I'm looking to do a few longer trips on the GS and I need some luggage / saddle bags for it. What do you all recommend? Nelson rigs Cl-1000 looks attractive from a pricing standpoint, but they do seem kind of cheap.
I like my Cortech "Sport" saddlebags:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/horteniv/Bikerear.jpg)
They do sag a little bit, but I had about 3 days worth of supplies in them along with a complete tool kit that weighs about 10 lbs.
They fit the GS perfectly, I think. Plus, they'll transfer to another sport bike when the time comes. The rain covers work well, I've ridden though a few thunderstorms and many miles of light to moderate rain and the contents has stayed dry.
Check out the links in [THIS POST (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=20645.msg194757#msg194757)] to see my Tourmaster "non-Sport" Cortech bags. The 3-piece setup that is shown in my [Installing Tourmaster Cortech Saddlebags & Tailbag... (http://www.bbburma.net/HowTo/TourMaster_CortechBags/)] page is my "loaner" set. If you're interested in giving them a try on a long trip (for the price of shipping them to the NEXT interested party) let me know and I will try to contact the person who currently has them.
I have the Nelson-Rigg "Sphere" bags. They look to be about the same size as the Cortech bags in the above photo. They're plenty sturdy and have held lots of really heavy stuff (including all my clothes and emergency equipment plus 12 bottles of wine I bought on a wine-tasting trip to Paso Robles, Calif).
I've taken these bags on two separate trips totalling at least two thousand miles and haven't had a problem with them. You can run the cross-straps under the seat so you don't have to worry about taking them with you when you stop for food. (Although you'll probably have to cinch them up in this configuration so the right one stays off the exhaust when it's loaded down.)
Generally, saddlebags detract from the look of your machine...but since that's not my biggest concern, I just leave 'em on all the time.
I have a pair of Nelson Rigg's for mine. I like them takes a little pressure to get them on under the seat not to much hassle though. come off quick got nice rain covers for them and can store quite a bit. They cost me about 70 bucks with shipping. They also have reflective tubing around them for easier sight.
Hope this helps
I have the Frank Thomas set:
http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=2&L2=55&L3=&L4=&item=FTL_CAR021_G&tier2=3094 (saddlebags)
I've also got the 3-in-1 that goes on top, plus the backpack bag that zips on. I just add or remove pieces as I need them. Usually just the saddlebags are on, but if I need to stop at the store, I add another piece. The whole set is enough for two people (one of whom is not a light packer) for a long weekend.
(http://pics.livejournal.com/skywhisperer/pic/0004gbhd)
These are some nice setups..
I have a set of tourmaster soft sports that work fine, provided you're not 2up.
The bags will interfere with the pillions pegs since the gs is so small.
I've carried work clothes + lunch, or a full oil change for two cars + bike, or all kinds of road trash in them.
I'd suggest looking for some hard-bags secondhand and fab up some sturdy brackets after using soft bags for a while. The bags will sag, and once road grime starts working its magic, your plastics will be scratched through the paint. Just something to think about.
When the bags are on I really like the exhaust note, it's even deeper and less obnoxious.
Quote from: Toogoofy317 on December 08, 2007, 10:11:24 PM
I have a pair of Nelson Rigg's for mine. I like them takes a little pressure to get them on under the seat not to much hassle though. come off quick got nice rain covers for them and can store quite a bit. They cost me about 70 bucks with shipping. They also have reflective tubing around them for easier sight.
Hope this helps
Which Nelson-Rigg bags do you have? I have been looking at the silver streak mini sports for my Wife's 2000 E. I have the cortech sport bags for my Madura and she doesnt like how big they are on her bike.
I went to the surplus store and got two East German ruck sacks.They ran 7.00 each brand new.The straps that came with them served as loop overs.Just the right size.Got some spare steel grating to bolt onto the frame for bag bracing.Total cost under 15.00. :cheers: