Well, I came home to a nice large box on my porch tonight, my hard bags from David Silver Spares had arrived. And that was after ordering on Monday no less. The total was around $950 shipped, honestly I wouldn't have minded paying less for shipping and waiting a bit more.
It was dark by the time I got them keyed and on the bike, so no pictures yet...but they look about the same as all the other ones you have seen. I was able to get my helmet in the left hand bag, I haven't tried the exhaust side one with the helmet yet. Hopefully my jacket will fit in that side without a problem. They look nice and have a rubber bumper that you install on the spar that rises from the passenger foot peg. They also have 2 hooks that lock on the body/frame under the seat, these also have a rubber piece on them. Overall they seem pretty nice, but these are the first set of hard bags I have bought so I don't have anything to compare them to. When shutting them and closing the lever that seals them shut you can hear some air getting pushed out through a valve or the seal, so I guess they are water tight or close to it. I like how the handle releases them from the bike and the other lever handles opening them.
I have been very happy with this motorcycle, I appreciate all the reviews that everyone posted about the VFR1200F. They convinced me to buy this wonderful bike. It definitely rides like my 800, but it really reminds me a lot of my 1985 V65 Magna (really miss that bike)...perhaps more of a V65 Sabre since it is a bit sporty :)
Exhaust side is too small to accommodate a full size helmet. If anyone is thinking about aftermarket bags, make sure that there is a heat shield on the bottom of the exhaust side of the bag. I know currently Givi bags does not have the heat shields on their bags, don't know if it will make a difference but the Honda bags that I have has (heat shield) it on them.
[image: View Post]Dae, on 24 June 2010 - 09:29 PM, said:
Exhaust side is too small to accommodate a full size helmet. If anyone is thinking about aftermarket bags, make sure that there is a heat shield on the bottom of the exhaust side of the bag. I know currently Givi bags does not have the heat shields on their bags, don't know if it will make a difference but the Honda bags that I have has (heat shield) it on them.
One could always fabricate a heat shield from thin stainless steel sheet and drill/rivet it to the underside of the hardbags.
Yes, I think you could fabricate a heat shield pretty easily. The Honda one isn't too thick itself. I am not sure what distance you would need the bags to be for them to not be affected by the heat coming off the pipe. I imagine that it is more of an issue if you aren't moving and the heat is rising up than exhaust. Only the flapper exhaust would be close to the bag and by the time that is opening up you should be moving along rather quickly.
[image: View Post]iPepper, on 24 June 2010 - 11:19 PM, said:
It definitely rides like my 800, but it really reminds me a lot of my 1985 V65 Magna (really miss that bike)...perhaps more of a V65 Sabre since it is a bit sporty :)
Ron, you've just done it for me... a v65 that handles like my VFR... I'm in love :goofy:
While I would never trade back due to the braking and handling, I miss my 83 & 84 v65's by times as well. THAT motor was WAY before it's time.
Here is the bag closed:
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1277566219/gallery_16017_5430_113280.jpg Closed.jpg
The handle open, which secures it to the bike:
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1277566219/gallery_16017_5430_101330.jpg Handle Open.jpg
With the latch open to allow the bag to open and close:
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1277566219/gallery_16017_5430_85611.jpg Latch Open.jpg
And here is with the bag open, it is over exposed since the camera wanted to show you the inside of the bag:
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1277566219/gallery_16017_5430_58096.jpg Bag Open.jpg
And here is a shot from the front, they don't stick out too far on either side...not sure if the resolution is too high or not for here:
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1277566219/gallery_16017_5430_207445.jpg Front View (1050x1680).jpg
[image: View Post]MattB, on 25 June 2010 - 11:44 AM, said:
Ron, you've just done it for me... a v65 that handles like my VFR... I'm in love :goofy:
While I would never trade back due to the braking and handling, I miss my 83 & 84 v65's by times as well. THAT motor was WAY before it's time.
Maybe we can get Honda to put the new 1200 in the Stateline, I really like the looks of that bike. Too bad it wouldn't handle that well, but I would buy one anyway. It would surprise a lot of other bikes!
[image: View Post]iPepper, on 26 June 2010 - 11:42 PM, said:
Maybe we can get Honda to put the new 1200 in the Stateline, I really like the looks of that bike. Too bad it wouldn't handle that well, but I would buy one anyway. It would surprise a lot of other bikes!
[image: View Post]Tamworth, on 27 June 2010 - 09:22 AM, said:
[image: View Post]iPepper, on 27 June 2010 - 01:39 AM, said:
Alright, here are some pictures of the new bags.
The key thing is how they mount on a very narrow part of the bike, only 9 or 10 inches between them resulting in the narrow profile overall.
Agreed. I'm amazed actually at how slim the profile looks onward from the front and in this case a picture is worth a thousand words.
[image: View Post]iPepper, on 27 June 2010 - 01:42 AM, said:
Maybe we can get Honda to put the new 1200 in the Stateline, I really like the looks of that bike. Too bad it wouldn't handle that well, but I would buy one anyway. It would surprise a lot of other bikes!
I'm so out of the cruiser market that I didn't even know what a "stateline" was... I just googled it. Looks like a typical v-twin copy with no soul. I think that you read me wrong in that I have no desire for a cruiser style bike anymore (just too many losses in the handling department), but the thought of those v65 Magna engines of 25 years ago makes me smile... again, WAY before their time IMHO. I do agree with Phobe that if they put the new 1200 into a cruiser style bike that it should properly be called a "Magna" again however.
They look great. I thought the ones i had on my 6th gens looked nice and high quality, those look even better. So you are able to key them to the ignition key? That's real handy. My BMWs have been that way, too bad the Honda/GIVI bags look and are made better.
Pepper how was your experience with David Silver Spares? I just ordered the Honda tankbag from them... couldn't find anyone in North America that had it or even knew about it.
[image: View Post]phobe, on 11 July 2010 - 10:05 PM, said:
Pepper how was your experience with David Silver Spares? I just ordered the Honda tankbag from them... couldn't find anyone in North America that had it or even knew about it.
They sent the package quickly and it was as close to over night as possible for something coming from the UK. I think I ordered the hardbags on a Monday morning and had them Thursday afternoon.
The box was well padded and packed, they obviously are familiar with shipping things long distances. The price was far better than I could get anywhere in the states, even with the exchange rate being what it is. My final price was about $950 and the lowest anyone around here would do was $1200.
[image: View Post]sirimiri, on 12 July 2010 - 01:59 PM, said:
Would you say that, were lanesplitting allowed in your jurisdiction, it can safely be done with those bags installed?
Why not install a topbox if you're worried about lane splitting. I take my side bags off, when riding in the city and ride with the topbox. About year ago I scraped a car bumper with the side bags (GTR 1400) in standstill traffic, changing lanes to move up to the signal light. I don't like being behind of a car in red light signal , where I fear getting rear ended by drivers (usually on mobile phones) so I usually move in front of a stopped car.
[image: View Post]sirimiri, on 11 July 2010 - 11:59 PM, said:
Would you say that, were lanesplitting allowed in your jurisdiction, it can safely be done with those bags installed?
They really don't stick out much from the back of the bike. It is more sticky moving it around in the garage than anything else as you don't expect to have the extra width there.
As the other poster recommended, just use a top box if you want to lane split around town.
End of thread · 17 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 21 Jul 2010