After-Market Saddlebags

[Manfred]

When I got home from a 250 mile trip on Saturday, I noticed a crack in left side inner saddlebag near the rear fender and another good sized fracture near the luggage rack on on the right side. So I am removing the lids, have ordered Givi/Kappa 22 L hard cases and mounts. When they get here, I will see what modification to the mounts I need to make and how much of the inner saddlebag I need to save to keep the front end as "un-ugly" as possible.

 

[Manfred]

I'm thinking I can keep some of the inner saddlebag material - along the top and near the front. Near the back, enough to grab the top fastener on the mud flap. I may cut it down so it's not as long. Waiting on new cases and hardware; just noodling how to do this.

 

[cliffh]

I'm thinking I can keep some of the inner saddlebag material - along the top and near the front. Near the back, enough to grab the top fastener on the mud flap. I may cut it down so it's not as long. Waiting on new cases and hardware; just noodling how to do this.

This will be interesting. The bags are a weak link for sure and others will likely benefit from your experience. I'll be following. Post pictures when you can please.

 

[Manfred]

This will be interesting. The bags are a weak link for sure and others will likely benefit from your experience. I'll be following. Post pictures when you can please.

I'll do that. Cases should be here tomorrow, mounting brackets by Friday.

 

[Manfred]

Brackets arrived today. Cases due tomorrow. Then I will see what modifications to bike and brackets are required.

 

[Mellow]

Will be good to see how this comes out... many NT owners might consider similar.

 

[Manfred]

Will be good to see how this comes out... many NT owners might consider similar.

I will take pix as I progress through it. Happy to help others.

 

[NewTo700V]

I've been shopping a lot of saddlebags recently for a ride that doesn't have Givi or Shad specific mounts.

FYI there are "universal" options out there so you don't have to try and find some Givi rack for another bike to hack apart or adapt.

Tusk makes V2 aluminum panniers in two sizes. Offered in black and silver. These are flat back and you drill holes where you want them. They do offer a rack for them you'd mount to whatever. Rack isn't specifically needed if you don't need it. Just bolt the boxes up. These seem to be well regarded in the ADV/dual sport community



If you go on eBay and run a search for "motorcycle side cases". You'll find example of these all over. Come with a rack you again mount to whatever you have.

 

[Manfred]

I thought about buying those, but didn't want big cases that stick out too far.

 

[mikesim]

I've been shopping a lot of saddlebags recently for a ride that doesn't have Givi or Shad specific mounts.

FYI there are "universal" options out there so you don't have to try and find some Givi rack for another bike to hack apart or adapt.

Tusk makes V2 aluminum panniers in two sizes. Offered in black and silver. These are flat back and you drill holes where you want them. They do offer a rack for them you'd mount to whatever. Rack isn't specifically needed if you don't need it. Just bolt the boxes up. These seem to be well regarded in the ADV/dual sport community

View attachment 23551

If you go on eBay and run a search for "motorcycle side cases". You'll find example of these all over. Come with a rack you again mount to whatever you have.

View attachment 23552

The bottom cases look like they have plastic attachment devices on the cases themselves. At this point in the game, I would be chary of plastic attachment brackets.

Mike

 

[JASJR]

Manfred, can you post a link for the frames for the cases you've chosen?

 

[Manfred]

Manfred, can you post a link for the frames for the cases you've chosen?

Kappa 22L hard cases, Givi PL189 mounting brackets.

 

[Manfred]

Made a lot of progress today. Will have pix. Should have the right side finished tomorrow. So far, saving the taillight and top part of the mud flap along with the top half of the inner saddlebags.

 

[Manfred]

Just about finished with this mod. Found out the left side bracket sticks out from the frame an inch further than the right one - these brackets were made for a BMW; it must have something that requires this. I do not like the left case positioned an inch further from than the right one, but would have to cut and weld to make it the same.

 

[Manfred]

Decided to cut 2 inches off the left bracket. Got that done, will get it mounted tomorrow after the Houston/New England game.

 

[ST1100Y]

... the left side bracket sticks out from the frame an inch further than the right one - these brackets were made for a BMW...

Space clearance for the/a silencer...

 

[Manfred]

I'm finished with the mods for these side cases. Test ride tomorrow or Wednesday. I'll write up what I did and post pix.

 

[Manfred]

Manfred, can you post a link for the frames for the cases you've chosen?

Here's the link to where I bought them, still on sale for $65. Twisted Throttle. Oops - out of stock.

 

[Manfred]

When I bought my NY700V, it had already been equipped with after-market latches on the left pannier lid. What I did not know at the time was that the inner pannier plastics had several cracks and holes where plastic had broken off. When the outer plastics of the bike side began to crack and fly off the bike while I was riding, I decided it was time to get radical.

I researched alternatives to the built-in panniers for a few months. I looked at countless side cases, including soft saddlebags. I settled on hard cases and decided to go with Givi mounting hardware. I found great deals on the PL 189 Givi mounting brackets and the Kappa 22 L side cases. The mounting brackets were made for a couple of BMW touring bikes and looked like I could modify them and mount them firmly to the frame of the Honda. The Givi mounts fit all Monokey side cases, including the Kappa brand, which is made by Givi.

In preparation, I cut the lower half of inner panniers off, retaining the front, top, and rear - to provide component protection and keep the stock tail light assembly. I cut the read mud flap to make it about 6 inches shorter – a few inches beyond the license plate. I removed the pannier latches and cable.

I started with the right-side bracket and discovered that two of the three mounting points aligned with the frame – the top rear (bolted to the frame) and lower front (bolted the rear foot-peg mount). The front top mount was attached to the frame with a short supplemental bracket. The lower rear connecting rod runs through the pannier pass-through opening.

The left-side bracket turned out to be different in that it stood off the frame some 3 inches more than the right side – due, no doubt, to some feature of the BMW it was defined for. I decided to cut the two upper mounts to make them 2 inches shorter. The curvature of the tubing did not facilitate removing 3 inches. I mounted the seat release lever on the upper front mounting arm; remove the left case and it’s an easy reach.

I considered using the front section of the pannier lids to cover the opening left by the uncovered inner front panniers, but I’m not settled on this. The outer layer of the inner pannier system is most fragile and required a bit of epoxy to be of continued use. This is what runs under and next to the grab bars next to the seat.

My wife said the bike now looks like Frankenstein, but I am no longer vulnerable to the panniers failing me while on the road. Storage is a bit reduced, but more than I had on my previous bike – something I can live with.

It remains to be seen, but I think I might be able to remove the rear wheel in a lot less time with this setup. The master cylinder is reachable and removing what’s left of the rear fender is 4 screws – if I have to remove it.

 

[ARKNT]

You have put a lot of thought and work into this project. I hope it works well for you for many miles.
I've said it before but too bad these plastic cases are the NT weak point. Mechanically the bike could be great, but the plastics limit useful life for many.

Arknt