Best gs500 Luggage / saddle bag options?

[Andy13186]

Im looking for something i can carry a small amount of things in , i know a backpack would work but id rather have something i could leave on the bike.   What are some good luggage type things that are pretty secure on the bike? Whats the best options for the money in your opinions.  Anyone have any luggage type things, mabe tank bags? tail bags that are secured under the seat somehow or something?  Right now i just have an adjustable bungy cord that i use to hold small things on.

[007brendan]

I bought a set of the tourmaster/cortech tribag saddlebags on craigslist for $60.  I'm pretty satisfied with them.  I had to turn them backwards to get some clearance over the exhaust, but the heat shielding on them works really well, even with only about 1/4" clearance.  I'm considering getting the cortech tankbag as well.

[Andy13186]

did a bit of research and this looks like a pretty good bag..

http://www.newenoughhp.com/luggage/tail_bags/cortech_by_tour_master/sport_motorcycle_tail_bag.html

decent storage capacity and seems pretty good overall

[Cal Price]

On My GS500 I a full set of "Buffalo" soft luggage and Givi top box, and on the bandit I have hard panniers and top-box.

For "everyday" use, carrying odds and ends, my wet gear or doing a bit of shopping I would recomend a top box every time. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes to suit your taste and needs and are about as secure as any luggage can be.

I only use my panniers for "big-touring" the extra width does slightly alter the dynamic of the bike, aspecially when you forget they are there! parking and small space navigation need extra care.
My experience with tank bags is that they are OK for things like maps, snacks and a drink but i don't like to put much weight in them, now I use a sat-nav for touring I don't use the tank bag anymore. Tail bags, some people swear by them but I am concerned about movement and a bag ending up in the rear wheel, I like to be able to see what is going on! Having said that if securely mounted why not with same points as tank bag.

I don't think you are going to find a secure tank or tail bag that you can leave on the bike whereas top boxes are lock-and-key jobs. (as are hard panniers but not soft "throw overs")

[Paulcet]

I like my Joe Rocket Manta XL tank bag for the summer.  It holds my phone, summer gloves, glasses, ID badge, helmet visor, bungee net and a few small odds 'n ends.  With a little room left over for small things like a 750ml bottle of water, or a foot-long from Subway.  My winter gloves, however, stuff it pretty tight with all the other stuff in there.

And Toogoofy and a couple of others really like their Rapid Transit tank bags.

Just about any magnetic tank bag will stay put, and most have a tether for extra peace of mind.

[Cal Price]

Paulcet is spot on about using the extra tether on a tank bag. I very nearly lost one in howling cross-wind and rain on a French Autoroute, a most unamusing experience. Luckily the GS layout is such that going right'n'tight under the tank is easy. Most tank bags zip onto the magnetic pad part so you don't have to dismantle the set up if you want to take it with you.

[DoD#i]

The emgo hard trunk at newenough is really tempting at $60.

http://www.newenoughhp.com/luggage/tail_bags/emgo/portable_motorcycle_travel_trunk_tail_bag.html

[romulux]

How do you attach hard top boxes like the Emgo box?

I just got some soft luggage, when I get it mounted I'll take some pictures and post it here.

[gsJack]

How do you attach hard top boxes like the Emgo box?

I just got some soft luggage, when I get it mounted I'll take some pictures and post it here.

Hard top boxes mount to an included base plate that will bolt to almost any luggage rack.  I mounted my Givi box to a Suzuki rack on my 02 GS and found it needed some additional bracing.  It's been there for over 5 years and 70k miles now:



This Susuki GS500 rack I used is no longer made:



If I had to mount another case on a GS w/o the Rack I'd make something like this:



That's similar to the home made rack I put on my 97 GS that held up for years carrying soft luggage and mounted only to the passanger grab handlr:

[Bluesmudge]

The emgo hard trunk at newenough is really tempting at $60.

http://www.newenoughhp.com/luggage/tail_bags/emgo/portable_motorcycle_travel_trunk_tail_bag.html

I have that. Its great for the price. Right now its just bolted onto my grab handle, been that way for about 1000 miles. I plan on eventually getting a proper rack but it has worked fine so far.

[tt_four]

I wish under seat storage was more standard on bikes. I know I've mentioned it before, but that's why I love the design of the 1996-2003 gsxrs. They have a ton of space in the tail. My gs has a ton of space in the tail now that I replaced it with that R1 solo tail, but I have no way to get inside of it, haha.

Anyway, as far as storage..... If you're looking for something you can leave on your bike without worrying, your best bet would be to grab a random bag you like for your back seat, and sew some thick straps with velcro on the bottom so you can lift up your seat, strap the bag around with the velcro(or even buckles) on the under side of your seat. Then when you put your seat back on, no can can remove it. If you wanted a nice one you could find a real tail bag and put straps on to replace the bungies. I had just done it with this soft case I found at a cd store that was about 10-12 inches long, 8 inches wide, and 6 or so inches tall. It was gently padded, and didn't cost a whole lot.

I usually prefer a backpack because I also have that fear of tail/saddle bags falling off. At least you can feel that a backpack is still on your back, or with a tank bag you can still see it on your tank. I've never had one almost fall off though, and I've ridden in some pretty bad/windy weather. The more magnets you can get the better. I've had 2 tank bags. One was a smaller Cortech that was thick and super padded. The fabric was pretty stiff and I didn't trust it as much. The fact that it was so stiff, and the fabric on the bottom was thick, the magnets didn't hold quite as well, and I feel like wind might have an easier job knocking it off because it was so rigid. I also didn't like how it stayed the same size even when it was empty.

The second bag I had was a suzuki tank bag. The fabric was a big more flexible, it had a lot more magnets, and the bottom was more grippy. I don't think a tornado could've knocked that bag off, plus, when nothing was in it you could just squish it down so it was pretty flat and out of the way.

I've seen plenty of people leave tank bags on their bikes for extended periods of time. I was always too paranoid and always took it with me, but I feel like the general public wouldn't know it was a magnetic bag, and wouldn't know how easy it was to steal. A tank bag is the kind of thing where if it was stolen, you know it was probably by someone else with a motorcycle.

[Toogoofy317]

I did a pretty detailed write up about the rapid transit tank bag in the wiki. I also have a set of Nelson Rigg saddle bags that work well for say grocery shopping can get about $50 in groceries in them. They also have a carry strap so you can take it with you but I just put the straps under the seat and small backpack master locks to secure the zippers. Sure one can cut the bags open but if someone really wants your stuff they are going to get it. Will post up pics later.
Mary

[mister]

I was tossing between a Top Box and a Rack. In the end I went with the Venture Rack - comes with a bag - for maximum versatility.

On longer weekend trips I put the Ventura bag on it that came with the rack. I can put all food, liquid refreshment, additional clothes, money for gas, cameras, blah blah blah and still have heaps of room. I also use this bag for shopping trips. When I ride to work I take a smaller bag and bungee it to the rack. Takes 20 seconds. Can even then put something on top of that with the Net. And for shorter trips I leave the bags off and either ride without a bag or take a shoulder tote bag to carry a few things - I don't own a tank bag.

Work Set Up


Nothing On It Set Up


Shopping / Longer Trip Set Up


With this set up, the bag that comes with the rack has a Sleeve that slides over the top of the rack and two small clips that loop under the bottom bar and connect with themselves. Because of this you can have the bag facing back like I do, I face it forward. Also, the flat part of the bag has a zip all around it. You are able to get another bag like it and zip it together back-to-back for those really really long trips.

Michael

[Chuck500]

I bought a full set of First Gear Silverstone luggage.  This included saddlebags, tank bag and tail bag.  I mounted the saddlebags with the straps under the seat.  They stay on all the time.  I use them for commuting to carry weather gear and work stuff (soft brief case).  the tank bag I install for weekend day trips to carry maps, camera, water etc.

[Toogoofy317]

Here is a pic of my set up on grocery day! I don't leave my saddle bags on all the time but they can be put on in less than five minutes!



Mary

[FatBastard]

This Susuki GS500 rack I used is no longer made:

anyone know if there are any of these flying around still, I really want one

oh btw look at my fuelly pic, thats my bag set up and it takes me about 20 secs to put on or take off

[romulux]

I took some photos of the luggage I got last week.  This is the Nelson-Rigg CL-850 saddlebags and CL-150 top case.  They are very spacious.  The top case is easy to detach from the saddlebags and the whole system is easy to detach from the bike.

I wasn't sure whether I liked it at first because it takes up so much seat space.  It's almost like having a backrest, but I don't lean back that far.  The more I use it, the more I like it.








Because it's so easy to remove from the bike, I took a bike cable lock and weaved it through the handles on each bag and through the grab bar on the bike.  I also have small luggage locks for the main compartments.  None of this will keep anyone out who really wants to get at the luggage, but it's a simple deterrent.




Here is my Garmin nuvi 550 on a RAM mount, works really well.  The bar ends are HVMP universal.  Screen is a spitfire, came with the bike when I bought it used.

[mister]

Romulux:

Nice set up.

Q...

How do you find the Cramp Buster?

Can the panniers be moved further back to allow a pillion to still sit on the seat?

I see cables running through the handles. Is that Your addition so the bags cannot be stolen?

Michael

[romulux]

Romulux:

Nice set up.

Q...

How do you find the Cramp Buster?

Can the panniers be moved further back to allow a pillion to still sit on the seat?

I see cables running through the handles. Is that Your addition so the bags cannot be stolen?

Michael

I like the cramp buster, it's worth the $13 I paid.  I've never used a cruise control and I think I would be worried about making mistakes with one.  The main thing is I can just lightly hold the throttle instead of 'gripping' it.

To allow a passenger, you would definitely have to remove the top case or put it on a rack behind the seat.  The panniers would also have to move back some.  I think you could do it, but a lot of weight would be pressing against the turn indicators.  I think you would be better off with smaller saddlebags or a rack that helps secure them further back and without straining the indicators.  See the vertical straps on the side cases?  I think the rear vertical strap would need to be back where the rear grab handle is for access to the foot pegs.

Yeah, I ran a cable through the luggage so you can't just lift it off the bike.  It wouldn't stop anyone determined enough, just a deterrent.  I think I'll just be leaving the luggage on all the time.  I don't like wearing a backpack in case I take a spill, so I stuff my backpack in the topcase.

[romulux]

I think my saddlebags are on backwards, I'll have to switch them around.  I think the reflective piping is supposed to be on the back...