

BlueSwing06,

I believe I've checked out Motorcycle Superstore on a number of occasions during this search, and have consistently found better prices on either newenough.com or bikebandit.com for the stuff I'm looking at. I've never ordered from bikebandit, but have bought from newenough in the past with very satisfactory results.

I have ordered replacement tires from MSS, also with good results. Thanks for the suggestion though, and good luck with your hunting too.

You may already have discovered that many riders have bought and like the Bestem top box, for price and quality, although most seem to agree that the quality isn't as good as the Givi's. I use a Givi Flow (no longer available - 35 liters) at the moment, which I've been using for two years without problems, but if I were going to replace it I think I'd go with the Bestem larger box, for a lot less money.

Let us know if you come up with saddlebags that you like for the Silverwing.
I'm personally not looking for very large bags, because of the muffler issue, because I don't like the look or, what I imagine is the negative aerodynamic effect of very wide bags, and because I already use waterproof duffles for touring and so don't need my saddlebags to hold huge amounts of stuff . The leather bags I have now are 6" wide, and I think they look good on the bike. I don't think I'd like the looks of 8-9-10" wide bags on the Swing. Partly this is because the Swing is already bowed outward in exactly the fender section where saddlebags will lay, thereby exaggerating the width/extension of any bag you might put there.

Well, I've ordered the Nelson Rigg CL-900 "mini" bags, 15L x 6W x 9H in the main compartment, with a nice couple of outer zipped pockets to boot. These have just a tiny bit less volume (main compartment, I'm assuming) than the leather bags I've been using, although the shape is different. I'll have to see how they fit on the Swing, and whether or not they might be too small. Obviously I'm thinking they won't be, for what I need, but you never know.

I ordered them from Bikebandit.com, because I also ordered a new pair of heavier duty gloves from them (Fieldsheer Apex on closeout at a good price - let's hope they fit right, since I can't return or exchange them!), and they will match anyone else's lower price if it meets their criteria (which it did in this case, as newenough.com had the same bags for $12 less). I don't mind saving a little where I can, including a maximum of $7.95 for ground shipping with bikebandit, no matter how much you order. Not bad.

Thanks to everyone for the information and recommendations/suggestions.
Ride safe.

I've received and mounted the Nelson-Rigg CL-900 "mini" saddlebags, and I think they're gonna be just fine for what I need. For any who may be interested, the dimensions are 15L x 9H x 6W (that's the main compartment. If I put some small stuff into the two smaller extra pockets, the bag measures about 9 1/2" wide from the bike to the outside edge of the bag). That's exactly why I didn't want a wider bag to begin with.

The fit and finish appear to be top notch, and Nelson-Rigg provides a lifetime warranty to the original owner. How can you beat that?

For what it's worth, I mounted them "backwards", because I think it makes more sense aerodynamically, and because they sit on the bike more evenly that way, and are more evenly oriented in relation to the muffler (the bottom of the bag and the muffler are more parallel to each other), with a good three inches or so between the bag and the muffler.

I've put some pictures in my album for reference.

After lots of too-ing and fro-ing I ordered a set of Nelson-Rigg SSC-140 MINI SADDLEBAGS from the States.

I wanted a pair which are narrow and not too big - they seemed to fit the bill.

I collected them from the Post Office this morning - one week to arrive in Belgium, three weeks to get through Belgian Customs!

I've had a trial 'fit' on the Silverwing and I'm very pleased.

The finish of the bags is good, they are top-loading which I wanted and the rain-covers fit very well.

There are two wide Velcro straps which fit neatly under the seat and with sufficient overlap to make them secure.

The neoprene pads look as if they'll do a good job of protecting the paintwork.

There are also four short straps for attaching to suitable bits of frame.....of which there are none on the bike but I shall use one of the two shoulder-straps supplied to loop through the carrying-handles and put over the seat. just in case.

Fitting the two stiffeners was a struggle but the tightness will ensure the bags keep their shape.

They'll get a proper test run in three weeks' time when I ride down to Brittany - I'll post a report when I get back.