Saddlebags for the long journey

[VifferJim]

I've been itching for a set of saddlebags for my Kat for sometime now. And, my wife threw $100 at me the other day as an advance on my allowance (I'll be 40 this month and I'm still getting an allowance???).

Anyway, I went shopping around and this is what I found:



The Nelson-Rigg CL-1000. Picked up from NewEnough.com for $68.00 delivered. They just came in this morning and I'm as impatient as they come... so I'll be mounting them up after lunch.

[AKA AllyKat]

Nice. Whats the cubic volume for them? I have a huge tank/tail bag but its just doesn't hold everything and wearing a backpack with a tail bag just isn't fun.

[steves]

I had Nelson Rigg bags on the day we met up... I like 'em okay so far... except that they started to sag with that shock in them...

[VifferJim]

Nice. Whats the cubic volume for them? I have a huge tank/tail bag but its just doesn't hold everything and wearing a backpack with a tail bag just isn't fun.

The specs are as follows:

CL-1000 Standard Saddlebags
(Formally STSB-250 Standard Saddlebags)
• Accommodates swept exhausts on most of today’s bikes.
• Easy access top loading main compartment
• Adjustable shoulder strap
• External buckles for compatibility with our tail packs
• Securely mount using wide Velcro® straps and quick release buckles
• Heat resistant under panels
• Main compartment measures: 17”L X 6.5”W X 11”H
• Holds 19.92 Liters per side

[VifferJim]

I had Nelson Rigg bags on the day we met up... I like 'em okay so far... except that they started to sag with that shock in them...

I bet they did!

Would adjusting them tighter up top have helped at all with that??

[steves]

I had Nelson Rigg bags on the day we met up... I like 'em okay so far... except that they started to sag with that shock in them...

I bet they did!

Would adjusting them tighter up top have helped at all with that??

I'm not sure... I haven't used them since I've got a tail bag too that I almost prefer when I can use...

[KatanaSoldier]

Very nice looking. Cheap too!

[VifferJim]

Okay - I figgered out the droop issue...

They're effectively hinged on the inside. That is to say that the bags connect on the sides closest to the motorcycle... What happens is that as the bag is filled, weight pushes the bags downward, and since there's no where to go in that direction, they start to tilt inward.

The bags have shoulder straps that attach to the front and to the back of each of the bags. To avoid the tilt inwards, a short cross-strap that attaches to the fronts of the bags should be about all ya need.

The alternative is to rig up a stiff wire frame for each bag.

[jgalar]

I got mine from the same place for the same price yesterday. I was unable to mount any of the straps under the seat and the bags in place will interfere with a passenger, but I like them anyway. They are easy to remove so to prevent them walking away while at work I use a cable lock around the handles and my luggage rack. If they walk the bags or cable will have to be cut.

[md86]

I had Nelson Rigg bags on the day we met up... I like 'em okay so far... except that they started to sag with that shock in them...

I bet they did!

Would adjusting them tighter up top have helped at all with that??

I'm not sure... I haven't used them since I've got a tail bag too that I almost prefer when I can use...

Same bags I got ? Mine have been on there like 3 years . Yeah , they sag , but they'll also hold a jug of oj AND milk , plus a couple more lbs of canned goods no problem . And you STILL got the expander zipper !

[tnvatdreamland]

I have the same simular bags in the Tourmaster Cortec. Very nice. There is a nice article here on the site with pics, on how to mount them under the seat. Mounts tighter with no slop, and your pillion is comfortable too.

[40something]

You can checkout the ones that I got in the following thread

http://www.katriders.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=35003

[VifferJim]

I got mine from the same place for the same price yesterday. I was unable to mount any of the straps under the seat and the bags in place will interfere with a passenger, but I like them anyway. They are easy to remove so to prevent them walking away while at work I use a cable lock around the handles and my luggage rack. If they walk the bags or cable will have to be cut.

There's a thread on here somewhere - was looking at it last night - where a member mounted up a set of bags under the seat of his post-98. I think he used a pencil to keep the front strap from interfering with the seat lock.

Also, there are some pics of a pre-98 underseat mount. I'm gonna chop my fender this week and try to do a remounting of the bags under the passenger seat.

[steves]

JaxKat I think.

[jgalar]

I remember that posting, but don't remember which bags he had. I'm sure I could mount it partially under the seat but the bag would be closer to the pipe than I would want. Also these bags are long enough that you can't move them forward and backward much without covering the turn signals. I don't want my light obstructed as I do 1/2 my riding at night. The cable lock through the handles keeps the bags from easily walking off - thats my main reason for wanting them mounted under the seat.