Living in California we are allowed to split lanes of traffic without fear of tickets but looking at those WIDE side cases available for the vfr I have my doubts about slipping through traffic. Any riders out there that have the Givi/honda side cases AND routinely split lanes of traffic? I just want to hear your experiences with the luggage in these situations, much thanks.
[image: View Post]LEGEND, on Jul 14 2009, 01:26 PM, said:
Hi all,
Living in California we are allowed to split lanes of traffic without fear of tickets but looking at those WIDE side cases available for the vfr I have my doubts about slipping through traffic. Any riders out there that have the Givi/honda side cases AND routine split lanes of traffic? I just want to hear your experiences with the luggage in these situations, much thanks.
I do it on occasion, but it is a bit nerve-wracking when traffic is at a standstill and/or there's construction in the area that narrows the lanes. Very difficult when coming up on a semi.
I normally commute with just my topcase, but there have been times when I split lanes with the sidecases. The stock Honda sidecases do fit just a tad more snugly to the bike than the standard Givi's and the newer Givi PLX sidecases, but you definitely need to remember they're installed and account for the extra width. I don't have too much of a problem splitting when the roads are an average width, but if the lanes are narrower than normal then I don't split unless cars move over for me. On the other hand, I've also learned they make great bumpers if you don't quite fit through... :laugh:
Well, the mirror assumption is a great theory. but since a VFR's mirrors are usually halfway up where a typical car window starts, you still have to remember most car bodies are basically vertical whereas the upper body sections of a car angles inward just a little. So if your mirrors just fit between two cars, then I can just about guarantee the sidecases will be rubbing. You will need even more clearance when splitting between large trucks and SUVs. So give yourself about 4 inches to side of each mirror and you should be okay, as there is nothing more embarrassing than being on a VFR with sidecases and being stuck between two cars. Trust me... ;p
I do think twice now, with the Givi E21, but they aren't too wide. I'd say a good 25% of the times I never would have worried, now I just sit back in my lane.
Thanks for all the helpful replies. I'm presently using a tankbag but would like to get some hard luggage at some point, especially for multiday rides.
The sidecases are great, but I really only use them when I'm on a tour for more than 2 days. For anything shorter I find that my expandable tank bag and Givi V46 topcase holds enough for 2 or so days. Going the Givi topcase route is also cheaper than the Honda topcase setup, and Kanadian Ken here on the site sells a nice mount if you want the topcase to sit over the passenger seat rather than off the tail like the stock setup.
The most common contact point between bike and car when splitting is mirror on mirror. If your mirrors are clearing the bags are really not an issue.
The bags are a minor concern considering your knees are only slightly more inboard than the side cases. If your bags are going to hit, you are too close, bags or not.
That's why I commute with a bungee net attached to the oem racks. Makes navigating morning and evening traffic a whole bunch easier. The duffel/backpack carries everything I need. Like other posters, I use the oem bags when I travel . . .. :fing02:
I remember learning to drive a box truck many years ago. If the mirrors fit the box will. Maybe someone could get a measurement of how wide the mirrors and bags are to compared to each other.
I sometimes spend more time between cars then within a lane. That being said, I avoided side bags and went with a topcase because it's just too tight to do so otherwise.
Too many SUVs or construction trucks, they are seriously wide and the 101 can be tight in places.
[image: View Post]soichiro, on Jul 14 2009, 04:50 PM, said:
I remember learning to drive a box truck many years ago. If the mirrors fit the box will. Maybe someone could get a measurement of how wide the mirrors and bags are to compared to each other.
On the 5th gen the E21's are narrower than the mirrors, I split with them and/or the E360 top case all the time. With the E360's on the side I'm stuck sitting in traffic with the hogs.
I used to split all the time with OEM bags, never rubbed. They ARE slightly wider that the mirrors, plus cars are wider toward the middle, so I would flare my knees out to the width of the bags, therefore if I felt comfortable putting my knees through the gap, the bags would be fine. Besides, knees heal, but a scratch on the VFR is cardinal. :laugh:
[image: View Post]sportrider, on Jul 19 2009, 06:08 PM, said:
My bike is back, and I took a quick measurement -- installed, the oem bags are two inches wider than the mirrors. . .. :cool:
Yeah, I remember reading somewhere that the vfr equipped with bags is actually wider than a 'wing.....not sure if it's true but it kinda looks like it. That being said the hard luggage looks sweet and I'm definately gonna get some for future long rides, this bike is just begging for a long ride.