[KPaulCook]

Thanks Ian! Nice Review

As a potential VFR owner, I was definitely interested in this article. For rainy Seattle, I always have felt that an ABS VFR with hard luggage would be the perfect bike for my commute. Having seen the new VFR with the factory bags on it, I am concerned with the added width in the butt that hard bags would add. Your Corbins definitely tuck in tighter. Thanks for pointing out some of the shortcomings. For me it wouldn't be a big deal packing and unpacking stuff, since my gear has cases anyway. Thanks again, love the looks of your bike. Enjoy

 

[32754]

Rain? He rode in the rain? Where'd you find this guy... He must be a 1%'er. 'Cause 99% of American motorcycle owners only take their toys out when all environmental factors are perfectly ideal - well if you go by ebay/classified writeups.



The thing that sucks about snow is that it doesn't wash the bike like rain does. I'm gonna have to break out the hose and bucket. If I can find them...



I thought Corbin's idea was pretty lousy. non-removable bags? What ARE they thinking? Go with the GIVI's. You can lane-split just fine with them unless you're trying to thread the needle. 1/2 the price, 4x the volume.

 

[Buzglyd]

I'm kind of a friend of MO too so if you have a clutch for a Ducati or a 103" kit for a Harley lying around please email me asap.



Thanks!

 

[1163]

Great article, Ian and thanks MO. I'm glad to here my experience with these bags was unique. The bags my wife had on her '98 VFR performed as well as yours in all aspects except they weren't watertight. I added some marine type weather stripping into the groove and that took care of it for the most part.



One thing they don’t like at all is the parking lot or slow speed gravel tip over. The first thing to touch the ground is the forward outside corner of the bag. And they don’t like it at all. They scratch very easily and it shows white. I went to a Line-X installer and had him shoot some of that rubber truck bed liner in an attractive pattern which covered that front corner up about 3 in. above the bottom and kind of swooped back towards the rear of the bag. It went around the edges less than an inch. Cost for both bags was $15 for color matched red. It looked great. Kinda like ballistics for the bags.



The next time she dropped the bike was again on gravel in a parking lot at the Americade Rally. No scratches at all and all she did to clean it was wipe the loose dust and gravel off the Line-X and it was good as new.

 

[1163]

The GIVI bags are nice, that is true, but then they are only slightly more attractive than a milk crate bungeed to the fender rack.

 

[Buzglyd]

Have you considered a trike?

I mean, it's just a suggestion.

 

[1163]

Re: Have you considered a trike?

Smart a$$.

I did suggest training wheels to her and I got the same reply from her that I just gave you. She, of course, was quite serious.

 

[33225]

Givi's Were My Choice

I seriously considered getting the Beetle Bags before going with the Givi's, and 43,000 miles later I don't regret the choice at all. The Givi's actually started out on my Bandit, then moved to the 01 VFR when I bought it. That is a big advantage of the Givi's, they are not bike specific. I only had to purchase an $80 braket set to make the move. I keep the 3 bags on my VFR all the time now, as I use the bike for my 26 mile each way commute. The Givi's are absolutely waterproof. I don't know how they will do in a drop, I have yet to test that aspect (knock on wood). The capacity of the Givi's is also great for motorcycle camping. I've gone on 5 day camping trips with the Givi's. My tent sleeping bag, food, everything fits in my bags (just barely). The down side is the Givi bags are a bit beauty challenged. If not downright ugly. But after all these miles I think my bike would look wrong without them. The locking bags my a bike a practical everyday transportation vehicle. I can hold up to 6 bags of groceries plus a gallon of milk and a box of kitty litter. As an engineer, that kind of functionality easily trumps the superior looks of the Beetle bags.

 

[Agent0090]

"The overall fit and finish, hinges, locks and the fact that the inside of the bags was lined with industrial carpeting got me soo excited that I wanted to mount the bags that night."



Easy, boy. I know you like 'em and all, but . . .

 

[sarnali]

Re: Have you considered a trike?

getting them sprayed with that line-x stuff is a really good idea.

 

[sarnali]

Re: no kidding

"I got so excited I wanted to mount the bags that night"

I know how you feel, I've mounted my share of bags

 

[sarnali]

Re: Givi's Were My Choice

I looked into GIVI's for my Bandit after I saw a color matched set on a V-Strom. I decided to buy a bike with factory bags instead, but I thought the GIVI's were much better than the Corbins, I didn't like the small opening and permanent mount set-up, and they stick out too far. I thought the GIVI's looked ok, and they were at least well thought out.

The factory bags and trunk on my Triumph will hold two gallons of milk, two fat bags of miscellaneous grocery's and an 18 pack of Coors longnecks with room to spare.

 

[longride]

The price of the 103" kit isn't much. After you get the heads ported, new lifters, pushrods, cams with gear drive, Fueling oil pump, and new exhaust, plus the cost of a mechanic and dyno tune, you are out quite a few bucks Buz!. Just do the Scottsman II head work, 95" SE kit with flattop pistons, Cometic .030 head gasket and TW55 cams and call it a day. Easy 90/100 power and reliable. Get with it man!

 

[Buzglyd]

I saw that in the new Power and Performance issue. Looks like a pretty good option.



My neighbor just opened a shop and I can basically get anything in the H-D catalog at wholesale.



I've already got the 203 cam with 88" I'm 75/86 as it sits now and she runs fine but you know we "Harley guys" can't stop screwing with 'em.

 

[Buzglyd]

Re: Have you considered a trike?

Derrick might want to get the inside of his pants sprayed with that as well in case she drops it a third time.

 

[sarnali]

Well gee, you could spend that money on a 10 year old GSXR and run away and hide from any Harley ever built.

 

[Buzglyd]

Yeah but when I got where I was going I'd have to be seen on a 10 year old GSXR!

 

[sarnali]

Re: Yeah, but

If you stripped all the plastic off it, added projector beam headlights and upright bars you'd be at the cutting edge off euro-streetfighter chic

Naughty hotties would be begging you for rides, squids would avert their gaze in awe of your total cool factor, The geezer-glide and Ducati would move aside to allow the Suzuki it's rightful place of honor in the garage @ chataue Buzglyd, .........THE HIGHWAYMAN.......would want to challange you to a manly contest of Greco-Roman wrestling...(well, you probably wouldn't want that)

but the rest of it would be cool !

 

[longride]

Not a comment befitting an honorary member of the GPTB. I have a mind to have KPaul revoke your membership rights! If you persist, I will also have ZRX Bullshyt, or whatever his name is, formally remove you from the 7 Dwarves list and you shall be forever banished from these honors. You are treading on thin ice here!

 

[1163]

Re: Have you considered a trike?

lol... She sold it a couple years ago so I'm safe.

The RoadGlide went down once when she hit a patch of loose gravel pulling into a Taco Bell. By the time I got parked and back to her she had it picked up and was getting ready to start it. Those highway bars are great. She can pick that big sucker up easier than any of the bikes she had before except for the VLX.