Hard luggage ideas

[Wild-Bill]

Just fishing around for ideas here.

Original Krauser bags are getting pretty hard to find and Givi ain't cheap. There's some generic (ugly) side cases out there and then there's the option of mounting Pelican cases or military surplus ammo boxes but that looks pretty makeshift and really heavy.

Has anyone tried mounting cases from an old Goldwing or something like that? What sort of options are out there for something that doesn't make the Kat look like a rolling junkyard or weigh more than the contents?

[deathbyfryingpan]

I was looking for hard luggage as well. I decided to go with a trunk, because I didn't want to make the bike any wider (small garage). I personally went with an OEM Suzuki Katana luggage rack (60 bucks off ebay, and rather hard to find), and the el cheapo JC Whitney trunk (60 bucks as well). The OEM luggage rack needed to be modified because it's load limit recommendation is only 5 lbs. All in all I only spent about $140 plus shipping, but it required quite a bit of searching and fabrication. On the other hand, the Givi luggage rack is very sturdy, and includes all the hardware you'd need (no muss no fuss). The cool thing about the JC Whitney trunk is that it uses Givi's mounting system, so it'll just snap right on.

I haven't been able to find another OEM rack, but i found the Givi rack here;

http://www.solomotoparts.com/product.php?productid=24468&utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Froogle

and here's the trunk:

http://www.jcwhitney.com/motorcycle-travel-trunks/p2010969.jcwx

[niqbales]

I was looking for hard luggage as well. I decided to go with a trunk, because I didn't want to make the bike any wider (small garage). I personally went with an OEM Suzuki Katana luggage rack (60 bucks off ebay, and rather hard to find), and the el cheapo JC Whitney trunk (60 bucks as well). The OEM luggage rack needed to be modified because it's load limit recommendation is only 5 lbs. All in all I only spent about $140 plus shipping, but it required quite a bit of searching and fabrication. On the other hand, the Givi luggage rack is very sturdy, and includes all the hardware you'd need (no muss no fuss). The cool thing about the JC Whitney trunk is that it uses Givi's mounting system, so it'll just snap right on.

I haven't been able to find another OEM rack, but i found the Givi rack here;

http://www.solomotoparts.com/product.php?productid=24468&utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Froogle

and here's the trunk:

http://www.jcwhitney.com/motorcycle-.../p2010969.jcwx

I might have to add something like this... I'm building a hard bag rack for the sides so it wouldn't be tough to add some square tubing to rap around back....

[Wild-Bill]

I hate the way a top-case and rack looks. Too moped-ish. I have thought about mounting a pair of those trunks on the sides, though. Trick to getting the bike into the garage is quick-release attachment points. Pull her in tight and pull the bags off.

[bob393]

No ideas on hard luggage but I love my Nelson-Rigg soft bags!

[Wild-Bill]

I've got Chase-Harper soft bags now. They're almost 20 years old and still going strong. Because of that, I'm not in any rush to replace them but it's something I keep looking at every once in a while.

[rexazz2]

http://katriders.com/vb/showthread.php?t=108350&highlight=luggage

[Wild-Bill]

Pretty cruiser-looking although if that's what you're into... They don't list mounts for anything that's not a cruiser so that'd leave us building our own. Ideally, I'd like to find something fat enough to stash a helmet.

[rexazz2]

Pretty cruiser-looking although if that's what you're into... They don't list mounts for anything that's not a cruiser so that'd leave us building our own. Ideally, I'd like to find something fat enough to stash a helmet.

looked a VFR with luggage , didnt think I would ever use it because of the looks

[heptha]

It is really hard to find the original Krause bags these days. A lot of sites offering through the internet also have limited stocks. I used the trunk as well for my Katana. I felt it looks better than the side bags, but I found some cool Krauser bags in krauser.de. I think you can try ordering from them if you like any. I like the Givi too; they got the best bags and trunks. Givi accessories are awesome. You can fit the Goldwing cases in your Kat with some minor adjustments. I have tried that once successfully.

[cricribitume]

Have you tried with www.twistedthrottle.com and go with sw motech they have a nice side rack systeme that can be taken off .

[hardlydangerous]

If your set on the hard bags its up to you I would recommend soft bags.

I have a friend with a VFR and went from the hard bags to soft... not only lighter amd smaller when not stuffed but but your able to get more use out of the soft bags and actually get more in them when you have to.

[ChrisInTexas]

I didn't see any mention about Shad, they have nice hard cases and racks for a Kat. I am giving thought to purchasing a set. Here is a URL for a 2005 Kat: http://www.shad.es/en/shad-usa/produ...4mod27mot1484/

[kat_pilot750]

the shad setup is pretty nice for the money. the red colored insert for the side cases match almost perfectly with my maroon 2000 750. I will say that the rack set up (the "full master" seems like it's intended to have the full side case and trunk set up to make it more structurally sound. I opted to ask my mechanic if he had any scrap 1/4" aluminum and to cut it to size...then rattle canned it black to match the rest of the rack. Shad is based in spain but their US distributor is in miami. I like them.

[Wild-Bill]

They are some good looking bags. Not too big but they look big enough to be useful. Pity I'm putting my 750 up for sale in the spring, now that I've got an 1100. (Don't see an 1100 setup listed.)