VFR Discussion Group -> Poll: Do you carry luggage

I was just wondering as to the percent of you that carried luggage and if so, what form. I am not including whether it is hard or soft luggage, but luggage at all.

Thanks in advance.

I use the Ventura Tail bag. I like it alot. It is easy to remove the bag and change ot the different racks that are available. I just leave the single bar on when I'm not using the bag. My wife likes it as it gives her a little support so she doesn't feel like she will fall off the back. The bag is large enough to fit a Helmet along with a jacket.

I have a Givi E52 top bag, thats has been indespensible since I got it. Before that I used a tourmaster tribag, nice but not secure like the Givi, cant just leave it on the bike for fear of it being stolen, also its not waterproof.

A secure hardbag has made commuting to work much easier and I dont have to lock my helmet and gloves in my locker, basically dont have to carry a bunch of motorcycle crap with me.

I also have some old Oxford Soft sidebags, vitutually useless, broken straps, zippers broke, only used it 4 times and they just seem to be just adequate.

Another answer possibility is "Depends"! Depends on where the trips leads and how far. Usually have my tail bag "Luggage Locker" attached most of the time. I do have a new tank bag coming. Figured with the map pocket and ease of entrance, will be a lot easier to fumble around with then in and out of my pockets for change, phone, turnpike tickets, and the like. Also will allow to explore the possibility of a stealth radar "stash"!

On long trips, I do have and will use my Givi E41's. Makes that I must use a "Wide Load" sign with these though! :D

I voted 'some other'. Recently got the hard bags and luv em. But sometimes will use them in combo with or my cortech tail bag alone. The hard bags are great though, stop somewhere? just put the helmet in one of em and lock it! gotta luv that convenience.

For normal riding, the Rocket Locker tailbag is almost always on the bike. Ya just gotta have SOMEPLACE to put your raingear, extra gloves, sunglasses, cell phone, etc. Truth is, I seldom use the seat cowl.

For trips I add a 30-year-old Eclipse tank bag. I know, I know...been thinking seriously about getting a modern tank bag (maybe magnetic)...but that old Eclipse is so handy, and holds way more than it ought to...

And that's it, for me. I've got a "trip checklist" I follow religiously, and some polypropalyne (sp) underwear & socks from Aerostitch that I can and do wash out nightly in the motel room. That, and some other semi-specialized clothing let me do multi-week tours with this tankbag/tailbag combo and the clothes on my back. I realize others may not wish to travel with such a Spartan set of gear. I've been a long time working out this 'minimalist' approach to touring that works for me and allows me to be comfortable at temps ranging from 25 to 100 degrees F. and still have clothing with me suitable for most occasions.

I'll bet most of you have trip checklists that you go by when packing. It might be fun for everyone to see everyone ELSE's checklist. Might even help each of us to refine his or her own checklist of gear.

Let's say, for a weekend plus a week plus a weekend, for a total of a 9-day trip. Just a LIST, not an explanation of WHY each item was chosen. This is beginning to sound like a different topic, so I'll start a fresh topic entitled, Trip Checklists.

Best regards,

BurmaWolf

I use it too
The bald man said
It keeps my face
Just like
My head
--Burma-Shave--

I voted "Other". I have a Rocket Locker (now known as Luggage Locker) tailbag installed, plus I have the side cases. Since I ride mostly to commute, I carry my nylon "briefcase" in one side case, and my gym bag in the other. I keep my tire repair kit, air pump, rags, etc. in the tailbag. Love it!! :beer:

Brett

I run with a Luggage Locker tail bag and an Oxford Humpback tank bag. Both if on a trip, generally only one for daily running around.

I use an Oxford Sport Compact tank bag for my commute. It has enough room for my spare helmet visor, work shoes, cell phone, wallet and other misc items.

i have tecknik tank and side bad.

good for weekend trip.

Viva Italia! I have Givi bags and love them. I use the full wing rack system (3 bags). I have an E460 top bag with optional brake light and passenger pad for the wife. My side cases are Givi E360. All are flat black, that way I can transfer them to another bike.....if that ever happens.

I use a tank bag and rocket locker combo for around town and day trips. The locker can hold a full face helmet which is nice. For longer trips I have the E41 Givis monokey hard bags with Motech rack system which work great. Really convenient set up. THe bags come off in seconds and the rackss can be removed in just a few more seconds. Makes the ass end of the bike look really wide, but I don't care much about looks anyway. You should see how I dress!

True to the RC45s racing heritage I can only afford to haul a small tank bag... so I made the most of it by fabricating a home made mount that floats about the aluminum tank... it's secured in the front by a block of Delrin and in the back by the three screw in points on the filler cap... the tank bag snaps on to the bracket... tricky no???


(IMG:http://home.comcast.net/~netters2/pics11-3-03/bigimages/RC45TankBagMod.JPG)

(IMG:http://home.comcast.net/~netters2/pics11-3-03/bigimages/RC45SatelliteReceiver.JPG)

Needed a "depends" option. Tank bag most of the time. Top case for light days. Top plus side cases for heavy days.

Fieldsheer backpack for me only... :thumbsup:

I've got the hard sadlebags and find that I keep them on nearly all the time. They've made the "Honey Do" list much more enjoyable. Need Milk and eggs, no problem. Trips to the gym and dinner are much easier. I only take them off when I know I'll be doing some serious corner carving. :wheel:

I have the Two Bros exhaust with the stash canister. Holds a bottle of water, towel and my Protect-All spray can just fine! (bugs are nasty right now...45 min ride and I can't see out the helmet any more!)

Tourmaster tank bag has been handy. I plan to get either an OEM top case or maybe Givi top case for the convenience and piece of mind when commuting. The wish list never ends ...

I voted tankbag only because I almost always have a small Marsee magnetic tankbag on the bike. But, depending on the on the length of the trip, I use a Tourmaster Cortech Deluxe tail pack (highly recomended :thumbsup: ) and/or some Joe Rocket soft saddlebags. The tailpack is awesome. I never thought I was a super-light packer but the tailpack and tankbag got me through a six day trip with no problem. It goes on and off very easy and stays pretty secure.

The saddlebags :unsure: well they're okay for the price. If I had it to do again, I would get the Cortech saddlebags that go with the tailpack (I got the tailpack after the JR saddlebags.) I don't usually go on a trip much longer then the 6-dayer. I'll probably just stop using the saddlebags.

I think this poll has a lot of merit for the kind of info riders are looking for, there were an awful lot of "other" votes so I thought I should reset and expand the poll choices a bit to clarify what owners are doing for luggage these days.

It depends...

Most every day, I have the Tank Locker.

If I have more stuff and I'm going a ways... I add the Luggage Locker. If it's just a short jaunt and the content is mostly books, etc. - I will wear my White Bros. backpack, instead.

The Tank Locker / Luggage Locker combo got me through my 5-day trip about my home state.

I am still on the market for OEM hard cases...

HispanicSlammer, Apr 25 2005, 04:52 PMI think this poll has a lot of merit for the kind of info riders are looking for, there were an awful lot of "other" votes so I thought I should reset and expand the poll choices a bit to clarify what owners are doing for luggage these days.

Hopefully folks will read your 'resetting' entry and not get confused if they hit the thread again and it asks for a vote and hopefully they won't bypass the voting thinking that they had already done so. Did you happen to have saved the counts anywhere prior to resetting is and if so, what they were?

20, 27, 5 1 1

essentially those who voted for other would not be able to change votes, and so I just started a whole new one. You can only vote once and I put it on the homepage so if they get a open poll to vote they can revote.

Good call on resetting the poll...

OK. I usually have, for my commute, my Oxford tank bag, not expanded. The zip-out bottom-most section is always off, unless it's sunny in the morning but call for rain later: then, my rain suit fits there perfectly.
Soft panniers, to use the british term. I've sold my JR sport saddlebags to the guy who bought my EX and bought, for the same price, the higher-quality Oxford Lifetime Luggage. (Sorry, Miguel, that you had a bad experience with them... Odd, because my tank bag is bulletproof and I assume the saddlebags would have the same quality.)

I'm getting interested in the LuggageLocker tail bag, but the Cheap Bastard in me balks at the $149.95 US price.

Bought the complete set of hard luggage and have become so spoiled that I haven't yet removed any of it. I think the bike looks really cool with just the side bags, but the top case is so damn handy (can easily fit two helmets plus miscellaneous junk) that I can't seem to get around to taking it off. When I go on longer trips I take a tank bag, mostly to have a place to put the GPS unit.

When I commute to work I just use a backpack (Lunch & Shoes), If I go for a ride then I take my small Joe Rocket tank bag, has enough room for wallet, cell phone, spare gloves and keys. When I go overnight then I put the soft JR saddlebags on and a larger tankbag that I have, with the pair I can carry enough for probably at least a week's riding or a weekend camping.

HispanicSlammer, Apr 25 2005, 05:59 PM20, 27, 5 1 1

essentially those who voted for other would not be able to change votes, and so I just started a whole new one.  You can only vote once and I put it on the homepage so if they get a open poll to vote they can revote.

Thanks Slammer.

BusyLittleShop, Apr 25 2005, 12:35 PMTrue to the RC45s racing heritage I can only afford to haul a small tank bag... so I made the most of it by fabricating a home made mount that floats about the aluminum tank... it's secured in the front by a block of Delrin and in the back by the three screw in points on the filler cap... the tank bag snaps on to the bracket...  tricky no???
(IMG:http://home.comcast.net/~netters2/pics11-3-03/bigimages/RC45TankBagMod.JPG) 

(IMG:http://home.comcast.net/~netters2/pics11-3-03/bigimages/RC45SatelliteReceiver.JPG)

Larry: You have to be one of the most, if not thee most, innovative one here with your mods and millwork etc. I can't imagine how many hours you have spent on Mr RC45 to get it the way you want it. I am truely impressed

I must be the lazy one in this group. I've gotten to the point where I don't take the side cases off anymore. It's just so danged convenient to be able to go to the grocery store and bring home the bacon.... and half gallon of milk, bread, PB&J, cold beverages, :beer: etc..... It also makes the friendly highway patrol less likely to give me a ticket..... I actually read that on a ironbutt website :) .

I ride with a Givi T410 Tank Bag, worth every penny I paid for it.
I can fit my running gear. lunch, work papers what ever.
Next will be some soft Givi saddle bags.

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