Soft luggage options advantages disadvantages

[the Ferret]

I saw in another thread, Chip Beck requested a thread about my soft luggage.

If you've seen the picture of Ferret and Mrs Ferret in 1977 on our Kawasaki KZ 1000 and the picture of us 35 something years later, and practically every picture of a bike I've ridden over the last 4 decades, you see one thing in common. Some kind of soft luggage. Usually a tank bag and/or a tail pack. Even if the bike comes with hard luggage and a trunk.

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/BikePic6-1.jpg.html]

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/DSCN0300.jpg.html]


[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/2012_10240006.jpg.html]

I discovered Eclipse soft luggage in the early 70's.(still in business btw). Eclipse soft luggage and Vetter Fairings could turn nearly any UJM into a half way decent touring bike. There are advantages and disadvantages to soft luggage.

Advantages: light weight, holds a lot, easy to mount, moves from bike to bike, less expensive than hard luggage, any or all can be easily removed once you get to a destination allowing you to ride a lighter bike, you can kick it getting on and off and it won't leave a mark, no ugly brackets left on bike when not using luggage

Disadvantages: not vandal proof, easier to steal, not rain proof. Saddlebags tend to crab in at bottom if heavily loaded, can impede on passenger space.

There were and are a ton of manufacturers of soft luggage..Eclipse, Bagman, Cortech, Tourmaster, Givi, Nelson Riggs, Wolfman, Firstgear, Dowco, to name a few
Tank bags will run from $50 to $200, tail packs from $90 to $200 and saddlebags from probably $ 100 to $250. I tend to buy mine when I find it on sale. Motorcyclegear.com is but one place to find good prices on soft luggage. Google is your friend.

Soft luggage volume is measured in liters. Why I have no idea because one thing I have never hauled on trips is liters. The only thing a liter tells me is that if one holds 20 liters and one holds 30 liters. The 30 liter one holds more.

I normally use two different sets. A small Cortech set for daily riding and day trips.

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/stonelick3_zpsb6efdd1d.jpg.html]

And a larger set by Nelson Riggs for multiday out of state trips

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/002_zpsf2f996de.jpg.html]

I also have a set of Matching Nelson Rigg saddlebags that I have used on other bikes, but have not used on the CB due to the location of the rear turn signals. When I find a suitable solution to that issue the saddle bags will be used on the CB as well.

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/2011_0915pics0009.jpg.html]


Tank bags have become such a part of my motorcycling I consider them wallets for my bike. I stick everything in my tank bag. Maps, sunglasses, camera, first aid kit, pen and pad, garage door opener, cell phone and more.

The tail trunk collects rain gear, spare gloves, thermos full of hot tea, a place to stuff a sweatshirt, ball cap etc..

Taking a break, then I 'll continue .....