sloppy
Well-Known Member
Do yourself a favor and get GIVI bags and topcase. That other stuff gets old quick. You can lock your stuff in the GIVI equipment and it looks great.
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OldBiker
Wizard
I had the Cortech side bags and they worked well, stayed dry in the rain with the supplied covers and held a decent amount of gear. However, they could not hold a helmet and was a bit of a hassle to mount. I use my bike to commute and want to carry more stuff.
Solution, I bought the GIVI V35 bags with the inner bags. Wonderful system, locks your gear up, fits a helmet, easy to remove or just leave them on. I haven't noticed any real drop in fuel mileage and they really don't affect the handling at 80mph but may increase side wind effect. I have the removable frame but haven't taken them off since installation.
Sold the Cortech bags.
Solution, I bought the GIVI V35 bags with the inner bags. Wonderful system, locks your gear up, fits a helmet, easy to remove or just leave them on. I haven't noticed any real drop in fuel mileage and they really don't affect the handling at 80mph but may increase side wind effect. I have the removable frame but haven't taken them off since installation.
Sold the Cortech bags.
sloppy
Well-Known Member
I sold my soft luggage too after the Givi V35s were installed. They were a total game changer.
regder
Member
As someone that has V35's and an E52, a roomy duffle is in some ways better than V35's. You can fit more into it without learning origami, the V35's are oddly shaped and a pain to efficiently use all the space in them. There's also the matter of getting stuff on and off the bike. I always feel like an idiot having to make two trips to take three bags off the bike.
No need for the big specific bags though, any regular sporting goods duffle works fine and is a hell of a lot cheaper.
No need for the big specific bags though, any regular sporting goods duffle works fine and is a hell of a lot cheaper.
sloppy
Well-Known Member
Trust me, I use the duffy too. The V35s fit an R1100 helmet and the tail bag (I can't remember the size) holds another helmet. Packing, no matter how it is done on a bike, has to be well planned and laid out correctly. The hard bags just allow more and lockable storage. Many times I have had all hard bags tail bag, duffy and tank bag filled up.
OldBiker
Wizard
I have the V35 inner bags and those really simplify packing. Fill the bag which is shaped to fit in the hard case, lock it in and go. When arriving at the hotel, open the case grab both bags and with the shoulder straps carry them to your room.
Funny thing is that the inner bags have a lot of reflective piping.
Funny thing is that the inner bags have a lot of reflective piping.
regder
Member
Always wondered about the inner bags, how much space do they take up?
OldBiker
Wizard
Uh, they fit exactly in the V35 which is why they're the inner bags. Depends how you pack stuff and how it settles you may have some space left over.
sloppy
Well-Known Member
The inner bags on the V35s are a must. OldBiker is absolutely correct.