Soft Luggage Recommendations please...

Hi...I'd like to hear recommendations for soft luggage that will
work with the 06 VFR with stock exhaust. Stuff you purchased where
you feel..."wow, I'm really glad I got this particular item." I
*have* done some searching of the archive but it's hard to
piece together, partly with regard to year of manufacture. Here are
some specifics of what I would like, in the ideal world:

1. Saddlebags...easy to fit/remove, big enough for full-face
helmet, undamaged by exhaust (obviously)

2. Rear seat bag...preferably attachable to saddlebags with minimal
additional mounting. Moderately large, not gigantic, preferably
expandable.

3. Tank Bag...as large as reasonably possible, without obscuring
instruments. Preferably magnetic, if your experience with magnetic
is positive.

My goal is to get flexible and reasonably spacious carrying capacity
while keeping most of the weight in the areas designed to carry
driver/passenger weight.

I wouldn't say money is no object, but I had budgeted for hard bags,
and I feel like the above soft options will work better, so
reasonable funding is available. Very grateful for all
ideas/comments....thanks, Greg

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I don't think you'll find soft bags big enough for a full-face helmet.

But I could very well be wrong.

Do check out http://www.roadgear.com for some ideas.

I have matching RKA saddlebags on my '97 and love them. But they will
not hold a full face helmet.


-Brad

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On Monday 4Sep, 2006, at 11:53 AM, Simon Spanier wrote:

> Hi...I'd like to hear recommendations for soft luggage that will
> work with the 06 VFR with stock exhaust. Stuff you purchased where
> you feel..."wow, I'm really glad I got this particular item." I
> *have* done some searching of the archive but it's hard to
> piece together, partly with regard to year of manufacture. Here are
> some specifics of what I would like, in the ideal world:
>
> 1. Saddlebags...easy to fit/remove, big enough for full-face
> helmet, undamaged by exhaust (obviously)
>
As the helmet is a relatively large and light item, compared to most
other items of luggage, it seems to me that a more natural place for
it is in the rear seat bag, rather than the saddlebags. Keep the
saddlebags for smaller, heavier stuff.

Furthermore, storing a helmet in a soft bag on your bike while you
wander around could very easily (depending on location) result in a
missing helmet or soft bag.

fwiw,
Johnj
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Greg,

I would also recommend the helmet not go in a soft saddle bag
(even if you find one that it fits into).

I have two tank bags. One is a larger rectangle that is
expandable. It fits an amazing amount of stuff. It does feel a
little too big in front of me, I have to lean up and forward to
see the neutral light. I don't like this bag as much on the VFR
as I did on my wifes Ninja 250.

The other is a more sporty one, not expandable, made by Frank
Thomas (Cargo). This one has a much smaller capacity, but is
good for day to day usage, and is never in the way. I love this
bag.

My last comment is, "if you have the money, but hard bags."
I can't say enough good things about my Givi setup on my last
bike (and I am in the process of looking for used bags for the
VFR). Water-proof, lockable, don't mar the paint, don't fade in
the sun, easily removed and carried to campsite / hotel.
Anyhow, I am pretty biased.

Good luck!




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---- On Mon, 4 Sep 2006, Simon Spanier (mathcrew@xxxxxx)
wrote:

>
> ATTACHMENT 0: multipart/alternative
>
> Hi...I'd like to hear recommendations for soft luggage that
will
> work with the 06 VFR with stock exhaust. Stuff you purchased
where
> you feel..."wow, I'm really glad I got this particular item."
I
> *have* done some searching of the archive but it's
hard to
> piece together, partly with regard to year of manufacture.
Here are
> some specifics of what I would like, in the ideal world:
>
> 1. Saddlebags...easy to fit/remove, big enough for full-face
> helmet, undamaged by exhaust (obviously)
>
> 2. Rear seat bag...preferably attachable to saddlebags with
minimal
> additional mounting. Moderately large, not gigantic,
preferably
> expandable.
>
> 3. Tank Bag...as large as reasonably possible, without
obscuring
> instruments. Preferably magnetic, if your experience with
magnetic
> is positive.
>
> My goal is to get flexible and reasonably spacious carrying
capacity
> while keeping most of the weight in the areas designed to
carry
> driver/passenger weight.
>
> I wouldn't say money is no object, but I had budgeted for hard
bags,
> and I feel like the above soft options will work better, so
> reasonable funding is available. Very grateful for all
> ideas/comments....thanks, Greg
>
>
>
>
> ATTACHMENT 2: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1
> DISPOSITION: inline
>
> _______________________________________________
> vfr mailing list
> vfr@xxxxxx
> For subscription and delivery options:
> https://lists.cs.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/vfr
>
>

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On Monday 04 September 2006 11:38, Devin Burns wrote:
> Greg,
>
> I would also recommend the helmet not go in a soft saddle bag
> (even if you find one that it fits into).
>
> I have two tank bags. One is a larger rectangle that is
> expandable. It fits an amazing amount of stuff. It does feel a
> little too big in front of me, I have to lean up and forward to
> see the neutral light. I don't like this bag as much on the VFR
> as I did on my wifes Ninja 250.
>
> The other is a more sporty one, not expandable, made by Frank
> Thomas (Cargo). This one has a much smaller capacity, but is
> good for day to day usage, and is never in the way. I love this
> bag.
>
> My last comment is, "if you have the money, but hard bags."
> I can't say enough good things about my Givi setup on my last
> bike (and I am in the process of looking for used bags for the
> VFR). Water-proof, lockable, don't mar the paint, don't fade in
> the sun, easily removed and carried to campsite / hotel.
> Anyhow, I am pretty biased.


Biased or not, you are definitely correct. There is no comparison unless
there is no way to mount hard bags on your bike.

Jerry
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I picked up the MotoFizz large seat bag to augment the Givi v46 top case
and Marsee magnetic tank bag for multi-day camping excursions and can't
say enough good things about it. Aside from the sheer volume it holds,
it is a well thought out and constructed piece of gear.

One impressive features are internal adjustable quick-release straps
that run front to back halfway up that bag that are used to help
maintain it's square shape and keep it from bulging round like a duffel
bag. A second is the extternal straps (in the fore, right side of the
picture on the Aerostich site) that you can adjust to keep the sides of
the bag from drooping over the sides of the seat. Two obviously well
thought out features.

I did a 5-day trip with it last year and was not wanting for room. The
only thing I recommend is a cargo net to use over the included rain
cover as it really gets flapping in the wind due to it's size.

I would buy another one in an instant.

See more here: http://www.aerostich.com/product.php?productid=16405 or
see it fitted on my '98 at WDGAH or either of the two campgrounds in NH
and ME I'll be at between now and then :)

-Mike



Simon Spanier wrote:
> Hi...I'd like to hear recommendations for soft luggage that will
> work with the 06 VFR with stock exhaust. Stuff you purchased where
> you feel..."wow, I'm really glad I got this particular item." I
> *have* done some searching of the archive but it's hard to
> piece together, partly with regard to year of manufacture. Here are
> some specifics of what I would like, in the ideal world:
>
> 1. Saddlebags...easy to fit/remove, big enough for full-face
> helmet, undamaged by exhaust (obviously)
>
> 2. Rear seat bag...preferably attachable to saddlebags with minimal
> additional mounting. Moderately large, not gigantic, preferably
> expandable.
>
> 3. Tank Bag...as large as reasonably possible, without obscuring
> instruments. Preferably magnetic, if your experience with magnetic
> is positive.
>
> My goal is to get flexible and reasonably spacious carrying capacity
> while keeping most of the weight in the areas designed to carry
> driver/passenger weight.
>
> I wouldn't say money is no object, but I had budgeted for hard bags,
> and I feel like the above soft options will work better, so
> reasonable funding is available. Very grateful for all
> ideas/comments....thanks, Greg
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> vfr mailing list
> vfr@xxxxxx
> For subscription and delivery options:
> https://lists.cs.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/vfr

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Great tail bag is from Luggage Locker

It slips on the seat - no bungee cords which would
damage your paint, no hassle to put it on but it will
store enough stuff for 3 days trip (I took it last
year to WDGAH) or full face helmet.

See more here:
http://www.luggagelocker.com

http://www.luggagelocker.com/images/fans/7-l.gif

or my personal pics:
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/u...2036_32519.jpg
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/u...2036_74340.jpg
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/u...2036_40474.jpg

HTH,

Martina
--- Simon Spanier wrote:

> Hi...I'd like to hear recommendations for soft
> luggage that will
> work with the 06 VFR with stock exhaust. Stuff you
> purchased where
> you feel..."wow, I'm really glad I got this
> particular item." I
> *have* done some searching of the archive
> but it's hard to
> piece together, partly with regard to year of
> manufacture. Here are
> some specifics of what I would like, in the ideal
> world:
>
> 1. Saddlebags...easy to fit/remove, big enough for
> full-face
> helmet, undamaged by exhaust (obviously)
>
> 2. Rear seat bag...preferably attachable to
> saddlebags with minimal
> additional mounting. Moderately large, not gigantic,
> preferably
> expandable.
>
> 3. Tank Bag...as large as reasonably possible,
> without obscuring
> instruments. Preferably magnetic, if your experience
> with magnetic
> is positive.
>
> My goal is to get flexible and reasonably spacious
> carrying capacity
> while keeping most of the weight in the areas
> designed to carry
> driver/passenger weight.
>
> I wouldn't say money is no object, but I had
> budgeted for hard bags,
> and I feel like the above soft options will work
> better, so
> reasonable funding is available. Very grateful for
> all
> ideas/comments....thanks, Greg
> > _______________________________________________
> vfr mailing list
> vfr@xxxxxx
> For subscription and delivery options:
> https://lists.cs.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/vfr


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I have Oxford Sports -- expandable panniers, tail bag, and tank bag.
Colour matches my bike (blue) and they look great on the 00 vfr.
Unfortunately, all soft luggage does mar the paint, but a way around
that is to get low tack tape (such as painter's tape) and tape the area
that the bags contact. Blue tape is easy to find and is virtually
unnoticeable on my bike, but other vfr colours might be hard to find.


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> On Monday 4Sep2006,@11:53AM,Simon Spanier wrote:
> Hi...I'd like to hear recommendations for soft
> luggage that will work with the 06 VFR with stock
> exhaust. Stuff you purchased where you feel..."wow,
> I'm really glad I got this particular item."

Mr. Spanier,
You might give VENTURA luggage a look. They have
mounting systems for lots of bikes. I used the Ventura
setup on my CBR929RR and put 56K miles on it and never
had a problem w/the luggage system. Tested it to
145mph w/no affect on handling either. Goes on in less
than a minute. Comes off in about 10 seconds or less.
Just something to consider.
http://www.ventura-bike.com/english/...tem/index.html
Patrick in Monument, CO

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Fwiw, I'm happy with the RKA products: 16 & 23 litre magnetic tankbags,
and 47 litre saddlebags - though they've changed saddlebag mount since I
bought mine. The saddlebags only go on for long trips but the tankbag
is on my bike for every ride. Good luck deciding,

http://www.rka-luggage.com/pages/17prod/prod.html

Lorne
Victoria, BC
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