Suggestions for saddlebags?

[JC]

Anyone have any suggestions?  Trying to keep it cheap.   Also trying to avoid leather since there's nothing leather on my bike.  Some black nylon type stuff would be good.  Just trying to find some big enough to be able to pack 4 days of clothes and a baggie of tools.

My tank bag won't suffice due to A) size and B) I need that space for my tent and sleeping bag.


Don't want to spend a lot of money since I'll probably only be using it one or two times a year.

[Beefmaster_Mark]

Hey Jeff,

I have a couple of suggestions.  I like Coretech and Nelson Riggs for the cheap stuff.  I take it you are looking for soft bags?  Do you have brackets to keep them from getting into the wheel/pipes?

FWIW, I would NOT try to stuff even a small tent into a bag - just lash it across your passenger seat perpendicular to the seat.  It will not stick out wider than your mirrors. 

Here's some places where I would look:

http://www.newenoughhp.com/luggage/saddlebags_/

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/4/71/56/CLASS/Street-Bike-Saddlebags-Luggage-Accessories.aspx

[JC]

Yeah, sorry I wasn't very clear.  I have a tail bag I normally use, but I won't be bringing it since I'll be tieing down the tent in that spot, as you mentioned.

And no, I don't have any brackets.  If I'm not mistaken don't they just lean against the rear shocks?

Thanks for the links, I'll look through!

[aprilmaybe]

Sometimes Berts has a house brand of luggage. I had a tank bag that was around 25$ it was functional but nothing fancy. Jim used it for a few years before the side supports disintegrated. That might be your cheapest bet.   

[CamiloSan]

I have the nelson riggs silver streak saddle bags for the SV1k. I got them from motorcycle superstore. They're very low quality. Single chain stitching along the bottom. They tore at the seam when trying to install the plastic thingie to give them shape.

I e-mailed motorcycle superstore. They never got back to me. I figure they would try to ding me with restock and shipping fees. I just flicked on a movie to pass the time as I repair sewed it myself.

I take responsibility though. I should've looked up where Nelson Rigg was made (Made in China,  sweatshop most likely), and considered the price point. Anyway, I went ahead and ordered a Bagster bag (Made to order in France). It costs almost twice as much as the NRigg but that's how much a saddlebag costs and the money goes to a healthier environment.

All that said, I'll be selling the NRigg bag for $50 or so when the bagster arrives. If you want it, it's yours.

[Beefmaster_Mark]

All that said, I'll be selling the NRigg bag for $50 or so when the bagster arrives. If you want it, it's yours.

HAhahahahahahaha

aaaaa

HA!hahahahahahaha!

That's a ringing  endorsement if ever I've read one!   

[JC]

Yeah no kidding lol.  I think I'll pass, but I'll keep looking. Thanks guys

[CamiloSan]

That's a ringing  endorsement if ever I've read one!   

hey, I'm being honest. Almost everything you can buy out there has been made in some low-quality sweatshop (we all know the list of countries in our heads). I repaired it and it'll last a lot longer now. Selling for %50 original value is fair.

My advice though is to buy it from Bagster. The only US vendor I know of is Ride Addict. Here's their saddlebag section.
http://www.rideaddict.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=18

here's the bagster site
http://www.bagster.com/en/

[Beefmaster_Mark]

Just breakin' yer balls man. 

[CamiloSan]

Just breakin' yer balls man. 

east coast habit. high strung, low-key, deep conversations - take everything seriously.

tryin' to learn new ways

[wlk12]

Sorry I didn't respond earlier Jeff (my "Show unread posts..."  doesn't seem to work ).

Anyway, I use RKA soft luggage - outstanding quality but expensive. For your needs, Cortech stuff should work well - decent quality but reasonably priced. Perhaps you could find some on sale.

I forgot when you're going to Yosemite? We're going on June 20/21/22. Don't suppose we could be at the same time .

Bill K.

[JC]

Nope afraid not    We're going July 9-12    Thanks for the advice!  I might be picking up the tourmaster nylon cruiser bags.  Theyre cheap, and look like a reasonable amount fo room.  The cortech bags seem to be very expensive, even used on ebay.

[wlk12]

I should have mentioned Tourmaster. They're fine. I have a tail bag and also had the Tourmaster  Cruiser nylon saddlebags on my V-Star. Good luck.

Bill K.

[JC]

Thanks Bill!   Perfect those are exactly what I was looking for.  Have any pics of them on your bike?  (Do you still have them?)

[CamiloSan]

I got my Bagster bags in Friday. Man, are they exceptional. Look up application on Ride Addict. They'll place the order with bagster. It'll take about a month as it's made in France. The end-result is a bag made for bikers. The Euro riders are a helluva lot more daily-riding-minded than we are. The bags reflect this. A few zippers and clips make the bag fit snug against the side of the bike when they're empty - or flare out when they're stuffed with items.

I'm amazed at what a difference in quality $60 more than a crappy Nelson-Rigg makes.

here's a link
http://www.rideaddict.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=254

Note that the bag doesn't look like the picture. You mention the bike you have and it seems they'll shape it differently. The Bag look made for my SV 1000. It's got more of a taper in the back matching the floating pillion common on sport bikes.