Originally Posted by BigChief

I'm going to try something I haven't done before. I'm going to restore one of those cheaply made original equipment saddle bags for my 64 Sports project bike. These were not made to last. I remember, even years and years ago, the cheap leather straps tended to get brittle and break. The body is made from leatherette glued to a canvas type material. The sides are reinforced with a thin, masonite type of material attached with poorly plated rivets. The front panel isn't reinforced at all and tends to sag in the middle. The 3 straps in the back are only threaded through loops so only need to be copied, but the lid straps are stitched on, so I'll need to cut the threads to remove them. The leatherette is in good condition and the buckles all look good and are reusable. I even bought a chrome pump for it so it has a bit more like the show room look. I wasn't originally, but I've decided to keep this bike. Hard to put into words, but it just appeals to me. I love riding it.

Following your bag strap renew with interest. I have one with quickly deteriorating straps.