Cortech Sport Tail Bag & Saddle Bags

Discussion in 'Gear & Accessories' started by KC-10 FE, Apr 10, 2007.

  1. cirmuny

    cirmuny New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2009
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    I took a look at the SW-MOTECH setup for a '99 and liked the way you could remove the bags and rack easily. Does anyone have any comments on the use of these racks?
     
  2. goinphaster

    goinphaster New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2006
    Messages:
    588
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    California
    The cortech tri-bag system is pretty handy- this coming from a guy who used them with a bike as only means of transpo and covering 30K miles in a year and a half. I highly recommend figuring out the very best way to secure your saddle bags because mine weren't, and they don't stay put when your doing a 3rd gear, 90mph pass on a semi before you get stuck behind for the next 20 minutes. The bags did come off, but the straps stayed connected and i drug them for a 1/4 mile with one stuck under my rear fender and the wheel. did you know nylon melts? anyways, my problem was unique in the fact that I was only using the saddle bags at the time (thinking that If I wasn't going to fill it why bring it...) and that they were poorly secured (front straps allowed bags to come off). If you always use the tail bag with the side bags I don't think this will ever be an issue, but I thought I would share my mistake so others can learn from it.
     
  3. FrankoQ

    FrankoQ New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    Messages:
    786
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Laurel, MD
    anyone have more detailed pics that show exactly how the saddles attach to the bike (6th gen)?
    And for the ones that have been using them for a while, do the rubber protection things that go against the sides of the bike's tail damage the paint?
     
  4. FrankoQ

    FrankoQ New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    Messages:
    786
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Laurel, MD
    kind of 2 years late from my request for these pics but thanks for posting!
    You have the straps over the cowl. Any issues damaging the paint?
    Can the straps go under it?

    I think I'll get these bags. I mainly do 2 day trips so they should be good.
    For local riding, I will be fine just with the tail bag and tank bag.
     
  5. Pliskin

    Pliskin New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2008
    Messages:
    3,699
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    Location:
    Morris County, New Jersey
    Map
    Frank - I finally found a set of bags that worked, but I have the 5th gen and I know you've recently made your move to the 6th. I know that NelsonRigg makes a wide variety of bags, and they have their own heat shield (an additional $25) made specifically for their bags and for bikes with high mount exhausts.

    The standard protection seems to be like a neoprene (think fishing waders or wet suits). I'm pretty anal about my paint, and although I've only logged a few hundred miles with these new NelsonRigg bags, I haven't seen any surface scratches at all. So appears the protector is doing its job.

    For the heat shield that I ordered, it has more of a canvass type material that sits right against the exhaust. I think it protects to 300 degrees if I recall? Note that it doesn't stop heat transfer, so anything in the bag resting on the pipe will definitely warm up.

    I don't have pics handy of the bags on my bike, but I was actually able to get both of the large (2 to 3 inches wide by 12? inches long) hook and loop fasteners to fit underneath my (Corbin) seat. There are also two nylon tension adjusters on each bag, and I used these to secure the front of the bag to the passenger footpegs, and the rear of the bag to the grab handles. I can take a picture if you like, but can't do this until tomorrow.
     
  6. FrankoQ

    FrankoQ New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    Messages:
    786
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Laurel, MD
    Thank you much and yes please. whenever you have a chance, please post pics of how the bags are secured to the bike.
     
  7. afinepoint

    afinepoint New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2009
    Messages:
    99
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Henrico, Va. (Short Pump)
    10,000+ miles on bike. Bags still look like in the photos I posted. No serious damage to heat pads. Some distortions but no penetration of the pads. I have been using reflective material inside between the contents and wall of bags. Probably don't have to but do. The material has slid down to the bottom on ocassion but no issue with damaged contents.

    I'd buy another pair in an instant. They aren't as pretty as the OEM saddle bags but $1000? Unjustifiable by Honda. I've better things to do with my money. Never had a security issue either. Use common sense if there's a concern then take them off.

    There are marks on the front left side. I haven't tried buffing them out. Really don't care. As you can see from my Avatar she's been on the track - several times.
     
  8. danr915

    danr915 New Member

    Joined:
    May 26, 2009
    Messages:
    211
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Port Charlotte, FL
    I also have a 6gen, I use the Cortech Tri bags system. They work very well to make small weekend trips and even a week long trip if you pack light. I'll see if I can post up some pics for ya.
     
  9. danr915

    danr915 New Member

    Joined:
    May 26, 2009
    Messages:
    211
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Port Charlotte, FL
    Some pic's of the Cortech bag system

    View attachment 15489 View attachment 15491
     
  10. FrankoQ

    FrankoQ New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    Messages:
    786
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Laurel, MD
    Thanks for the pics. If you have it, I'd like to see a pic of how the rear of the bags attach to the bike.
    Also, it doesn't seem you are using the straps to connect the tail bag to the saddles.
    why?

    I'm pretty sure I will get them. I just need the best way to secure them without damaging the paint.
     
  11. danr915

    danr915 New Member

    Joined:
    May 26, 2009
    Messages:
    211
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Port Charlotte, FL
    Thanks for the pics. If you have it, I'd like to see a pic of how the rear of the bags attach to the bike.
    Also, it doesn't seem you are using the straps to connect the tail bag to the saddles.
    why?

    I'm pretty sure I will get them. I just need the best way to secure them without damaging the paint.[/QUOTE]


    I found that the straps are not long enough to click into the top of the saddle bags, so I used the bungee cord hook. Not the best pic, but I take the rear straps and hook it around the lower part of the tag.

    View attachment 15495 View attachment 15496
     
  12. FrankoQ

    FrankoQ New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    Messages:
    786
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Laurel, MD
    Thanks again. I just pulled the trigger and bought the bags.
    I will play with them and post pics of my set up.
     
  13. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2007
    Messages:
    13,741
    Likes Received:
    1,557
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Location:
    Chilliwack, BC Canada
    Map
    Two trips form BC to central California and a few other under my belt with this set up. I love my Cortech bags;

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    No damage to the body parts on the bike. But if you have after market pipes with no shields, I would be very cautious. The stock shields prevented any burning on mine and I drove for 10 hours at a time stopping only for food and gas. Don't pack icecream in them though
     
  14. FrankoQ

    FrankoQ New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    Messages:
    786
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Laurel, MD
    Thanks Randy. nice pics of your setup.
    I do have Leo vince pipes so I might have to come up with something to keep the bags away from the cans.
    Why do you say the grab handles are needed?
     
  15. FrankoQ

    FrankoQ New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    Messages:
    786
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Laurel, MD
    Hey Randy. Per your first pic, you have the tail bag sitting on the cowl.
    How is the bag secured on top of the cowl?
    I read from another post that this is a bad idea. the tabs that hold the cowl to the seat could break.
    one last question, the velcro strap that goes across the seat. is it over the seat or under for your setup?
     
  16. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2007
    Messages:
    13,741
    Likes Received:
    1,557
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Location:
    Chilliwack, BC Canada
    Map
    Or you can do something like this. I got this from Lgn001. He made these with 1/2 aluminum EMT (Electrical Metalic Tubing in case you did not know). Easily bent with a hand pipe bending tool called...of all thinks...a hickey.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  17. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2007
    Messages:
    13,741
    Likes Received:
    1,557
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Location:
    Chilliwack, BC Canada
    Map
    There are straps that go from one side to the other over the cowl. These as you probably know are rubber backed. I drape them over the outside of the cowl. So the two saddle bags are attached. The tension of the internal bungee cords, if you attache them as I have, attached to the web straps, connected to the u-bolts at the rear and the rear foot peg bracket to the front, keeps everything in place. Like I said, I have done some every long trips with mine. Now the Leo Vince pipes, I am concerned about. Could you jerry rig something to keep the straps clear of those? How hot do they get?
     
  18. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2007
    Messages:
    13,741
    Likes Received:
    1,557
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Location:
    Chilliwack, BC Canada
    Map
    BTW. This set up stayed intact when I dropped on a corner at Reggies the same trip that the first photo was taken. Matter of fact, the three following pix were taken when I got home from that trip.
     
  19. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2007
    Messages:
    13,741
    Likes Received:
    1,557
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Location:
    Chilliwack, BC Canada
    Map
    I just think the grab handles takes a little pressure off the plastics. As far as the tabs on the seat cowl goes, my rear tab just broke. But I have 128,000 km or 79,500 miles on mine ridden in all four seasones. Cowl is on 100% of the time so I suppose I should not be surprised it finally broke. I keep kicking the cowl cause my fat belly hampers me throwing my otherwise mythical athletic build over the seat.
     
  20. Marrib

    Marrib Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2008
    Messages:
    1,007
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Phx, AZ
    Map
Related Topics

Share This Page