I am looking for a way to hold some gear while traveling. I have quite a bit of heavier gear that i would like to store on the back. I have performed a fender elimination. What options do I have for a late model ninja?
I liked the Givi gear but I dont think that its compatible.
Heavier gear is better distributed evenly in saddlebags to keep the CG lower on the bike. If you are not looking for hard bags you might want to consider a luggage system. There are bags out there that incorporate the saddlebags with a tailbag. Makes it easier to install and remove from the bike when travelling.
The major soft luggage companies have systems where the saddlebags fasten to the tailbag.
I can fit an XL ICON Contra jacket in one of those side bags. They unzip to expand to almost 30 liters. The bags velcro to each other and have handles for carrying. They also have a rod to keep them away from the rear tire and clip into a connector at the rear foot peg area. The top case is removable in seconds and wired it to work with the brake light.
Jeepincbum, did you have to buy the euro grab rails to get the mounting brackets fitted? I am limited on buget to 250ish dollars. All I want to carry is my 6ft 16mm chain and padlock as I do not feel that it is safe to carry them in a backpack in case of an accident. The chain and lock weighs 20-25lbs. If thw bag has space i might toss my jacket liner in for cold days and to help keep the chain from shifting.
I have a pretty cheap magnetic tank bag I picked up at Cycle Gear, originally for my 250, and it works okay on the 650. No way it would hold 25 pounds, I agree, and I am planning on getting a new one at some point, but it works fine for me now.
@OP: Tank bag thread to give you some ideas. My magnetic tank bag has a security strap. Unless you are barreling through the twisties, I can't imagine that would be an issue. At least for me, if I had 25 lbs. in a tank bag, I think my mindset would just be cruising.
How about just getting some generic saddle bags and putting the main strap thing ( the thing mating the two bags in the middle) under the passenger seat ?
Wouldnt that keep it from moving around ?
It's generally not advised to not properly distribute weight on the saddlebags but I'm not sure if 25lbs is a big difference.
Anyway, there are also tail bags with bungee cables or straps that can sit ontop of the pillion seat but it's not the type of thing that you can take off in a matter of seconds. I have a bungee tailbag (Motorek Tail bag) but it got annoying to the point of if I don't have that much crap, I'll just use a backpack instead.
do you no longer have the 2 hooks under the rear seat?
My big Nelson Rigg tail bag has the 4 bungee cords with hooks and takes almost no time to attach/ remove. I think their new bags have that silly strap/buckle way to attach, which I feel is going to take longer to get on and off.
I've put in 8 bottles of wine, a thick cable & locks and some gear in mine, which is way over 25 pounds.
Don't use a tank bag, as you would dent the tank eventually, either when you put the bag on or put the heavy chain in the bag.
Tank bags are for my soft things, jeans, t-shirts... I lay on it during some points of traveling...
I still do and sometimes use them but I usually commute with my bike which I only need a change of shoes and my laptop. No need to bring an 18+ liter tank bag for both those items when a backpack is much easier to deal with.
I've got some old-school Cortech saddlebags and carried 9 pounds of meat, 6 pounds of chicken, bunch of salsa and chips with no issue. I love me some luggage!
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