Hondaline OEM side bags for 5th Gen

[PLCBithead]

I was told by local honda dealer that Honda does not offer them for the 5th gen. Is this to say that they never made them? or they just stopped making them?

Does anyone out there have a set on the 5th gen?

I'm looking at GIVI, but I don't like the fact that I loose my original passenger grab bars. I've also heard comments that the GIVI rack looks tacky w/o the bags on.

I also do not want a top box, and with GIVI you can't mount the side bags witout buy the full top & side tube mounts.

[saber]

Honda never offered them for the 5th gen. If you don't like the givis, look at the corbin beetle bags. They're a little odd looking from behind, but they're color matched.

[Spike]

Originally Posted by PLCBithead

I was told by local honda dealer that Honda does not offer them for the 5th gen. Is this to say that they never made them? or they just stopped making them?

Does anyone out there have a set on the 5th gen?

I'm looking at GIVI, but I don't like the fact that I loose my original passenger grab bars. I've also heard comments that the GIVI rack looks tacky w/o the bags on.

I also do not want a top box, and with GIVI you can't mount the side bags witout buy the full top & side tube mounts.

Honda never made them. It was a long running complaint of the VFR.

Don't take others word of asthetics, yours is the only one that matters.

I would check again on the Givi mounts, for most bikes they do make the sides only mounts. Even if for some teason they don't, just because you can put a top box on, wouldn't mean you have to.

[PLCBithead]

After much visualizing, measuring, and asking around, I've come to the conclusion that soft luggage is a far better look and fit for my needs. The GIVI hard side bags E360 just look too large. Plus I don't like the fact that I need to remove the standard passenger grabrails, to use the GIVI mounts.

I'm looking at the cortech sport saddle bags or also the waterproof Ortlieb Dry Saddle bags from Aerostitch. I think the cortechs look better.


Thanks for the feedback

[veefer800canuck]

I never liked saddlebags because of their tendency to droop and sag, scratch bodywork, and horror of horrors: get locked up in the rear wheel! (never happened to me, but I've heard the stories and seen pics)

So I opted for the Ventura rack and bag system:


You can also add another bag to the setup pictured above to double the storage if you're travelling alone. And of course, they come in other colours.

http://ventura-bike.com/english/fitm...ufacturer_id=6

[Spike]

Originally Posted by PLCBithead

After much visualizing, measuring, and asking around, I've come to the conclusion that soft luggage is a far better look and fit for my needs. The GIVI hard side bags E360 just look too large. Plus I don't like the fact that I need to remove the standard passenger grabrails, to use the GIVI mounts.

I'm looking at the cortech sport saddle bags or also the waterproof Ortlieb Dry Saddle bags from Aerostitch. I think the cortechs look better.


Thanks for the feedback

For soft bags I really like Marsee, the design and construction is top notch and so is the customer service. They aren't cheap though.

[jrock]

Originally Posted by Spike

For soft bags I really like Marsee, the design and construction is top notch and so is the customer service. They aren't cheap though.

+1 on that. I have all Marsee bags and one is 12 years old. They fix them for life at no charge.

But they don't sell saddle bags anymore.

[FJWinNH]

I went the Give route primarily because soft bags are worthless when you travel, unless you plan on carrying them into every restaurant and bathroom you go into on the road. There is just no way to secure them from somebody stealing all your stuff. That includes the ventura, which would be really cool if it was hard and locking.

As to the Givi racks, (talking the tubular one now) yes they do look like crap when the bags are not mounted IF you leave them there. I take the two side racks off and leave just the center rack (which does replace the passenger grab handles) whenever I'm not using the side bags. I don't think that looks all that bad in that configuration, and have actually put the Givi rack on my FJR too.

Here's a picture of the rack in that configuration:
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2486...98858932mlMpbj

As to the loss of the OE grab bars, my SO says the Givi ones are actually more usefull than the stockers. YSOMV

If you browse the other pics in that album you will also see how I got the hard bags to work with a high mount staintune...

[PLCBithead]

How dou like the FJR?

[FJWinNH]

Originally Posted by PLCBithead

How dou like the FJR?

I absolutely love it.

I just bought it 3 weeks ago. I now ride that one most of the time and my son rides my 5th Gen Veefer. Well, right now it's too damn cold to ride anything, but I hear Sunday may be sunny and 48, so...

That bike rides like it's on rails and the engine has power that just will not quit. It is not nearly as nimble as the VFR, but much more relaxed and stable. And it doesn't weigh nearly as much as an ST or my old Connnie, plus is much more powerful than all of them.

Highly recommended as a supplement to the Honda.

[PLCBithead]

I've riden the ST1300 and loved it, except for the sewing machine quiet exhaust note(which could be remedied). The FJR might be a slighty less expensive to pickup in the used market. Better color choices, and that inline 4howls!

[FJWinNH]

Originally Posted by PLCBithead

I've riden the ST1300 and loved it, except for the sewing machine quiet exhaust note(which could be remedied). The FJR might be a slighty less expensive to pickup in the used market. Better color choices, and that inline 4howls!

Yep, and it's lighter and has more power. When I was shopping, I was considering an ST13 and an FJR13. After some careful consideration, there really is no reason to pick an ST over an FJR and quite a few to go the other way, hence my decision. I'm happy as a pig in excrement.

[Spike]

I had an FJR, an 05 no less. I picked it over the ST. More power, more fun to ride. Even though I am a Honda fan. Plus the ST doesn't look like a motorcycle to me.

[FJWinNH]

Originally Posted by Spike

I had an FJR, an 05 no less. I picked it over the ST. More power, more fun to ride. Even though I am a Honda fan. Plus the ST doesn't look like a motorcycle to me.

Had? as in past tense? What happened to the FJR and what are you riding now?

[Spike]

Originally Posted by FJWinNH

Had? as in past tense? What happened to the FJR and what are you riding now?

Sold it, bought the FZ, before it even arrived, I decided I wanted the VFR, bought a '04 VFR, sold the FZ.

Wife was very happy

[FJWinNH]

Originally Posted by Spike

Sold it, bought the FZ, before it even arrived, I decided I wanted the VFR, bought a '04 VFR, sold the FZ.

Wife was very happy

She was very happy with the VFR as compared to the FJR? or the FZ?

either way, the key is keeping multiple machines. ;-)

[Spike]

She was happy (said with extreme sarcasm) that I owned 3 different motorcycles inside of 3 months. She doesn't ride, at all, so what bike I have doesn't matter to her. Although she would love it if I gave it up all together...