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who has used throw-over soft bags?

R

robinelwood

Forum Apprentice
Well,
The new bike (1980 850G) has no luggage rack...and it is in such nice shape, I'm tempted to keep it all clean and clear.
But toting some groceries or supplies is part of most rides... previous bikes had a rear rack with a stacking tailbag assembly...
I'm looking at various throw-over, no-mounting hardware saddlebags.
I have no experience with such: any advice on whether they're a useful purchase, or just something leathery to attach to your cruiser?

Thank you in advance!
 
Yup. Have used Cortech and Nelson Riggs soft bags on my GS and other bikes often. Work well. Nothing matches the convenience of hard, locking, waterproof cases. But it's hard to beat the price, versatility, and weight of soft bags.

Years ago some folks felt the Nelson Riggs 850 bags were the best match aesthetically to the GS. Especially the GS850. I don't think they make it anymore but looks like it has been replaced by the 855.

https://www.nelsonrigg.com/luggage/saddlebags/touring-adventure-saddlebags-518-detail.html

bdd7832beb3ee59db35fdd2cc6208902.jpg
 
Don't have any "soft" bags, but the wife had some leather bags on her bike. They were a "throw-over" style, but I had anchored them under the seat, so they were pretty much permanent. Still had some problems, even though they were anchored. The anchoring was only under the seat, and anything with a bit of weight (a gallon of milk) would tug the bags to one side enough so it would rest on the muffler. To make matters worse, I installed a turn signal relocation kit (moved them to the license plate area) and moved the bags a few inches farther rearward. That gave room for a passenger to use the footpegs, but the bags were now behind the shocks, and that allowed them to swing in, toward the tire. I fabricated some supports that kept the bags away from the tire, and also went under the bags to keep them off the pipes. Keep that in mind when you load your bags.

.
 
I used some Cortech soft bags on my 78 GS750 for a cross country trip a few years back. Like Steve, I put them under the seat. They also had some straps that tied to the frame that the bags clipped to with clips like these.

Had them on there for 9000 miles. They worked well enough. Overall they did the job, and the included rain covers kept my stuff dry.

I did have a few issues. They rubbed on the shocks (brand new Progressives) to the point where the chrome on the springs wore through in spots. Those spots eventually rusted because of it. This also wore some holes in the bags. Not to the point where stuff was falling out, as long as nothing little was packed in the bottom of the bags. I duct taped over the holes inside and out and carried on...

They also hung a bit low, close the the muffler. Burned the bottom of the bags in spots.

Mine was probably an extreme example though. 9000 miles coast to coast and back, going up, down, and all around. The bike was weighted down with camping gear, clothes, and enough tools and spare parts to be able to do any number of jobs on the side of the road (I packed an inch/lb torque wrench, which should give an indication of how excessive I was in the tools I packed). Not all that was in the Cortech bags, I also had a tank bag, and a luggage rack with an old ALICE pack strapped to it...

Hanging low and muffler clearance issue could probably be avoided by only putting them on top of the seat. Other issues could probably be avoided by not using these to try to turn a 70's 750 sport bike into a touring bike and putting way too much weight in the bags and on the bike overall.

If you're just looking to have some bags that you can throw on to stash your rain gear, pack a lunch, or grab some groceries, you should be fine.
 
Yeah, if you throw them over the seat you eliminate the issues of shock rubbing and muffler clearance. The sides of the seat and bodywork along with the straps do a pretty good of keeping the bags in the right place and out of danger.

I wouldn't mount mine under the seat unless I had some kind of frame to help them stay in place, but if you throw them over the seat it's less of an issue.
 
another thing to consider....when they are empty, they can fly around unless bottom is held in, especially if they are "long"; so, consider how the bottoms will be held in to bike.

You likely won't want something so ugly or cheap as these: however, they have certain advantages...depth and flexibility

I have had all sorts of these but day to day seem to prefer a couple of identical BACKPACKS! with piecees of plywood in them to stiffen them so they don't get in chain or wheel..

here's an early iteration over the seat. I take one off and carry it on my back...NOW though, they bolt on to sideracks (with wingnuts) I got from an old gs850s vetter setup...but can still strapover for other GS400 I have.

BackPackSaddlebags-01.jpg
 
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You likely won't want something so cheapo but I can carry 2gallon fuel jugs when I need to (ie:take home for lawnmower)

Here's a picture of stiffenerbackpacksaddlebags-stiffener.jpg the stiffener allows you to place attachments like a strap that suits your bike to stop "fly-up" etc. on the standard GS, footrests or even shocks (a loose loop won't hurt them).

Anyways, given the other members' tips (under/over seat etc) you can find lots to think on. There's a slight security risk to under/over seat and any cloth/soft bag but there are also ways around these too, like the cable nets backpacker tourists use etc... if you are cursed with "StickyFingered" in your 'hood.


It's pretty funky and a prototype (that has lived 2 years !) in that I intend to polish the system with higher quality bags and so on but is "living too long" some might say


ADD: the siffeners also help adjust the HEIGHT so they don't hang down too low. You might be able to change whatever you get in the same way...lift them up a bit.
 
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I have some. Not used on the GS yet but used on zzr600, zx7r and zx9r. Perfectly adequate.

not sure if you'd get them over there as they're from a British company. They're Oxford humpback ones, got magnetic tank bag too. That's dead handy. But couldn't use that on the 7r, to laid on the tank for that one.
 
These no-name leatherette vinyl throwovers were $50 delivered.

IMG_0562.jpg

They each hold about a bag of groceries and a 15" Laptop.
 
Keep them from moving around with some para-cord & carabiners.

IMG_0560.jpg

Takes about 10 seconds, one on grab handle, the other on the seat lock latch.
The orange cord connects to the seat strap in case they want to flyoff when empty
Do what they're supposed to, look ok, so-so, meh
 
I used them on my Interceptor, but didn't love them. These days, I use a Wolfman Expedition tail bag plus my tankbag.
 
Notz said:
These no-name leatherette vinyl throwovers were $50 delivered.

They each hold about a bag of groceries and a 15" Laptop.
Click to expand...

Where did you get them? I think that'd fit my needs just about perfectly.

Are the buckles on the flaps decorative, or is that actually how they're held closed? I prefer something that opens more quickly. (But for $50 I don't mind adding quick release latches myself.)
 
Notz said:
If you search e-bay & amazon with 'Waterproof Motorcycle Saddlebags' there are some similar styled & priced items available.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I think I know what my next purchase is going to be.
 
My old neighbor gave these to me, but I have since upgraded to rigid panniers.
 

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