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Advice on luggage for SV650S

24750 Views 25 Replies 20 Participants Last post by shaneking, May 8, 2003

donalcallis

Discussion Starter · May 7, 2003

Since you mentioneed shopping as a reason for the luggage, I'd recommend getting at least the hard and removable tail case (and, then if you can afford them, the hard s-bags, as well). Although, when loaded, the tail case will raise the center of gravity some, it is MUCH more convenient to load/unload. The tail case is top loaded (and waist-high), where hard s-bags are generally side-loaded and knee-high. If price is a problem, I'd get the hard tail case and soft s-bags to start.

Hard cases, IMO, are better because they generally hold more, are more weather-proof, protect the contents better, and provide better security. They should also last longer, allowing you to transfer them to your next bike by simply buying new mounting hardware.

Do, though, check the load capabilities of the bike and the weight of the bags and case yourself to ensure the bike can handle the load. Givi does also check this, though. For example, shortly after the original Hayabusa came out, Givi refused to sell (and recalled any already sold) their luggage for this bike because they learned that the seat sub-frame would not safely be able to hold the weight. So, if Givi will sell it, you are probably okay.

Good luck.

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rvfrules

· #2 · May 7, 2003

Go for a 52 liter Givi top case first. It doesn't interfere with lane splitting like side cases do, and you'll love having lockable, waterproof storage for shopping, storing your helmet and briefcase or whatever. Givi side cases work well, but they'll make your bike W-I-D-E. If that's a concern, check out RKA soft luggage at www.rka-luggage.com.

43208

· #3 · May 7, 2003

A top bag WILL affect the handling of your bike and its sensitivity to side wind. And it will not be an improvement. Since you are in the NY area and relatively inexperienced, don't worry about lane splitting and don't even think about it if there's not enough room for a bike and side bags.

Go for hard sidebags. They are tougher, easy to use, more waterproof and safer. They will protect your stuff if (when?) you drop your bike. If you go shopping, you will want to leave your helmet on the bike, locked and out of the rain, so make sure your bags can hold a helmet.

Givi is a little expensive, but their quality is pretty high. You may want to check Nonfango too, they are a bit less money and pretty good too, I've heard.

Finally, I think I have heard a rumor that Suzuki is planning to have hard bags for the SV's. If you can wait a bit, you may want to check with your dealer.

Have fun.

10706

· #4 · May 7, 2003

Check out RIDERHAUS, http://www.riderhaus.com/, the site has good prices on GIVI and offers Kappa luggage (less expensive - comparable product) and give options for racks to mount the luggage. Picture, ownerfeedback etc... it worked for me.

Anton_1

· #5 · May 7, 2003

Buy something waterproof

Cool wet luggage is no fun. Does anyone know of waterproof soft luggage? The raincovers supplied with most work OK except for long periods of hard rain and are a pain in the a$$ to install on the side of the road.

banda

· #6 · May 7, 2003

Re: Buy something waterproof

RKA's soft luggage sagddle bags (42 liter?) have worked great for me. Several times I have ridden for hours in pouring rain at freeway speeds, and never have the contents of my saddlebags gotten wet.

My wife and I lived out of this pair of saddlebags plus an expandable tankbag for 2 weeks on a road trip two years ago.

35377

· #7 · May 7, 2003

Any soft luggage can be made waterproof. Spray the outside with a "Durable Water Repellant" available at your local outdoor adventure store. Then line the inside of the bag with plastic trash compactor bags (which are heavier, more durable, and "slidey-er" than ordinary trash bags). Fold the top of the bag down and away from the zipper.

This system works great for me. Water rarely makes it as far as the compactor bag, and then only around the zipper of the soft bag. This system lets you take advantage of the versatility of soft bags and get the weather resistance of hard bags.

Lowrez

· #8 · May 7, 2003

Advice from an SV owner

Currently I'm using the Ventura Pack system. I have the larger 56 liter bag and it swallows everything I've tossed at it. Everything feels secure and it is reasonably weather proof. If you want to go without the bag, the rack comes off with one tool in a few seconds and the remaining hardware isn't very noticable.

As for using soft luggage over hard, for me it came down to cost and how the bike looked with the luggage off. I've never had soft luggage leak or anyone steal it (I do put a small luggage lock on the zippers).

RKA, Ventura, Wolfman, or Givi. You really can't go wrong with any of those brands in my opinion.

mcprince006

· #9 · May 7, 2003

I used to use RKA soft bags on my naked SV, but I got hard bags last Christmas and love them. They are the 22 liter. They look great, they don't stick out to the side any farther than the bar ends on my handlebars and they are top loading which is way more convenient if you want to stow your jacket for a run into Walmart. I ordered mine from Arizona motorsports, they had the cheapest price I could find. If you check out www.svrider.com you can see what others have to say about them, too.

crazybike_37

· #10 · May 7, 2003

Mr. jtullyny, before you go and spend all that money on goofy looking (and believe me, they ARE goofy looking, just ask anyone who agrees with me

hard bags, check out Tour Master stuff if you haven't already. A few notable advantages to their heavy duty bags;

First of all, you will never wear this stuff out. This is tough stuff, and that includes all the stuff that always breaks first anyway, like zippers, high-stress seams, etc.

As far as all the whiners go, who were crying about having to put on rain covers, although TM saddle bags and tailbags aren't waterPROOF, they are very waterRESISTANT, and it'll take more than a light shower to get anything inside moist, and besides that, the (included) rain covers take all of two seconds to put on and remove. Uber convienient.

These bags also don't stick out as much as (goofy) hard ones, and they actually look good on your bike. They're not as bulky, either.

The saddle bags are very convenient, since all you have to do to load them is grab the pull handle on top and the whole top zips open, so you can just dump everything in there. This is WAY better than having to do the side-mount mambo with those hard saddle bags. Why anyone would build something with that kind of opening is beyond me.

Best part of all, this stuff is cheap. At the Tour Master site, the best bags you can get are only 130-140 bucks, and there's even a set that looks great and carry's more than your SV can pull that goes for 89 dollars. Try finding hard bags and mounting harware for that.

Here's the page you want- http://www.tourmaster.com/luggage_bags.html?mgiToken=D031D80210B682DD95#

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Buzglyd

· #11 · May 7, 2003

Did you give tourmaster your address for the commission check?

crazybike_37

· #12 · May 7, 2003

Ok, I looked at that after I wrote it, and I gotta admit, I deserved every bit of that comment. Sorry, I suppose I'm a bit zealous just cause I have a pair of em for my SVS, and well, you know how it is...

Chalk it up to youthful exuberance

12734

· #13 · May 7, 2003

I've also purchased hard bags and tank bags from Riderhaus, they are top notch. The owners are an American couple stationed there by their primary employer, the US Army. They are the best I have dealt with.

34449

· #14 · May 7, 2003

Riderhaus on hiatus

A victim of their own success, Riderhaus has temporarily suspended taking new orders.

DCH3HASHER

· #15 · May 7, 2003

Any more info on Suzuki hard bags for SV's? - just bought a SV1000S.

thanks,

Bob

Betamax

· #16 · May 7, 2003

Re: Buy something waterproof

check out the Revpack delux saddlebags.

I have a pair; they are absolutely waterproof. Cordura outside and inside, but inner layer of plastic in the middle. Works great.

Buzglyd

· #17 · May 7, 2003

I couldn't resist. That exuberence seems to extend to SV650 riders in general who seem to complain if their bike is left out of ANY comparo.

"What? No SV650 in the dirt bike test? That's just wrong man!"

Now go practice your stoppies.

Betamax

· #18 · May 7, 2003

check out the deluxe saddlebags at Revpack:

http://www.revpack.com

That's what I have. I'm also looking at the SVS650 and took my saddlebags into the dealer to see if they'd fit on the SVS, and they look like they were made for it. Perfect.

They're Cordura with an inner layer of some plasticy stuff, so they're 100% waterproof.

Also, they good on sportbikes, unlike leather cruiser-style saddlebags.

35639

· #19 · May 7, 2003

Which model of hard bags did you get? and what type of mounting system?

I just picked up a naked SV myself and want to adapt it to touring use.

crazybike_37

· #20 · May 7, 2003

Yessir, right away sir! And don't worry, they seem to come much easier now that I've got a fresh set of SuperMaxxes.

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