Im wondering how they look and fit on a GS. I just got a GS500F and Im interested in having some sort of storage available on the bike for daily riding.
I hate being somewhere and having no room to carry simple stuff. Even my scooter had some room built in (under the seat).
Thx
Scott
Here's Kerry:
http://www.bbburma.net/Trips/2003_GreatSaltLake/100_0135.jpg
http://www.bbburma.net/HowTo/TourMaster_CortechBags/
There are some more rediculous pictures but I can't find them. You can make the GS into quite a tourer, though.
Without the top bag can you still have a passenger? Id like to have side bags and still be able to have my 7 yr old son ride with me.
Thx
No, I can't anyway. My saddlebags almost sit on the passenger pegs. So I should have said you can make the GS into a good solo tourer. :)
Quote from: Bulwark on November 30, 2006, 07:39:45 AM
Without the top bag can you still have a passenger? Id like to have side bags and still be able to have my 7 yr old son ride with me.
(http://www.gs-500.de/mx_album.php?smartor_mode=album_picm&pic_id=2001)
A few more pictures here (http://www.gs-500.de/viewtopic.php?p=94967#94967). If you read German there's a description going along with it.
I was actually able to take my wife with me along with three bags.
There, thats what Im looking for,hehe. I just want to be able to go for weekend trips and alot of gear could fit in those bags.
Sweet
Hi there,
I've been using Chase Harper Aeropac II saddlebags on my 1991 GS500E and love them.
http://www.chaseharper.com/SaddleBags/3550.htm
You do have to buy rain covers for them separately -- they are not included with the bags. I think they are well worth it.
Here's a photo of them on the bike:
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/trwhouse/croppedsidewithbags.jpg)
With the saddlebags mounted, I can still carry a passenger.
With the top bag mounted, that isn't easily possible. It would be very cramped. That's the top bag in the photo too. The footpegs are easily accessible wven with the saddlebags mounted.
Good luck,
Todd
BTW, that's a good lookin 91.
Hey Bling,
Thanks, man. :)
I do take care of my toys. Always have.
:)
Best wishes,
Todd
Here's my bike with Kerry's Tourmaster Cortech saddlebags and top bag (+sleeping bag and mat and my Nelson-Rigg magnetic tankbag)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/manofthefield/bikepacked1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/manofthefield/bikepacked2.jpg)
For daily riding I'd just go with a tankbag as long as you won't be carrying large volumes of stuff everywhere. It's cheaper, easier, and keeps extra mass to the center of the bike
I think the side bags and a tank bag would be all id need. If Im rolling with my son we will only be gone for the weekend and only going 2 or 3 hrs from home and If Im going solo then all the room will be for me,haha.
I have the nelson-rigg sport mini saddlebags..they aren't really mini..maybe on a larger bike they would be more mini..the only issue I have is I have to mount them on top of the seat. I used them to pack to stay overnight and it fit quite a bunch of stuff. You HAVE to use the rain covers though...after 200 miles in the rain without covers all the stuff in mine seemed to have attracted the dye from the bags. They don't really fit the greatest but they work and they arent huge. :dunno_white:
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/Onlypastrana199/saddlebags001.jpg)
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/Onlypastrana199/saddlebags004.jpg)
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/Onlypastrana199/saddlebags002.jpg)
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/Onlypastrana199/saddlebags007.jpg)
Those do look very big to me as well.
Unfortuantely I never managed to take a picture of my Givi top case with the bike, but you can look at this thread for a picture of the luggage rack and top case :
Pictures here. (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=32117.msg355292#msg355292)
I put a Givi E33 top case on my 02 GS500 mounted to the standard Suzuki luggage rack, had to add a couple braces made from aluminum angle:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/02GS500wPlexi2-4.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/02GS500wPlexi2-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GiviRackPics.jpg)
I made my own rack for my 97 GS500E mounted to the passenger grab handle for soft luggage, could be removed by unbolting the grab handle:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/gs500t.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/gsrackpics.jpg)
I actually have my Givi top case sitting in my shed. I took it off my scooter. I even have all the mounting hardware but I find they look so ugly.
I love the rack that you made for the grab rail. That looks really look. It dioesnt stand out as much as alot of them do. Was that hard to do? Id love to do that to mine and use my top case. Add a couple of side bags and there would be a ton of room plus the case doesnt interfere with the seating.
I made that 97 rack sitting in the living room watching TV, took a couple evenings. Bought some 3/4 x 3/4 x 1/16 aluminum angle from from the Home Depot type store and used an old wood miter box and hack saw to cut. Turned out real nice because I was just working on it slowly off and on. Used SS screws and nuts. If I were to put a hard case on it, I would add braces like I did on the 02.
After years of fooling around with soft luggage and rain covers and concern about things not being locked up, I'm completely sold on a hard case now. It's never leaked a drop and I used only the 33L hard case and a JR Sport tankbag on my last trip south carrying a weeks clothes. :)
I need to keep the rear seat area clear to get on and off the bike with my advancing arthritis and the soft saddlebags I had on the 97 were getting in the way too. :cry:
My son makes a point of HAVING to be on the bike first so I have to grab my pantleg to get my leg on without hitting the tank or anything,hehe.
Im really not too handy with metal. I wonder if a metal shop or something could make me a bracket? I like it being black since it wont stand out quite as much when the case isnt on.
Do you find it throws your balance off with it being so far back?
By the way. Thanks all for your great info on this matter. This NOOB needs coaching,hehe.