who has used throw-over soft bags?

[gustovh]

been using soft bags for about 20 years now and it's bout time to get a new set. These are Givi expandable s. You can mount them under the seat or throw them over as I have here.

V

 

[Charlie G]

I have a set of Cortec bags and I to had problems with them rubbing on the shocks and getting close to the rest of the works of the wheel and brakes. I installed some rods, shown here, connecting the rack to the top shock mounts to resolve this. I've seen other people fabricate something similar devices out of aluminum flat stock, bolted together to keep the bags off the shocks. Hope you can spot what I have made in this small picture.

 

[Sandy]

I have a set of Cortec bags and I to had problems with them rubbing on the shocks and getting close to the rest of the works of the wheel and brakes. I installed some rods, shown here, connecting the rack to the top shock mounts to resolve this. I've seen other people fabricate something similar devices out of aluminum flat stock, bolted together to keep the bags off the shocks. Hope you can spot what I have made in this small picture.

LOL. Kind of like this? Ugly, but effective.

by soates50, on Flickr

 

[Wingsconsin]

Here is a thread about my solution to the saddlebag issue - (hard bags)

http://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...d-Very-Nice-amp-I-wanted-to-share-1983GS850GL

 

[salty_monk]

I have a set that will work that are pre-formed (don't lose shape when empty) if you want to take a look at them..... They can go cheap. PM me an email address if you want pics.

 

[robinelwood]

I bought some shiny new Nelson Rigg 855s.. seem to fit over seat fine and fit a bag o' groceries per side. Hoped to under-seat them, but they Reeeeally wanna sit down on the exhaust then, even with the straps shortened up considerable. Thanks everyone for advice.. (and Salty Monk for the used option.. I hit buy too soon!) Long term, a rear rack with a tail bag may be the best thing, but it's the first GS I've had without one and it just looks so nice without anything on the tail...

 

[Downs]

I switched to hard bags years ago and really like them. But considering the uses of my old GS1000 I opted to just use soft bags. I picked up a set of 20 dollar Stansport Saddlebags from Amazon and did a low tech ziptie install. They dont' hold a lot but if I combine it with a tankbag turned tail bag I can carry enough stuff to go on overnighters or multi-day camp trips pretty easily. Now just to see how these "saddlebags" hold up over time. I think they fit the "look" of the bike well espeically compared to the newer manuf top bag. I need to dig around in a surplus store and see what I can come up with for a more canvas looking tail pack.

 

[argonsagas]

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.

.

All of that sounds familiar. I used expandable Oxford bags on the Bandit for several years and had similar experiences, but they were never a real problem. Mine were fastened under the seat and against the frame, so they stayed in place at any speed.

Loved having the convenience of expandable bags when things were bulky. I have hard bags on the GSX1250 today, and miss that part.

 

[StratJeff]

Nelson Rigg bags, plus tank bag, plus a week's worth of camping gear for my 2700 mile cross-country trip. Worked great!

 

[storm 64]

View attachment 53218
Nelson Rigg bags, plus tank bag, plus a week's worth of camping gear for my 2700 mile cross-country trip. Worked great!

Nice set up Jeff. I have the same bags as you have. They worked great for me on my summer adventure. The right side was used for my cooler, quart of oil, cleaning supplies. The left had a box of spair parts, first aid kit, cold weather riding gear (never used). The rear bag stored tools, shoes, dirty laundry. The suitcase on the passenger seat is my clothes. I don't use a tank bag, the Nelson Rigg bags have a elastic pouch, I could just reach down to grab a water or a slim-jim.