Budget Friendly luggage for my GS500

[Michael500]

Hello Friends,

I've been lurking for a while here waiting until I had something worthwile to contribute. This forum has been an amazing source so far, especially the posts and videos from Mr Lajko. I'm very sad I never got the chance to interact with him My condolences to all those who were friends with him. He seemed to be a really great guy.

Anyway, I wanted to let you all know about a product I just picked up that I'm really excited about.

I've been looking for a good luggage solution for a while, and I came across this set of fabric bags for only $109usd

I was pretty skeptical at first but I thought what the hell... Every other solution I've come across has cost several hundred dollars so I didn't think I was going to be able to afford it until I found these.







It's from a Chinese manufacturer called Sunway. You get two panniers and a good sized bag for the rear

Higher resolution -> http://imgur.com/a/mWx4P#uALrBW5

They're not top of the line by any means but the quality seems good, material feels thick and durable. They come with waterproof bags that strech over them (not yet tested)

My only complaint so far is that the straps and buckles seem to be pretty flimsy. I will be coming up with my own way of fastening them to my bike. I will update this thread once I've done a shakedown of the system.

There you go. Hope this saves somone like me from spending hours and hours searching for a luggage solution. For 100 bucks you cant go wrong.

*Edit* What a dork I forgot the link!!! Here it is
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2013-New-Motorcycle-Bags-Motorbike-tank-bags-Motorcycle-Storage-Bags-Free-shiping/1520568267.html
Happy riding
-Michael

[AnonRider]

this looks perfect for me! link?

[Golly]

Interesting indeed yes link please

Sent from The Shire

[Michael500]

If you didn't see I edited the post to include the link.
Cheers
-Michael

[Yankeeguy42]

Hey Michael,

These look awesome. Can you fit a good amount of clothes in them for a long trip? I have been looking for the last 2 months or so and commented on another thread but these are a good price and look pretty big.

Awesome find and thanks for posting!

-Dave

[Coseverde]

Please post a review after you've had them in the rain!

Can you get a full face helmet in there?

[Michael500]

The panniers are expanding so they unzip and can actually fit my full face helmet. However, obviously they then are quite large and stick out almost a foot from the side of the bike.

The back case doesn't expand and is too small for a helmet.

You could do a very long trip with these, however the rain would soak right through.

They come with little elastic waterproof paunchos that go over them. I don't often ride in the rain so it will be a while before I test them out.

One note, I found that the rear bag doesn't attach very well with the stock straps/clips. Instead I'm using a rubber bungee attached to the passenger footpegs to the rear handle and that seems to work great. They're very solid.

Ok, well maybe I'll have some complaints after I do a long trip with them but so far nothing.

cheers
-Michael

[dinkydonuts]

This is the stuff! Great info!

Honestly, most fabric luggage you can buy now (Nelson Rigg, etc.) are all made in China anyway. Chances are these are made in the same factory with how "efficient" our global commerce is now.

Can you provide a pic with the side bags fully expanded out? Also what level of droopage is there? Are the pannier bottoms a different material to handle the heat from the muffler?

[rexpepper651]

so awesome i think ill be getting these sometime this summer. i wanna take the bike out for a camping trip and side bags will be perfect for my gear

[jsyzdek]

Hi Mike

You posted a thing, now you get tons of questions

I have one, too. Do you have to put all 3 on the bike? or can you use just the top, and/or just the side bags?

In case you can put just the 2 side bags on - could a passenger sit comfortably on the bike with these bags on?

[Michael500]

Ugh stupid computers.....

[Michael500]

Glad there is so much interest. I've had a hell of a time finding luggage so I knew there must be others like me.
Go check out this album with updated pictures. I think that will answer all the questions.

http://imgur.com/a/nRrCI

Do you have to put all 3 on the bike? or can you use just the top, and/or just the side bags?
In case you can put just the 2 side bags on - could a passenger sit comfortably on the bike with these bags on?

The side and the back bags are separate. I actually just use a bungee to hold the rear bag on because I'm not thrilled with how they've designed the way it attaches. I took the back bag off today and had my girlfriend sit on it with me. It's not great but is workable. The problem is the indicators stop you from moving the bags back as far as you need to clear the passenger pegs.

Can you provide a pic with the side bags fully expanded out? Also what level of droopage is there? Are the pannier bottoms a different material to handle the heat from the muffler?

Its all Cordura nylon. No the bottom is not resistant to heat, however I have rode for a few hours now with them and there is no damage to the fabric because the bag sits about 4 inches above the muffler.

Please post a review after you've had them in the rain!
Can you get a full face helmet in there?

Check my album out. I was able to get my helmet into all 3 bags. I also show pics of the rain protection. They would be good in light rain. If it was heavy you would get spray in there eventually I think. Each bag has a little pauncho that unzips from underneath.

These look awesome. Can you fit a good amount of clothes in them for a long trip? I have been looking for the last 2 months or so and commented on another thread but these are a good price and look pretty big.

You could fit tons of clothes and gear in there. I could fit enough gear in there for a nice long trip. Now I just need to find the time!

Ok, thanks for looking
cheers
-Michael

[gsJack]

url for above post ^^^^^^

http://imgur.com/a/nRrCI

[AnonRider]

i just purchased these! thanks.

[GS4me]

Looks good.  For a "Fair weather" rider like me, and someone who doesn't usually have the need to carry much stuff, they would be great for those times that I do need to carry things.  (I could most likely get along with just the seat bag.  Nice find.

I saw a bike on the road last year with a small seat bag that actually resembled "something similar looking" to the rear seat on a SV660.  Looked like a nice little "raised bump" and at first, I thought it was part of the seat.  (It was on a GS500 and I thought it looked great.  Looking online a saw a few that looked similar. 

They stay nice and flat and then expand when you put stuff in it.  Didn't look like a full face helmet would fit but I liked the look of those as well. Especially for someone like me that may go to the office and then take a few files home.  I could leave something like that on the bike all the time in case I need it.

[noworries]

This Ventura "how to fit their luggage rack on a GS500" instruction leaflet has resurfaced on Netrider. Might be useful to someone in the future….

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13317647/S092B%20Ventura%20rack.pdf

PS a print-out is not a bad idea 'cos it seem that that company hates their instruction stuff being bandied around.

[jsyzdek]

Just ordered a set of these. Thx for posting!

[Cal Price]

I started out using soft luggage and correctly secured there is nothing wrong with it, a tail pack slipping into the rear wheel is a potential disaster but all that is required is a bit of common sense. My experience - whatever it says on the tin  - is to put your clothing or whatever into a large plastic bag and then into the pannier, a garbage bag is fine and kept my stuff dry all over Europe in some pretty wet conditions.

[jsyzdek]

I just got a set of those bags in mail today. So it took them 8 days from order to delivery which is pretty good for stuff shipped directly from China 

They look pretty solid and so do the stretchy covers that neatly pull out from underneath. It is a very nice design, and $109 (shipping included) is a good price.

I am a little concerned about the side bags flapping at high speeds (especially when under-loaded) so I will come up with a little rig that will keep them in place, but I'm positively impressed. Can't wait to try it on my ride from San Francisco to San Diego late July


Yeah - I agree that packing your stuff into a garbage bag (or a zip-lock bag) first is a good idea. Practiced that for my camping and snowboarding trips. If you ever do hikes in the mountains and you need to cross a river, you really appreciate:
- having your stuff in a garbage bag
- having an extra garbage bag to put your entire backpack in
- having a few large ziplock bags inside that you can inflate so that your backpack will float next to you as you cross the river

We all complain about plastic, but there are situations where you just can't beat it 

[mlybarger]

i know this topic is old, but hopefully some can help.  i need panniers for my 2001 gs500 and this looks perfect (i already have a topbox, so don't need the back).  how do these secure to the side?  are there mounting brackets that are needed/provided to keep it in place?