So a little bored, seeing a low post count and trying out a bottle of Jamison's I thought i would pass on some of my thoughts about Luggage and carrying.
Through the years I've used a number of different ways to cart my rubbish around on the bike. The classic Occy strap is pretty much my first piece of professional equipment after tiring of using rope and lashing out some cash for a set. That was around 1984 and recently I purchased a set of "Rok" straps from an independent supplier in Perth and as far as straps go these are the best I've used. With a loop as oppose to a hook and will not scratch delicate paint and eases the concern of it coming undone. They are two pieces that clip together at the centre with one side elastic so they can be done up taught but still give and don't vibrate loose. The centre clip makes access easy as well.
I have a full Givi Hard Pannier/Topbox pannier assembly as well as a Topbox only Mount for the GSX1400. The two advantages of these of course is security as a locked bag takes a determined effort to get into and weather protection. If you carry a Pillion the Topbox is a comfort for the simple placebo effect. If you are really loading up the racks give extra strap points.
Downside is the extra weight incurred above the bikes C.O.G. And whilst it doesn't make the bike ugly, it not exactly lingerie. The time taken to assemble and disassemble is also a nuisance.
Soft luggage is great as it's compact and stores easily in a cupboard until needed. It is usually expandable to quite a large volume and are usually quite durable if you brought a branded item. They only take a short time to fit and remove leaving a naked bike as its maker intended.
Downside of course is security is minimal and can suffer in heavy downpours (keeping everything in fresh garbage bags overcomes this). If your saddlebags don't have retaining straps, your bags could fly off the back of your bike without you noticing (first thing i learned about my Katana in 1986).
Now I have the K1600 for everyday duties with modular hard panniers that have central locking and an alarm. The GSX1400 remains Yoke free but i have been looking for a friend who has a Z900RS and wonder what other options are available. I saw a nice Soft set of Gearsack Pannier/Topbag combination for $200 and I have already bought him the aforementioned ROK straps as a gift.
So i guess the real question is:
Do you like it hard or do like a Strap-on...?
Ok I'll bite...
Hard for the euro kit, strap on for the naked...
Before RokStraps which are awesome there were Andystraps with Heavy Duty Velcro adjustable straps they were a pain if something got hooked on them.
Heard some horror stories about occy straps with hooks letting go and hitting eyes/faces :whatever:
I the past I used soft throw over panniers and tank bag, bought Givi's for the 1400 plenty of room and the missus loves them on the longer journey's. I have and still ride the nice contoured panniers on FJR and Pan Euro but find the Givi's more practical than the fancy factory setups. I don't mind the pannier and box brackets being on the 1400 when not in use but then I'm more into go than show.
My 46L Givi topbox stays on the bike and have never removed the Givi pannier brackets. Have those 41L side boxes with the small top flap that opens. Also have a 15L tank lock expandable tankbag to complete the oversized container ship look. Does carry the gear nice. We often travel with a thermos of hot water, milk and coffee which travel well stored vertically in the panniers. Wet weather gear in the topbox. Wallets, phones and my diabetes gear in the tankbag. Takes us a couple of days on the road to get things in the right places. I've learned you cannot jam every nook and cranny full. You must have spare room if you don't want to spend ages packing up every morning because it won't all fit back in easily if you don't.
We are quite blessed to have all that space under our seat. Tools, rag, chain oil, tyre gauge, bulbs, cable ties and first aid kit live there.
I refrain from lane splitting with panniers on. The bride quite likes having the panniers fitted. Things are nice and tidy and anything under the seat it still easy to access.
If I'm travelling on my own the topbox, tankbag and a soft Givi hold all that has loops I use to bungee cord on is great. I do keep some 2inch wide masking tape and 2inch wide velcro under the seat for emergencies.
Perhaps I should just get a car :whatever:
I've used soft luggage for many many years, strapped to the pillion seat or rack, cheap and cheerful, did OK.
(https://i.ibb.co/L82pTH1/3-DCEB88-C-A9-B3-4-CEA-8-D1-B-FE00-D9-BD8-E35.jpg) (https://ibb.co/6mfsKLF)
More recently my H2 had factory hard cases, they held enough, I loved the fact they came on / off with the ignition key and didn't leave any ugly frame on the bike.
(https://i.ibb.co/FnwBph5/F814010-B-1167-4736-BA9-D-BCE252664371.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wYWKtdS)
... however... side cases were always on my mind, great on the open road but in traffic or around town I was always paranoid about filtering, lane splitting etc. I liked them if it was an interstate long haul, hated them on the commute to work.
My GSX14 often wears a magnetic tank bag (tanks already dented and scratched!) and a top box that comes off to take into hotels / motels.
(https://i.ibb.co/JB0SSZp/E718-B486-EBA7-4633-9-DA3-750-B28493208.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ZLtbb9g)
(https://dedupelist.com[/url)
My setup on my black K7 are just about identical to yours Kiwifruit.
Quote from: Kiwifruit on Thursday, 11 May 2023, 07:05 PMMy 46L Givi topbox stays on the bike and have never removed the Givi pannier brackets. Have those 41L side boxes with the small top flap that opens. Also have a 15L tank lock expandable tankbag to complete the oversized container ship look. Does carry the gear nice. We often travel with a thermos of hot water, milk and coffee which travel well stored vertically in the panniers. Wet weather gear in the topbox. Wallets, phones and my diabetes gear in the tankbag. Takes us a couple of days on the road to get things in the right places. I've learned you cannot jam every nook and cranny full. You must have spare room if you don't want to spend ages packing up every morning because it won't all fit back in easily if you don't.
We are quite blessed to have all that space under our seat. Tools, rag, chain oil, tyre gauge, bulbs, cable ties and first aid kit live there.
I refrain from lane splitting with panniers on. The bride quite likes having the panniers fitted. Things are nice and tidy and anything under the seat it still easy to access.
If I'm travelling on my own the topbox, tankbag and a soft Givi hold all that has loops I use to bungee cord on is great. I do keep some 2inch wide masking tape and 2inch wide velcro under the seat for emergencies.
Perhaps I should just get a car :whatever:
Sounds like we've got the same Givi setup, I use a cheaper tankbag though.
You really can get your entire house into that much luggage, when I use it for camping the only thing that's not in the boxes is the tent poles as they are 1" too long. They get strapped to the rack rails so sit down the side of the seat & under the topbox.
Despite having everything tidily packed away I was unable to keep all the air in the rear tyre :facepalm:
Doesn't look flat but it is.
20211116_163813.jpg
80's touring, Gearsack rack & occy straps. Things have improved since then.IMG_0429.jpeg
Quote from: Batkwaka on Friday, 12 May 2023, 07:47 AM80's touring, Gearsack rack & occy straps. Things have improved since then.
The tyres definitely have, that looks like a retread.
I'm heading up the coast tomorrow, her indoors has decided to tag along so out with the boxes. 45ltr up top 36ltr on sides. Only a day trip so I shouldn't need the Bagster.
K800_20230512_204355.JPG
K800_20230512_204336.JPG
Balanced wheelies no problem with all the luggage full and Mrs on pillion I'm assuming :stir: :stir: :stir: :devil:
Quote from: GSXKING on Monday, 15 May 2023, 11:06 PMBalanced wheelies no problem with all the luggage full and Mrs on pillion I'm assuming :stir: :stir: :stir: :devil:
Too much weight up front to do wheelies.
I'm looking at options for saddle bags for my K7 and already have the Ventura rack & pack. I see that Ventura don't offer the mounting brackets for their Bonneville saddle bags on the 1400. Do you think that there would be a close fit for the 14 from another similar bike ?
Quote from: Balanda on Friday, 17 May 2024, 03:21 AMI'm looking at options for saddle bags for my K7 and already have the Ventura rack & pack. I see that Ventura don't offer the mounting brackets for their Bonneville saddle bags on the 1400. Do you think that there would be a close fit for the 14 from another similar bike ?
Sorry mate I missed your intro 🧐
You'll probably get a response once you let us know you're not Ai 👍
Quote from: Balanda on Friday, 17 May 2024, 03:21 AMI'm looking at options for saddle bags for my K7 and already have the Ventura rack & pack. I see that Ventura don't offer the mounting brackets for their Bonneville saddle bags on the 1400. Do you think that there would be a close fit for the 14 from another similar bike ?
Head over to the bar and introduce yourself is always a good start (after all this isn't Facebook you know)
Then go use the search facility on this platform and you'll be amazed at the stuff and info you'll find and what's been asked before .
As for your luggage comment one if the guys has fitted a set-off givi frames without to much modification to a gsx1400 you can read all about in on the thread 😉
PM sent yesterday chaps.