Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Helmets and Gear Biker's Friend bags - long

Ok, this may not be the place for this but it doesn't seem to fit anywhere else either. And, it may not be of any interest to anyone but me, but my dues are paid up so here goes.....

I've been experimenting with luggage since I bought my America in '03. I've got lots of bags. I've also experimented with seats.

I took my Corbin with backrest off and sent a stock seat to Spencer in Fla. to get it restuffed with wonder foam. The Corbin was better than stock, but still too hard for a long trip. The wonder foam seat was much more comfortable, but now I lose my backrest. I like a back rest. I considered buying a back rest from Eddy, but just didn't like the look.

So I bought a large Biker's Friend bag, mounted it on the parcel rack that replaces the pillion seat, and I was good to go. Comfy. [image][/image]

I like the BF bag, so when I decided I needed more storage space for trips, I bought another one - a medium. I installed my luggage rack and found that the angle of the stock sissybar pushed the medium bag too far back. So, I bought some stainless flat bar and made a sissybar. I cut and polished all the pieces, then had a friend at work Tig it together. Then I re-polished it. Nothing fancy, just a square frame angled forward just above where it mounts. I drilled extra holes which allowed me to move the luggage rack up a bit higher.
Here's the end result...
[image][/image]

Now I don't know if I like the "look" - reminds me of some kind of a tanker or something - but I like the extra capacity.

We'll test it out at the NY rally.

Looks functional and tidy. You could try lowering the rack for looks and c of g.

I moved it up to allow access to the bag underneath. Nothing heavy back there. With both bags loaded for a trip it shouldn't even be 50 lbs, with the heavier items in the forward bag.

[image][/image]

What's up with all that fence in the background - Y'ain't in jail again are ya?

Jail, no...

I had a day pass from the warden at the asylum.

I've been looking at those BF bags for a while now. I getting a backrest on way or another. I too am not fond of the look of the Pro-tac rests. I like the way one can adjust the rest so easily on the BF bags. Glad you like it and to be honest, the look is fine by my standards.

Nice looking ride, Deon!

I dunno about you! Can you still carry all your camping gear in those two bags? Or is that the job for your Detent Pins, Quick Release Pins, and assorted DZUS fasteners? I like the duffel bag configuration myself. with a sissy bar bag. 5 bungies, one Velcro and two tie downs.

Moe....where do you put the kitchen sink?

I don't camp, me droogie....

Cold, damp, lumpy ground turns me into Concrete Man, able to stand up and walk after an hour if I'm lucky... and that's only if the warm sun is shining on my bones.

But, seeing your cargo arrangement puts my mind at ease about any c of g problem with my configuration.....

I thought you had your camping gear several years ago at the 07 Nor'East Rally. Yeah you got a room but I remember talking about how you were going to redo your loading protocols.

Now for a motorsickle that is really loaded down, and this picture was taken after Rudy had unloaded a lot of stuff.

circa 2008 Arkansas Rally:



Speaking of Arkansas, here is some old-school eye candy.

Got kind-of-a Joad thing going on with that skillet, eh? But I do like the saddlebags. No, not the ones with the conchos and fringe.

I need to fig out the shots of us going to CT. Those pics show bikes hardly loaded. Bucky came close with his one pic he posted with the milk crate though. We had a 5 room tent and queen air mattress along with all our clothes and gear for over a week. I'll have to ask Wendy where the shots are. The gear was piled higher than our heads on both bikes.

Just checked out the Biker's bag website. Thought about just getting a small or medium, for my weekend trips home.

They sure are proud of those bags , I'll stick to my duffle or back pack and a couple of bungies

I know this might sound weird but I have an ALICE pack that slips over the top of the sissy bar in the back and straps down quickly and it rides great.

The point, and one of their selling points, is the backrest feature. I have a herniated disk in my lower back, so finding a way to use my improved stock seat and get a backrest after removing the Corbin seat is what prompted me to post this. There's all kinds of bike luggage out there. I have four Nelson Riggs sissy bar bags, Triumph throw-over bags, and a few other pieces besides....

The BF bags aren't for everyone, of course. But they solved my need for a backrest. That's all.

Deon, sorry if I came across as critical, I wasn't trying to be. I think the bag design is great, and the backrest feature a definite plus, especially for those, like you, who do have back problems. Anything that will keep someone riding is a good thing. For that, they are more worth the price.

For me, though, they are just too rich in price. I don't need a backrest, just would be nice to have.

Sorry for any misunderstanding.

Deon you have a nice clean look going there, but Moe has you beat on capacity and I'm really into function. Moe, where did you get that bag you have hanging on the forks?

No umbrage taken.

I like these bags for "around town", running errands and that sort of thing. But as I'm packing for the NY rally, I'm finding they are a bit of a pain. Square peg in a round hole sort of thing.
If I was delivering frisbees and dinner plates they'd be perfect, but folded clothes is another issue.....

I have the BikersFriend bag large..enough for all my gear(4days clothing and toilet bag),backrest is great for touring and 4 straps and bag is in my room..all the tools,safety equip and rain gear are in saddlebags all the time ..where they belong!!