New Custom Luggage For 6th Gen Vfrs

[Robin the Boy Wonder]

Fellow members,
So, I am an avid VFR owner, and have modified my VFR to the hilt, with great information from this forum, by the way. But the one item I have had the hardest time with is luggage. Why, because I think most of it is horrible. The one company I like went under, due to the owner dying. So here I am, with just a tank bag from that former company.
I am an Industrial Designer, and a Design Engineer by profession. I have been designing hard goods and soft goods for close to 20 years (gulp), for top companies. Given this, maybe my standards are too high. But I want what I want, and that is luggage designed just for the VFR, that is functional, modular, a hybrid of material (hard and soft),easy on and off with no hardware left hanging, but most of all looks amazing on the bike (or as amazing as luggage will ever look on a bike).

I have concepts going, and would like to start with a tail bag, followed by a tank bag, then saddle bags. Now, I could just do this for myself and have VERY expensive bags (some tooling is required), but I think there is an opportunity here, or at least be less out of pocket for my bags my selling a few. I believe there are some patentable features as well, so that limits me on showing the concepts, for now. But trust me; there are not bags like this out there. And “one size fits all” may work for a Big Mac, but not for this. The product needs to fit the bike perfectly, and pull and blend into the design language of the VFR, and nothing does that, from what I have seen.
So here is my question: Does this interest anyone?
If so, what are your wants, your needs, your wish list…..just to be sure I am on the right track.

[pvancle]

I have an '07 with hard bags. I use the OEM bags for my daily commute (no backpack for me) and ride with the rear cowl. The bags, sadly, are not modular. I wish I could strap things in them, like my tool kit, wet-weather pants, cold-weather gloves, etc. Instead, I cramp the odds and ends in a nylon bag and simply put it in the saddle bag. The nylon bag bounces around when I ride, and when I need something from it, I can never find what I want without pulling everything out.

That said the saddle bags are not big enough for me when I do a weekender. I admit; I pack heavy. I also considered getting the OEM trunk, but I just couldn't pull the trigger since I think it looks ugly and didn't want a large piece of hardware hanging off the end.

This year at MotoGP, I strolled into Lee Parks exhibit booth (to buy some summer-weight gloves) and lo and behold, Lee had a great looking tail bag. It has a grippy bottom, built-in bungees, and expandable sides to enlarge the main chamber. It has many zippers and compartments and even a laptop holder. I was sold.

Half my gear to MotoGP was stowed in a truck of a buddy who carted his bike to the hotel near the track. For the trip home, I packed all of my gear in the saddle bags and tail bag. Everything fit: sleeping bag, air mattress, cooler bag, dirty laundry, etc. I didn’t even have to remove the rear seat cowl. The tail bag went on top.

Check out Lee's bag:

Laguna Tail Pack from Lee Parks Design Catalog

[Action]

I have a tail bag that I like, but some cool improvements would be-

• My number one wish - have it designed so you could take it with you easily, some kind of mount that remained on the bike for quick disconnects.

• Expandable, it should fairly unobtrusive but be able to expand in height and width.

• Have attachment points so you can strap other stuff to it.

• No ugly cords running over the body work

• A place for your wallet and cell that’s easily accessible.

If I found a tail bag like that for around $100 to $150, I’d buy it today.

Action

[leftcoast]

Ahhhhhh...
the Holy Grail for the Viffer....bags.
I use a tank bag most always. For a longer trip this summer, I bought some pretty pedestrian Cortech side bags & a top case. Carries a lot of stuff, clothes, laptop, big camera & lense etc.
this
Cortech :: Luggage :: Sport Saddlebags

and this
Cortech :: Luggage :: Sport Tail Bag

.....and it works OK....not real elegant to carry the whole thing around....looks like you are carrying a horses saddle. They started sneaking up on me as i rode through the twisties....sliding forward under heavy breaking. Maybe I just need to secure them better.

You can use either piece (side bags and / or topcase) by itself. A reasonable quality for the price.

this guy (FlameFace - this site)



Used some bags from a BMW K12s & a GIVI mounting system. You could use a roll bag or other soft luggage over it & just use bungie buddies into the side bags. I like the look, the bags are going to be tight, and not move around when you ride, iunderstand the mods to make it work are pretty straightforward.......but there is the mounting hardware & bracket. I was thinking about using some "wingnut" type of solution to remove the brackets when not in use.

But again it is kind of a compromise.

I have a BMW K1200rs & really like the mounting system & the bags (city lids).

what kind of solution do you envision?

[safetypro10]

Read your comments and desires and thought, yes and no.

First, going on a trip on a bike is SUPPOSED to be bare essentials. If you want to take everything you own, get a car. Take a couple of days and wash on the road, or send it ahead to predetermined stops.

That having been said, I agree on the bag mounts. My ideal is the ST1100 type mount, disappears on removal of bag. The ST series without bags, though, is ugly, maybe more like the FJR1300.

You want security, you need to take it with you, ala, the backpack idea. Otherwise, locked to the bike is as good as it gets.

I personally like the Axio brand, hardtop, with expandable sides.

Best solution is yet to be found. Softsides can be cut into. Hardsides are usually bulky. Traditional favors rigid frame and mounts on bags. I lean towards integrated bags and mounts, but maybe more FJRish.

Me, I want FJR types out of carbon fiber with Samsonite type locks. Aero, waterproof, but reasonable size. If I was going to schlep along a bag, it would end up looking like the Axio series laptop bag.

Got a winner, shows us.

Personally, I ended up with a Speedpak tank bag, and Clip-on Krausers from the 80's BMWs. Universal frames, fairly invisible, with hard cases and locks. Easy to mount and unmount and remove. No pics, guess I should.

Larry

[Robin the Boy Wonder]

Thanks guys......keep em coming. I don't want to lead the witness.

[leftcoast]

A few years ago ....1999 or 2000...Ducati made a Monster City (for just 1 year, i think) it had higher bars, a small screen, lower gearing & these.




Probably a little too civilized for me, but a nice concept. just take the bag into your meeting & look "all business".
If I remember correctly, the back was a sheet of metal; kept the bag rigid & it engaged at 2 or 3 points.
When you took the bag off the bike, a leather flap zipped around to cover the metal. nicely finished.
I could do this for a "ride to work" bike........





where is that "upload a picture tutorial at............. "

[Galo]

I like my Cortech mini tank bag, and I like it because is a soft bag but keeps its form. Cortech makes several of these bags, and I've looks at many and many and I yet found one that has a lock on it.

I'd like to see one with a lock, just a simple lock that will ease my mind if I leave my iPod in it, or my cell phone.

And also, a way to lock it onto the bike.

[BASFjon]

Honestly, I like having space, having hardbags that are lockable, and I commute back and forth to work and use the OEM saddlebags and a tankbag religiously. But when my wife is aboard, we need more space, and the only thing I could find that I like is the Givi E52 Topcase (Trunk) - mostly because of the space, but also because it is color-matched to the '07 VFR (by chance I guess), and thridly because it has a secondary set of reinforcement bars available on the European site. Problem is - I have to buy the Mounting Rack and Bars, and then blend the bars into the existing OEM bars (welding and such required). A good bit of work, but honestly the OEM Topcase kinda sucks - too small, too high mounted, and they aren't color-matched in the US to the '07 (or anything for that matter), only the Aussie's and Europeans get a color-matched case. The E-52 also has an LED Brake Light Option. With this case you get 52 liters - enough for two full-sized helmets (to show the size for example). And it even comes with a Rack as an option that can be mounted to the top for, say, your tent or whatever else you want to strap down on top of the case.

But I like the ability to:

- Lock up my items
- Have it removeable
- Waterproof
- Color-matched
- Aerodynamic - because I do 90 (indicated) often on wide-open flats
- Spacious
- And the styling has to be acceptable - I don't like Saddle Bags that sit 4 inches off the bike, or odd shape, odd access hatches or poor hinging.

I wouldn't mind paying a premium for this, however everything out there is already at a premium price, and it's mostly crap! Too small, colors aren't offered - and the price alone on painting something to match is outrageous, odd styling, etc. I wish someone would get there self together - and Givi seems to be the only one to me that comes close.

[BASFjon]

Originally Posted by Galo

I like my Cortech mini tank bag, and I like it because is a soft bag but keeps its form. Cortech makes several of these bags, and I've looks at many and many and I yet found one that has a lock on it.

I'd like to see one with a lock, just a simple lock that will ease my mind if I leave my iPod in it, or my cell phone.

And also, a way to lock it onto the bike.

I'm not by any means a thief, but even if your tankbag was lockable, and the zipper could be locked - a knife would easily split the zipper, or cut through the material. The tankbag would have to be on par with the OEM saddlebag's construction. Personally I lock mine up in my Saddlebag, or take my Cortech-14 with me on my back with the integral backpack straps. Those are a godsend. And I personally can't think of much to improve on with the Cortech's - they have a good grasp on just about everything.

[reg71]

Originally Posted by leftcoast

where is that "upload a picture tutorial at............. "

How to upload pictures to VFRWorld

[Galo]

Originally Posted by BASFjon

I'm not by any means a thief, but even if your tankbag was lockable, and the zipper could be locked - a knife would easily split the zipper, or cut through the material.

true that!

most of the time, ,more likely if a theif sees a lock, he/she's gonna pass. If they really want the bag, it doesnt' matter how is locked or attached, they're gonna get it.

[Mac]

I have Corbins,on my '06. Do better, (I'm sure it can be done for less!), and I will buy.

Mac

[kd4ysi]

all i have right now is a tallexpandballe tank bag and a back pack but will maybe get a givi monokey bags