Saddlebags for Sport Touring

[rjsjr]

I'm looking into getting a set of saddlebags for sport touring.  I'd like something that can hold a decent amount of gear, will stay put if I'm riding spiritedly around twisty roads, and will fit well with camping gear bungeed to the passenger seat (or a duffel for non-camping trips).

The TourMaster Cortech series seems to come well recommended and I'm pretty happy with my cortech tankbag, so I'm leaning that way.  For those that have them already, how well do the stay put (especially when leaned over), and how well do the rain covers work?  Do they clear the exhaust ok and not get too hot?

Are there any other good options that are waterproof by themselves?  The rain covers seem like a pain, why not just make them of vinyl coated cordura in the first place?

Thanks in advance.

[Cal Price]

Never used throw-over bags, I use a magnetic tank-bag and a Givi top-box on a small carrier. I would be very careful with any luggage bungeed onto your passenger seat, there have been several reported crashes over here attributed to tailpacks slipping. Around here I see plenty of saddlebags so I guess they must be pretty stable.

[Zarathustra]

i have some nelson riggs saddle bags myself.  they're easy to throw on and take off, and hold a good amount of stuff.  while they arn't water proof themselves, they come with a linear you can use to make them water proof.  for some pics of my gs with them on look here: http://www.geocities.com/gszara/

[Kerry]

I had a set of TourMaster Cortech saddlebags and I liked them.  I used them on my first LONG trip (from Utah to Alabama and back) in conjunction with the Tourmaster 17-liter tailbag and the Tourmaster 12-liter magnetic tank bag.  Since I "moteled it" in both directions I had plenty of luggage space.

The saddlebags stayed put just fine.  There are 4 quick-connectors attached to the bags, and 4 short loops with the other half of the connectors that you attach to mounting points on the bike.   I attached the front loops to the passenger peg supports, and the rear loops to the grab bar.  (In the back I clipped each bag to the loop on the OPPOSITE side of the bike, so the straps crossed back there.

The bags cleared the exhaust pipe just fine when the straps were shortened as much as possible.  No problems with melting or anything.  I did lose a rain cover on the one day that I decided to use them.  I was too conservative in how tightly I cinched them around the bags.  But protection-wise they worked great.

After that trip I bought the matching Cortech tailbag that clips into the saddlebags, but I never really got to evaluate it - I went with Givi-compatible hard luggage from Riderhaus for my next long trip.  I wanted to haul MORE STUFF since I would be camping....

The nice thing about the Cortech bags is that you can transfer them to your next bike.  In fact, if I ever get a bigger/different bike I'm going to have my Dad ship the Cortech stuff back to me!

PS - You might want to do a Search above for "Cortech" and read through the last 7 or so threads that are listed in the search results.  Some of those threads mention other saddlebag solutions that may interest you.

[JamesG]

I second the Cortec stuff. Its pretty good and fits the GS very well. We've had a set for a few years now and have done a half dozen weekend trips with them.  We've never used the waterproof covers (I can't even remember where they are). The couple times we've gotten rained on I don't recall our stuff getting wet at all. But then we usually wrap our stuff in plastic bags anyway.

[dgbernstein]

Bringing back this thread from the dead...

I just bought the Cortech Saddlebags for a weekend trip into the Sierras. That set along with the Cortech Tankbag and I think I'll have enough packing room for all of my gear.

Thanks for the tip on crossing the straps under the bike 

[jjwalker98]

Do you have any pics with the bags on the bike?  I'm looking at getting some saddle bags.  Thanks

[dgbernstein]

Returned last night from my first road trip using the Cortech Sport Saddlebags. They worked perfectly! Along with my Cortech tankbag, I had plenty of room for everything for an overnight stay: pair of jeans, pair of shorts, under garments, socks, pjs, toiletries, towels, day backpack, ballcap, windbreaker, 3 t-shirts, tevas, in addition to the usual moto gear (maps, tools, flashlight, bottled water, first-aid kit, camera, wallet, etc...).

I attached the bags to the rear footpeg rod, and to the side grab-bars. Plenty of clearance for the stock exhaust pipe. They didn't shift or wiggle at all. They also connect together for easy off-the bike carrying.

Here are the pics:

[TragicImage]

did you notice any paint-rub?


with just a bungee cord, my paint/decal on my tail piece is looking haggard.... and I've not even racked up 200 miles with a bungee cord.

[dgbernstein]

No paint rub from the bags at all. They have two large pads that are against the bike. Good point though. I do have that netting against the paint. I haven't noticed any rubbing from it, but I haven't really looked closely.

The bags though, no problems at all whatsoever.

[Wrecent_Wryder]

h6

[Codger]

Nelson-RIgg standard saddlebangs.
Medium sized Frank Thomas Mag Tank bag.
Worked well on solo 3200 mile 7 day ride.

[John Bates]

Here's a rear view of my Cortechs.  These are the conventional (non sport) version.



I'm very happy with them.

I found a shoulder strap, that fits the top snap-on connectors, which is great for carrying a bag.

[dgbernstein]

...and I didn't know then that my butt seems to have a 2-3 hour limit in this seat.

I hear that! On the 2:20 trip up, I gutted it out and sat through the uncomfortableness of the saddle which started to hit me at just about the 2-hour mark. The return trip, I stopped after two hours. Just a short stop to gas up was all I needed.

It's a damn shame Corbin doesn't make a replacement seat for the years 2001-on.