Hey guys, I just joined this discussion group, and I was wondering if anyone could help me out. I recently purchased a '03 VFR Interceptor, and the hard bags.I have been very happy with this motorcycle, but the other day on my way home from work, one of the bags fell off and is lost forever in the Minnesota River Valley (maybe even the river). I am 100% certain that I had the bag properly installed. I have had them on and off many times in my short ownership. :rant: Upon further inspection of the other bag I notices that a snap ring was missing on the mechanism that holds the bag shut. This doesn't affect mounting but, THERE ARE SNAP RINGS JUST LIKE THIS ON THE MECHANISM THAT HOLDS THE BAG ONTO THE MOUNTS! My position is that since there is a quality/assembly problem with one bag, it is very possible that there was a problem with the other. Honda claims that because I cannot prove there was a problem with the lost bag (believe me, I looked for it), it is not their responsibility to rectify this situation. Is there anything I can do about this. If anyone can help I will be eternally thankful (I know, its weak, but it's all I got)
Thanks again, Andy
You'd think you'd know when something fell off the bike. And if it did fall off, that you could easily find it. Not so. I've had things fall off and not know it for miles, and then realize that after two days looking it's actually been swept into a black hole, or been taken to the land of lost things, only to receive anonomously in the mail some weeks later a driver's license or some other momento, like a blast from another dimension.
I empathized entirely.
Can you take the bike into the dealer and show them that the retaining rings are missing?
Hmmm... interesting post. I just got my hands on my OEM bags and methinks that an address label for each of them is in order!
argghhh. i feel for you bro.
to me those hard bags are a waste of money, fugly and a complete POS. Get a rocket locker tail bag and a nice expandable tank bag. Cheap(er), versatile, flexible and stylish. pack light, wash your undies in the sink and buy on the road anything you can't carry (food, booze, oil, hookers etc.). Oh, in case your thinking of it, camping and biking don't mix.
If your going two up, get an FJR.
HA!
I can understand the hard bag problem and I beleive your story, your upset cause you believe the clip malfunctioned, they think you just did not secure the bag down correctly, am I right? If you had the bag to prove it then thats one thing but I dont see how they are going to cough up another bag to you without somthing to stick in there face (ie. see the clip broke). It does not seem to be a common problem that is happening to a lot of other VFR riders. I dont think any bike company would behave different in this situation, I doubt you have much recourse either, without the bag. I hope you did not lose valuables, Im am sorry this happend to you. Maybe if sombody else reads this and goes out and checks thier bag over, and finds a problem.
I can tell you this, Angusdru from the ST.N group had his silver VTEC bag pivot pin come out on him in Custer at the Rally last month. The dealer covered this on warranty. The pin that holds the hinge in place is what I am talking about. I rode with him from South Dakota, I am not too keen on a $800 bag that has pins popping out of it, dumping out your stuff! I think They are just not worth that much to be popping pins and not being lined like other bags I have seen. Seems steep to me. And now you haveing a mount pop off, I beleive you, I just dont see what chance you have.
Personally I would most likely prefer a top bag over a side mounted bag, since you dont have to worry about having to balance the loads, it loads top way and it does not stick out on the sides, your pillion can use it as a backrest. Also I think a top bag handles better when riding hard, does not cause as much drag in the wind.