Luggage and Seat Suggestions for my 98'

I bought a 98' las summer and love it to death.  I am looking to start adding some accessories and luggage and would like some suggestions.

I am looking for hard cases that can be used with a passenger.  From what I have researched, the 2000 and 2001 can get OEM Honda hard cases.  Will these work on my 98?  I want something that is fairly easy to install and if you have pictures of what it looks like that would be awesome.

As far as the seat goes I have looked at Corbin and Sargeant.  Thoughts as to which one is better especially if you have owned both.  Is one more comfortable than the other especially for the passenger?

Have gotten a lot of help from this forum and hope you guys can help me out.

Thanks

Seats - Corbins have worked well for me ----- Sargents work good for other guys too. I think its a personal preference thing.

Other Ideas --- Spensors seat mods -- havent heard any bad comment on these. I am planning to try. Good prices too.
http://greatdaytorid...m/Home_Page.php

There's a few places where you can get your seat done other than corbin and sargent. I like the sargent on dad's 6th gen. He also has a gel seat on the ST1100 with heaters that a local (in ohio) shop did. Don't remember who though.

GIVI and SW-Motec are the obvious choices for 5th gen luggage. Good luck finding the corbin beetle bags if that's what you really want.

I am pretty sure the 2000-2001 did not have OEM luggage either, they are the same bike as the 98-99 basically, all 5th gen. The 6th gens offered OEM hard cases though.

Corbin seats don't really work with the GIVI Wing Rack. Just keep that in mind.
I like the Wing Rack a lot. It's ugly, but it works! GIVI Bags are really expensive, but they work.
I prefer the Sargent, but don't own either Corbin or Sargent. I've borrowed each, which is when I found the conflict between Corbin and Wing Rack. Sargent worked better for me, but I don't want to spend the money on one. Sticking with stocker.
If you can find some to try out, go for it. Corbin is firmer and slicker with a less defined seating area (for me) that caused me to move around a lot fore and aft. Sargent was the opposite, but if it's not the right spot for you it may not work. They both are customizable, but that's best done (IMHO) at the respective factory. Which can be difficult if they aren't close.
No OEM Bags for any before 2002.

I picked up a '99 a few months ago and have been doing the same. After tons of reading forums and such, as well as sitting on a Corbin, I went with the Sargent. Passenger comfort is also a big concern (the SO hated on the VFR after being used to a comfy V-Strom) and has been improved, but not significantly. She says that she slides around more on the Sargent but can sit longer without discomfort. Second long ride after changing the seat was the first time I was enthusiastically encouraged to take the longer, slower scenic route on the way back since getting the VFR. I'm still looking into lowering the passenger pegs to seal the deal.

As for luggage, the 5th gen has minor issue with compatibility in the luggage rack department. Basically SW-Motech doesn't make a topcase rack for anything older than the 6th gen, so if you want a topcase, the Givi is your only choice (unless you can get the Krauser, but it's not available in US and by then you're spending $600 on just the racks). The expensive but super convenient SW-Motechh side racks won't mount with the Givi rack.

Since I already had a 52l Givi, first thing I did was get the topcase rack. Eventually I picked the givi side case racks and it all comes together pretty nicely. I'm using a pair of Pelican cases with Happy Trails mounts. They work and remain narrow enough but if I didn't already have the Pelicans I'd probably just go for the E36s. From just about every post on the issue the consensus on the Corbin Beetles seems to be that their only asset is the look.

Keep in mind that with a passenger and all that weight behind the rear wheel, you're gonna be wheely-ing much easier (was a fun little surprise the first time I tried making a quick pass all loaded up). Raising the forks by a cm helped greatly with this, as well as overall handling.


Oh, and pics:

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The cases have seen better days, but they work. The flat tops are good for adding drybags to the top.

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Naked:

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Thanks for the info so far. I am still considering options on both.

My setup - SW Motech and Hepco Becker.

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More details in Luggage Forum.  There are other luggage ideas in the thread too.

http://www.vfrdiscus...-for-a-5th-gen/

A Sargent solved MY tour problems with the VFR.  I was good for one 300 twisty mile day before......now the seat is not the weak link as before.  I liked my Sargent so much that I ordered one for my KLR but it does not work as well for the KLR application, however it it better than the OEM seat.

Only did a modest amount of two up work on my VFR..................my bride says "there only can be one" and that is why I have a  Wing!

I have two Y2Ks and two complete sets of Givi luggage. For the trunks I have an E360, 36 liter, which can also be used as a sidecase, an E450 with backrest pad and 4 E21 saddlebags. If you are not familiar with the Givi products the numbers in the description relate to the case capacity in liters or is that litres? Those uripeuns are tricky! For long trips I have two Wingrack2s. For around town and otherwise everyday use I HAD a PL257, tubular rack. I loved that thing because it was simple and not bulky, but it stresscracked and broke off just back of the underseat mounting point. I got it used and used it for over five years when this happened so I am not being critical of the product. Just a warning to anyone considering this mount. I did not use it with the optional side case mounts because I had heard that they were somewhat fragile. All of the above mentioned cases are monokey. Very handy on a trip because you can just pop them off and take 'em inside if staying at a motel. I bought all of this stuff from members here and saved a significant amount.
Regarding the seat options, I have experience with both Corbin and Sargeant, with Sargeant being my personal preference. There was nothing wrong with the Corbin but the Sargeants seem to be more comfortable to me. Either was an improvement over stock. One of the nice things about the Sargeant is they are two piece. If using the seat cowl, you can leave off the rear section. This was not the case with the Corbin I had but I am sure they have more than one model.
There are some pictures in my gallery of both setups. Hope this helps!

SW Motech is a nice rack (and fit many brand name bags with an adapter kit) but if you have a Corbin seat you will have to modify the two top brackets as they interfere with the Corbin seat pan, ask me how I know....but they do retain the passenger grab rails which Givi racks do not.
Shad hard bags are a nice option and 1\2 the price of Givi's, I just put a garden hose on them full blast for 5 minutes with no leaks.

Ya no stock honda hard bags for 5th gens.

Oh ya if you buy a used Corbin make sure you get a picture of it next to a stock one, they very in shape..

I have the Corbin seat with Beetle Bags. If I need extra room, I have a Givi trunk. If I don't need the room, I can put the Corbin backrest in the seat for passenger comfort.

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Leather Corbin, SW-Motech bracket (slightly modded for Corbin) and Shad 42L hard bags. No need for tank or rear bag with these 42L beauties. The width extend just past the mirrors. I had to modify the ignition key to fit into the helmet holder/seat lock as the side case bracket is in the way.

Ready to head down to Moterey and the 2012 Motogp 8D

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Here are pictures of a Givi 5th gen rack with V41 (41 liter) Monokey Keyless hard bags. I've lived out of these for 5 weeks camping.

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does anyone have a pic with givi side rack with staintune high mount pipe?

does anyone have a pic with givi side rack with staintune high mount pipe?

there would a conflict between the rack and the high mount, i havent seen (or heard of) any luggage without a conflict withe high mount unless you can get a custom rack made up. another option would be to go with a under-tail exhaust system

had a corbin on ny 3rd gen. slick but did the job.
sargent on my 5th gen . less slick but does the job.
fit and finish on the sargent is better than the corbin.
it all depends on your ass.

does anyone have a pic with givi side rack with staintune high mount pipe?

I have a TB high mount and the only easy option has been soft luggage.  Nelson Rigg CL150 tailpack, and older Nelson Rigg Sphere expandable side bags (you could fit a dead hooker in each one of these side bags).

There is a Y2K VFR with high pipe and Givi.

He had to tweak it a little. I remember him saying the labor was minimal to make it work.

If you search you may find it.

It might be under a post which I made about a year ago.

Here is one:

http://www.vfrdiscus...eat-cowl/page-4

There is  another out there.

The JC Whitney Givi knockoff top case looks pretty darn good. Especially for $45 to my door.

Ended up ordering a Givi rack to put it on. I'll see how that combo works after it gets here.

Mazaev you said-------

Since I already had a 52l Givi, first thing I did was get the topcase rack. Eventually I picked the givi side case racks and it all comes together pretty nicely. I'm using a pair of Pelican cases with Happy Trails mounts. They work and remain narrow enough but if I didn't already have the Pelicans I'd probably just go for the E36s.

Question, Happy Trails does not list a rack for the 5th gen that I could see. I have the Pelicans on another bike.  What Happy Trail rack do you use? thanks

:beer:

The final posting in the thread linked in the quote below is pictures of my bike. The WingRack was widened on the RHS to clear a high level Remus can. Details of the modification can be gained from this For Sale item in the UK's Bikers Oracle.

There is a Y2K VFR with high pipe and Givi.

He had to tweak it a little. I remember him saying the labor was minimal to make it work.

If you search you may find it.

It might be under a post which I made about a year ago.

Here is one:

http://www.vfrdiscus...eat-cowl/page-4

There is  another out there.

98 with staintune high mount  went with an early set of krauser from a bmw  $60 on ebay not much mods needed to fit has lasted well so far. I do a fair bit of touring and like to explore back roads  Standard seat with lambswool cover . Only put it up so you know that there are options around and relativly cheap if your not to worried about  looking great. I find they only go on when i go touring the rest of the time they sit on the shelf, easier to get thru traffic without them .[image: jindabyne 024.JPG] [image: jindabyne 023.JPG]