pros cons of luggage on bike honest advice please

rocco · Post by **rocco** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 10:33 pm

hi gang,

looking at doing some weekend trips out of town with some mates.

will need to take some spare clothes etc and am looking at storage for items.

Tank bags,

Tail bags,

Back pack - do some of you find back packs to be a problem with your riding position?

Who uses what and why?

Please note this is for the almighty Power House GPX250R

Thanks

Roc

PS: One suggestion made to me by a guy who came back from GP was that he and his wife would post their change of clothes shoes toiletries etc via Aussie Air Express to the motel they were staying for the Grand Prix a day b4 leaving on the trek.

Then when leaving just freight them back home which in turn left them hassle free without excess luggage.

This i thought was a cool idea but not for me for weekend aways.

Burky · Post by **Burky** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 10:51 pm

After using a back pack Tankbag is my choice. I just hate anything on my back while i am riding.

Ratmick · Post by **Ratmick** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 10:59 pm

For a GPX a Ventura rack and Aero bag would be fine. You could add to this with a tank bag, the one I had stuck to my GPX really well (it was a DriRider Rally pack from what I remember).

In both cases go to an outdoor shop and buy some bags that canoeists use to keep their gear dry as they are not waterproof. Nothing worse than putting on wet clothes (or the smelly ones from the day before).

The downside of both of these is that they are both easily removable from the bike, and hence easily stoen. The only real waterproof and virtually unstealable option is hard luggage from someone like Givi.

RG · Post by RG » Sun Nov 05, 2006 11:01 pm

I travel on the ZZR250 with tank bag + tail bag + back pack.

I ride around everyday with my back pack, a small 15L bag and I can't live without it.

I have this big 70L backpackers style back pack, doesn't work for me for riding, it touches the back of my helmet and it's annoying.

rocco · Post by **rocco** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 11:23 pm

i considered the ventura but the $$$$$$$$$ was way over my limit for this purchase..........i like the tail bag idea but without a rack involved.............are they easy to secure to the bike?

seraph · Post by **seraph** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 11:24 pm

I do a bit of long distance stuff (overnighters + longer trips) and swear by saddlebags - on my zzr250 they rocked and on my 6 they are a touch awkward but a few tweaks next time I strap 'em on should do the trick. They keep the weight down low, don't get in the way when I'm doing twisty stuff (I'm not good at riding in straight lines, always go the long twisty way on long rides, so a tank bag would get in my way and be annoying) they are water resistant and usually come with thoughtfully placed rain covers for big splashes, they don't get in the way of fuelling up and hold more than a pillion seat bag. I hate riding with a backpack on so they are the perfect set up for me, since I can sling a tent over the top of them on my back seat and go for even longer jaunts. HTH -J.

rocco · Post by **rocco** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 11:29 pm

for those that use or used back packs,

do you find they interfere with your ride in regards to when its windy they catch too much wind and sway your body more than normal.

i am trying t find something that will give me storage but wont be a burden in harsh weather too.

rocco · Post by **rocco** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 11:43 pm

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcyc ... il-bag.htm

now this is what i like, no rack, out of the road and plenty of storage.

hoffy · Post by **hoffy** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 11:44 pm

burkys_ninja wrote:After using a back pack Tankbag is my choice. I just hate anything on my back while i am riding.

Im the same, I just cant do the backpack thing it is really frustrating when riding.

Just try strapping a bag down to your bikes back seat, or go the milk crate option..You wont notice anything on the back while your riding.

mick_dundee · Post by **mick_dundee** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 12:00 am

Personally I reckon yu're far beter off letting the bike do the carrying but your call. I use a fairly large explorer bag that's expandable, sits on the pillion seat on a ventura rack.

If purchasing a rack I would go a gearsack over a ventura rack personally, sturdier build, then you can decie what bag you want.

Tank bags are good for stuff you need to reach often or don't want let out of your sight, camera, wallet, jocks, socks, 1st aid kit, puncture kit that kinda shit I reckon.

Strika · Post by **Strika** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:04 am

I have done over 450,000 klms on motorbikes over the years. The majority were day trips, with around 6 weekend trips away a year and a 6 or 7 two to four weeks holidays on the bike. Here are some observations I have made.

Back pack- Great for riding down the shops to buy the milk, but for extended day rides or longer, they become a pain in the back. Literally.

Tank Bag- Offers better bike balance, but i found them to become annoying in a few ways. A. They move around, and B. you have to remove them three times a day for fuel. C.They can restrict movement sometimes, or interfere with steering.

Seat bag- Great for day rides. You can keep a tyre repair kit, Co2 bottles, lube, spare visor and even a change of clothes. Secured properly they stay put. If it's just day rides, this would be my 1st choice.

Ventura/insert yr fav brand name here rack and bag- I have one of these on the 9. The top loop removes in 20 seconds for track days or riding around town. The bag (buy the ugly square rally bag, it's the best despite the looks) can sit on the pillion seat to centralise the weight when you are not carrying a pillion, most are waterproof, and can carry enough gear for two people on a weekend away including the hair dryer!!! I find when turned around and sitting on the pillion seat, the bike handles almost the same as without it on. It is secure and doesn't move around. Some brands offer lockable soft bags, or their are security nets available if you intend to leave your stuff on the bike all day. I find they are generally left well alone just parked on the street while you have breakfast/lunch etc., I have ben leaving mine on their for years without fear of theft. (however be mindful that in this day and age of Ipods,laptops, etc etc, this may start to become an issue.

Soft Panniers - these I would only use as emergency storage. ie- if I was going on an extended trip, had filled my rack bags, and my tank bag, then I would use these rather than a back pack. They always worry me around the back wheel there for some reason.

HTH.

mike-s · Post by **mike-s** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:13 am

some bikes have occy strap securing points on the pillion seat, im pretty certain the 636's have this too. if yours has it, i'd say a tail pack secured there would be the best bet if its got enough room. Tankbags are good, until you overpack them and you've got to hug them like its a 200 kilo auntie just to get to the bars.

if you can afford it in the long run, go the ventura/gearsac rack, they are worth the hassle to install. Then again the last 3 bikes i've owned have ALL had gearsac/ventura racks pre-installed, so i guess im just biased

.

bonester · Post by **bonester** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:27 am

I have panniers, tankbag, topbox and trailer.
My experience with tankbags echo the above. They kinda suck if they interfere with your steering. My Bagster tankbag on the ZZR spreads my arms apart which I find annoying. Topbox on the ZZR upsets the handling to some degree, but topbox/panniers on GT550 work well. Panniers are great as long as you load them evenly weight-wise so as to not upset handling. Trailers are great as they can carry an unreal amount of stuff and the weight ends up down low so handling isn't affected much, but acceleration and fuel economy are, or at least they are on a GT550. Got a towbar coming for the ZZR. I'm sure it would tow better. You can get a trailer for a 250- Classic Ultralite for one.

bonester · Post by **bonester** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:28 am

double post...dammit

bonester · Post by **bonester** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:29 am

triple post