How do you attach your saddlebags?

Hi all.

I have a pair of GIVI saddlebags for the sides of my bike. I like them, but find them cumbersome to hook on and off, and don't use them that much b/c of that. Also, they tend to minimize the usefulness of the underseat box.

I'd love to figure out a way to make them more useful, b/c I'd like the extra space.

Any thoughts?

Mandy

Hi Mandy. Modify the straps and hang them from the grab rails. I only use mine for touring purposes so the underseat area is already packed with bedding or clothes etc.

I lift my seat, lay the bags in position, strap them across the open area and then lock my seat down on top of the straps.

Cornishman wrote:

Hi Mandy. Modify the straps and hang them from the grab rails. I only use mine for touring purposes so the underseat area is already packed with bedding or clothes etc.

How did you modify them? Do you have pictures?

dspevack wrote:

I lift my seat, lay the bags in position, strap them across the open area and then lock my seat down on top of the straps.

Do you attach them at the bottom?

Hi Mandy,

Do you have pictures of your saddlebags? Are they the soft type or are they hard shell?

DennisB

No

I didn't modify mine to hang from the grips. I was suggesting that it was something to consider. I normally do as the other rider and lift the seat and lay the bags across the close the seat. This also means that the bags are secure for when you need to leave your bike for a comfort break etc.

Most soft panniers that I've seen have a join in the webbing that joins them. It should be possible to undo the join and trim it then using heavy duty velcro form a loop that would fit around the gab rails.

I haven't purchased soft saddlebags yet, but my plan is to attach them similar to what others have already mentioned, however I will also attach them to the crash bars I installed on the bike. I purchased and installed the crash bars first, because I was afraid the saddlebags might damage the finish of the rear side panels. You can see the crash bars here: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Bli-sHyv2TZaHTo1B4MPoA?feat=directlink

DennisB wrote:

Hi Mandy,

Do you have pictures of your saddlebags? Are they the soft type or are they hard shell?

DennisB

Hi Dennis,

The saddlebags are Givi T427 Voyager Saddlebags. 10"x18"x13". 36-liter volume.

Here is a picture:




Mandy

knife141 wrote:

I haven't purchased soft saddlebags yet, but my plan is to attach them similar to what others have already mentioned, however I will also attach them to the crash bars I installed on the bike. I purchased and installed the crash bars first, because I was afraid the saddlebags might damage the finish of the rear side panels. You can see the crash bars here: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Bli-sHyv2TZaHTo1B4MPoA?feat=directlink

The crash bars look great. Where did you get them?

That is the fehling Rail system

http://www.twtouring.com/honda.htm

http://silverwing.org/cgi-bin/topic_show.pl?tid=448

dspevack wrote:

That is the fehling Rail system

http://www.twtouring.com/honda.htm

http://silverwing.org/cgi-bin/topic_show.pl?tid=448

Thanks!

Do be aware that Fehling's chrome is not the best quality.
Where the ends of the tubes are flattened and drilled for the mounting bolts it's not long before rust appears.
I coated these places with Vaseline (petroleum jelly) on my second lot and it did help.

I've noticed that Givi now have a side rack to mount a Givi bag using the Monokey system - for the Silverwing.
The rather strange part is that it's for the right-hand side only.

It's P206 for bags T467,T457 &T450:

http://www.givi.co.uk/attachfile/content/prodotti_regionali_uk/38155/0.0.1.man_p206.pdf

What does one think?

Hey Dennis... is this a product you might be able to improve on? I know ... you probably have started working on it already.
G

MikeO wrote:

I've noticed that Givi now have a side rack to mount a Givi bag using the Monokey system - for the Silverwing.
The rather strange part is that it's for the right-hand side only.

It's P206 for bags T467,T457 &T450:

http://www.givi.co.uk/attachfile/content/prodotti_regionali_uk/38155/0.0.1.man_p206.pdf

What does one think?

I would guess the reason it is for one side, is that is the side that has the mounting
point for the muffler, and GIVI uses it as a point on which to brace the tubing.
Great find! Is that picture of the T400 or of the new Silverwing?

Dan

The T400, judging by the title on the page.

One of the listed bags is 58ltrs.
I wondered about the balance - it'd be a bit lop-sided.

I've just spotted my first post about the rack on the other Silverwing forum - word for word!

MikeO wrote:

I've just spotted my first post about the rack on the other Silverwing forum - word for word!

Yes Mike. I put it there. I admin on that forum, and I am on a number of other forums.
When I see something on another forum that helps my Silverwing bretheren I bring it
to .org. Hope you don't mind that I shared your knowledge.

Dan

I'm flattered, thanks Dan.

Incidentally, I couldn't find the rack on any official Givi USA site.

I expect they'll appear there soon, though.

I have an email in to GIVIUSA asking about it, and also asking if there is one available for the other side too. I expect they will return the email this week.

Dan

I received the following email from GIVIUSA this morning.


We have them in stock $120.00 retail, fits one side only. FOR T450, T457,T467, B36N ONLY

Thanks for the effort! It still seems strange that there is nothing for the other side.

The bags they say it works with all look like briefcase type bags.
Someone (DennisB) could come up with a similar bracket for both sides that would work for some of the hard side cases, don't you think?

thomphoto wrote:

The bags they say it works with all look like briefcase type bags.
Someone (DennisB) could come up with a similar bracket for both sides that would work for some of the hard side cases, don't you think?

Maybe I'll send him a PM.

The hard cases will fit as the the mounting's common to all the Monokey stuff but most of them come as a pair.