Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Luggage problems

I have the stock Gunfighter seat on my 04 Speedmaster and absolutely no modifications on my bike (i.e., sissy bar, luggage rack, etc.). I'm wondering what other people have been doing for luggage and how you've set it up on your bike. I know that I have the option of saddle bags.... I've even seen some people with the sissy bar with the luggage rack.

My problem is that I need to be able to transport a weekend's worth of clothes AND be able to remove whatever luggage I have on the bike (I don't want to leave the saddle bags on over night, outside in an apartment complex). So, it sounds like the saddles bags are a bad idea. I've seen a few people bungy cord a duggle bag to the front part of the sissy bar. Also, does anyone know if the luggage rack (not the one that attaches to the sissy bar) works with the gunfighter seat?

So, here's the deal... I need to:
1. be able to remove the luggage easily
2. carry a weekend's worth of clothes, etc.
3. I really don't want to buy a different seat at this point.

Everyone on here is VERY knowledgeable on this site, so I really respect your input and experience.

Thanks everyone!!!

Jason

On my overnighters, I always pack everything in 13 gallon sized garbage bags before putting them into the saddlebags. Not only does it allow me to take everything out and transport my clothes to the hotel room easily, but it also adds protection from water just in case some gets inside my Willie&Max saddlebags. I don't worry about leaving my saddlebags on the bike. A thief would have to take off the seat(or cut the bags with a sharp knife, but that'd render them almost useless to use), and have some dikes to cut the tie straps that I've installed to secure the bags to the bag guards.

Now if you don't like that method, there is a more expensive solution. You can install Easy Brackets. Do a search through the archives and you'll find all sorts of info on this setup.

For longer trips, and two up luggage, I use a tall sissy bar with luggage rack. To this I mount a Tourmaster sissybar bag. The barrel bag on top is removable and makes a nice day trip bag for 2 up riding so you can carry bottled water, sunblock, etc. This bag system also is easy to put on and take off, and is fairly rigid.

Jason,

I've got a set of the easy brackets and love them. Easy to put on and pull off, lockable, and with a good size bag will hold a lot for a weekend trip.

I've got the large slanted Tour Master saddle bags. they are easy to remove, zippered on, are easy to get into, even with gloves on, and they have handles to make them easy to lug around.

A lot of us have gone with the Saddleman Jumbo Drifter bags and the EasyBrackets. If you get the Easy Brackets, you can find them quite a bit cheaper on Ebay (E-Bay Easy Brackets) by buying direct from the manufacturer. Also be sure to call them and let them lnow if you will/will not be using the luggage rack/sissy bar setup, it makes a difference in the mounting posts used. Fitment Issues with Easy Brackets and Luggage Racks
Here's some other options you may like.
Ghost Brackets an alternitive to the Easy Brackets.
Rev Packs Soft luggage of excellent quality.

Go for the Easy Brackets! You take off the bags in seconds and the posts staying on the bike are very discrete. You can eve buy a handle to use with the brackets. Easy to carry.

Ever since Easy Brackets became available I wouldn't recommend anything else. Prior to that I had Ameritex large slanted quick detachable bags. They disconnect faster than Easy Brackets, pop two clips and they fall off, but getting them back on, especially loaded up, could be a trick at times.

Jason,
I feel your pain. I also have, what was up until last weekend, an unadulterated SM. I like the look and wanted to preserve it. But, I had the same problem you describe and needed some storage space. Contrary to most, I do not like saddlebags - Hard, soft, permanent, or removable - I just don't like the look. So I broke down and got a sissy bar and rack after a year of wearing a backpack, having my pockets bulging and being caught without what I need. My hope is that I can strap on enough stuff to suit my needs. I'll be looking for a good roll bag and backpack. All I’m looking for is storage for long single day rides and the occasional overnighter. If that doesn't do the trick my next option will be the Easy Brackets, but I really don't want to go there unless I begin to entertain thoughts of weeklong adventures. Whatever you decide, there certainly will be a marked improvement in being able to go longer distance for the price you pay in changing the general appearance.

Barry

you could try some throw over soft saddle bags. CLICK HERE for an article on them.

-Josh

Have a look at the Ventura pack system from New Zealand distributed by Cycle Venture in the U.S. I installed the system on my 03 Speemaster when it was new and after many uses, I have nothing but good to say about the product. It's not cheap but with the available accessory packs you can configure the system to suit just about any situation.

The luggage rack'll work with any standard seat, but it'll probably look a little odd. I'm just about to trade my saddlebags in on bigger ones... I like the bike wearing luggage, but my suggestion for you's a low tech one - buy a cheap backpack and wear it on ya back. Lots cheaper *grin*

Matt

Thanks everyone for taking the time to read my post. All of your suggestions were great--I've looked into all of them. Now, the hard part is deciding which one is best for my needs! Again, thank you for your input.

Also, if you have any new developments with your current luggage or purchase new luggage, please post your experience because I'm sure that new SM owners, such as myself, will benefit.

Until I can afford the easy brackets, I'd like to get the Tourmaster bags like Leonard has. They zip on and off and the part that goes under your seat can stay there. Of course the drawback would be, if left unattended for long, any thief could unzip them too.

-PES

This past weekend I was at the supercycleshow in chicago and looked at every saddle bag in the place. For the money, I like these river road saddle bags . They seem to be decently made and come in various sizes and options. I'm going to try a pair in a couple of weeks.

EZ brackets and bags, or the old duffle bag and bungee cord trick, but EZ brackets are worth twice their weight in... um... gas, or something.

I have Jumbo Slant Drifters permanently attached, tall sissybar with rack, and just last week picked up a tankbag. A (flight) helmet bag on the rack and both side bags full worked for a weeks worth of crap. But forget all that... If you can get past the first impression, for weekends and day trips, consider a tank bag. They are sized from small to carry little things up to very large to carry tons of stuff, the strapped ones are almost as fast on-and-off as the magnetics, making it easy to grab off the bike, and a strap-on (stop that giggling) won't fly off at speed. If you use one for a couple of days, it'll become indispensable. You can always leave it at home when you're not travelling, but if you start using one, you won't want to leave home without it.

Bikers Friend, probably wouldn't get more than a week with it, I bought the large, Harley husband bought an extra large. Long weekends not a problem, and I really like the lumbar support (showing my age...)

http://www.bikersfriend.com/

Hey PES, I just noticed that motorcycle-superstore.com is haveing a valentine sale on all their tourmaster luggage. I don't know how to make motorcycle-superstore.com work by pointing and clicking like a lot of the members here can, so just type it into your search engine.

here's the link
for motorcycle super store ...

Amazeing. how do you do that?

click the reply button on the right side of a post. the next screen should look like this. Below the "post" box are some grey boxes under the header "Instant UBB code" - click the one that says URL. copy and paste your link the the box that opens when you click URL.

like this

I did it!!! thanks a bunch.

on topic - my wife likes the looks of the river road bags and the saddlemen bags.

back off topic - leonard- your welcome.

Excellent.

Want a job?

you offering? Fla. is not to far of a commute for me. hell, give me a day of too to pack and sell the house I could be there ready to start monday morning......

Roundy - do you know if these bags need racks? I emailed the company and they said maybe not...

I use T-bags, they go right on your sissy bar luggage rack. Mine has back-pack straps. Their new mounting system allows you to move them to a different bike.

Larry

Hey Everyone!
I took your advice and bought the Easy Brackets, the Saddlemen Jumbo Drifter saddlebags.... PLUS, I've ordered the Sissy Bar with luggage rack. I recently installed Triumph's fly screen (the black one with chrome) and I LOVE it. I'm 5'9" and the screen diverts the head wind up over my helmet, so it doesn't feel like I'm doing weighted curls while rippin' down the highway at 80mph. Plus, it keeps MOST of the bugs out of my teeth when strollin' 'round town with a half helmet.

So... I want to personally thank Dinqua for the thorough information and personal advice.

Once I spend the entire weekend installing all of this stuff (I'm mechanically challenged--hey, I'm a pshycotherapist... my mind works differently!) I'll post photos. Once all this stuff is on, I'll probably buy the Biker's Friend... one for the pillion (XL or L) and a small one for the luggage rack. I'm a pack rat man!... what can I say?!? LOL

Ride safe...
Adhoclife

You're a psychotherapist???

RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY!!

OH, and good luck with your luggage....

If your bags are locked under your seat (the flap that goes across the fender) they are relitivaly safe. If someone wants your bags bad enough they will use a blade and cut them off,,then go to a leather shop and get them fixed or just steel whats in them.

Since I started this tread, I thought I drop in from time to time to update those of you who have helped me with your candid advice.
I just finished attaching the sissy bar with rack, as well as easy brackets. Now, I'm just waiting for my Saddlemen Drifter Jumbo Slant bags to arrive so I can attach them.

On another thread, I saw that someone had used aircraft aluminum (I believe that's the material) to provide more stability for the saddlebags--so that the bags don't rub against the shocks and/or the wheel.

Although, I must admit.... after affixing the sissy bar, I think it has taken away the drag look of the bike. Although, it's not too much of a pain to remove the whole rack.... it appears that I have to switch out four of the bolts (i.e., replace sissy bar bolts with original bolts).

What do you guys think about what modifications I've just made? Any comments? Questions? I welcome any and all feedback from those who have gone down my rode, and those who are thinking about doing what I did.

Shiny side up everybody!
Jason