Good Model of Soft Saddle Bags for GS-1000 G...

[Gimpdiggity]

Hi everyone.

I have a GS-1000 G. I just got it a few days ago.

I'll be doing the obligatory things to it...new o-rings in carbs, new intake boots and o-rings, new petcock, new plugs, all the oil changed out, etc. After that I will be moving to the "cockpit" of the bike...replacing the stereo and speakers, putting a new windshield and vents on the Vetter, and some new grips.

After I get all of that stuff done, I will be wanting to use the bike as a touring bike...some longer highway rides and stuff with the wife.

It currently has hard sided Vetter bags on it...but one of them is broken and I just honestly don't like the looks of them. I really like the fairing, but for some reason the lines of the bags just don't look right to me.

I would like to replace them with some soft sided bags...so I'm looking for any suggestions on soft bags that work well with the bike. If you have a set that works AND has a tail bag, that would be even better!!!

Thanks!!!
Jeff

[bwringer]

I have an ancient Tourmaster set that's still going strong and puts up with all kinds of abuse.


I'd say go here and take yer pick -- there's plenty of room on a GS shaftie for any saddlebag you want, and these brands are all very high quality:

http://www.newenoughhp.com/luggage/saddlebags_/?page=1

I'd also take a very serious look at the Ortlieb Dry Bags, in Hi-Viz yellow:

http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Ortlieb-DryBag-Saddlebags-p-16156.html

Aside from the Ortlieb Dry Bags, there's absolutely no such thing as waterproof saddlebags. Rain covers are only a silly, cruel joke. Ignore any marketing crap about water-resistant cloth or zippers -- there ain't no such thing. In fact rain covers will actually retain water and make your stuff even soggier.

Simply line each saddlebag with a trash bag (kitchen size usually works well), put your stuff in, then twist and fold the top of the trash bag. Cheap, easy, and your stuff stays perfectly dry through any toad-strangler.

[Gimpdiggity]

Cool. I've used Newenough before and had a great experience with them.

Actually, though, I LOVE those Hi-Viz yellow bags. I don't know why, but I'm a HUGE fan of Hi-Viz yellow. I think it looks really good, and is so obnoxious that it really works at helping you get noticed.

I'll keep all of this in mind when it comes time to get them.

Do hard sided bags really have any kind of advantage over soft sided bags???

[rodm850g]

Soft Bags

Gimp,
Howdy, I have fought with this dilema myself and now that all of my touring paraphenalia {Vetter and Givi bags} are of my 79 GS850 {been in a resto} I may go with a pair of Eclipse bags{period correct for a GS} or you might want to look at the GIVI soft bags...some are expandable , there are big ones too...and its a hard to come by comodity on a bike a bit of water resistance.....
Rodm850g

[Gimpdiggity]

Those Eclipse bags are so ugly that they are cool!!! I like those quite a bit.

I'll keep those in mind!!

[bwringer]

The biggest advantage of hard bags is simply that they can be locked, and they're waterproof without any special measures. They're also just neater and cleaner all around, and easier to pack and use.

I have a trunk "pod" on my GS850 most of the time. I absolutely hate the way it looks, but it's so indecently handy to have, especially for commuting and running errands, that I end up leaving the hideous POS attached most of the time.

On trips, my clothes and smelly socks go in the soft bags and anything of value or that would be harmed by getting wet goes in the trunk.

Of course, a thief willing to cut your soft bags loose and rummage around in your dirty underwear is also willing to jimmy the cheap locks on hard luggage. But it takes longer and makes more noise, so your risk is less.

[Gimpdiggity]

The biggest advantage of hard bags is simply that they can be locked, and they're waterproof without any special measures. They're also just neater and cleaner all around, and easier to pack and use.

I have a trunk "pod" on my GS850 most of the time. I absolutely hate the way it looks, but it's so indecently handy to have, especially for commuting and running errands, that I end up leaving the hideous POS attached most of the time.

On trips, my clothes and smelly socks go in the soft bags and anything of value or that would be harmed by getting wet goes in the trunk.

Of course, a thief willing to cut your soft bags loose and rummage around in your dirty underwear is also willing to jimmy the cheap locks on hard luggage. But it takes longer and makes more noise, so your risk is less.

I've been looking at some of those top cases. Do you have a picture of the one on your bike?? And how do you have it mounted? My bike doesn't have a rear luggage rack.

I really like those old Samsonite top cases, but the ones I've found are EXPENSIVE!!!

For what it's worth, ugly isn't really a problem for me. I want this bike to basically be as useful as possible. Not saying that ugly is ideal, but if it's ugly but serves a purpose, then it will easily find a home on my GS!!!!

[Piston720]

Luggage

I have had the white Krauser luggage and a windjammer fairing on my 79 850 for the past 30 years and I would never change. I have just recently put a set of the same luggage on my newly acquired 83 1100g ( In black )
I could not find the proper Kerauser top box that my 850 has, so I purchased a black GIVI E-52 complete with universal mounting rack.
Used Krauser luggage and rack systems are often on ebay. I lucked out a few months ago and purchased the complete rack system and side luggage for about $140. Then I bought the GIVI later and it was double what I paid for the Krauser setup.
The Krausers fit good and snug to the bike compared to other styles.

[drhach]

I have a set of Krausers on my BMW, I'd love to find a mount system so that I could use them on my GS. I just installed some Vetters on the GS. They a FUGLY. But, they look like they should work pretty good. I have to say that the Krauser bags look nice, but they are notorious for falling off. I won't leave the house without my Velcro straps wrapped around them bags. There is always a trade-off I suppose.

[Piston720]

Luggage

I have never in all my years had a bag fall off, and they are well packed.
The basic mounting rack and toprack are always available on ebay for $34.
You would have to make the brackets that go to the top of the shocks, the footrests and the one that fits to your license plate holder. Very simple to make out of flat bar.

[drhach]

I have never in all my years had a bag fall off, and they are well packed.
The basic mounting rack and toprack are always available on ebay for $34.
You would have to make the brackets that go to the top of the shocks, the footrests and the one that fits to your license plate holder. Very simple to make out of flat bar.

Go to a BMW rally. you'll meet many, many people who have lost a Krauser bag or know someone who has. You may have the only Krauser bags in the world that haven't had this problem. It's a commonplace issue that gets discussed ad nauseum amongst BMW riders who are and were the main users of these things.