tank bags

[milkman]

Morning all.

Santa left me some christma cash for some bike gear. Before I bought my beemer it was going to some saddle bags, but now I have the hard luggage SO I'm thinking a nice tank bag with easy access to some things while I'm riding along.

I really like the Oxford brand. Seem to have more secure, plentiful magnets, bt also an easily interchangeable harness system if you prefer that to attach it, and the quality seems superior to a lot of others. I can also get it in silver to match my bike, and it converts readily into a back pack.

What do you all think? What have you used etc etc What do you like to carry ni your tank bag, close at hand? Any R65 iron butters out there?

Talk to you all later.

PS apologies to any English members on this forum. Australia don't lose five wickets quickly just to bounce back with a sixth wicket 300 run partnership to rub it in. Honest.

[airhead]

Not too many Poms (or at least admit to it, especially now!!) on this site Milkman, so your aside comment probably was lost to most!! LOL

Watch out when buying the tankbag that it has good side clearance. I have a GEARSACK tankbag with extra capacity zipper if needed, a handy feature. However clearances are tight especially with the 65's lower Euro bars, and on full lock it has a couple of times activated the kill switch, embarrassing if executing a U turn, which I wasn't at the time fortunately (to the US contingent, our U turns go to the right!!).

Make sure it also has a generous waterproof map reader pocket, mine has a full width one and I use it to hold my PDA with GPS receiver attached and a map to one side. It also has a large zipped waterproof pocket on the back, right in front of you, that will hold a wallet and phone. Handy in that you don't have to open the whole kit to get to them. I opted for one without magnets as it's lighter, and you get more bag/features for buck if you aren't paying for expensive magnets. The harness has large clip buckles so it's very easy to unclip the bag, not as easy as magnets, but hey, what are you going to do with the extra ten seconds anyway?? Attaching the harness is only a 2 minute operation you do at the start of the journey, and I've found it stays secure the whole time.

Bill...................................;-)

[milkman]

Thanks for the tips Bill. I couldn't resist some friendly Pom digging, hey they might still win (we're talking cricket here). Is the season for miracles.

You're reminded me of something else i wanted to ask....has anyone adapted a socket chrager to their R65 anyhwere? The cigarette lighter type? Would be mighty handy. Couldn't see any posts suggesting this.

Keep your ideas coming. Appreciate it.

Steven.

[suecanada]

I got the Oxford expandable tankbag from their First Time luggage product line and i just love it. It is their cheaper line but very well made with a huge map pocket. One neat feature I love is that the front pocket zips off to become a waist bum bag. There's another map case under the expandable bag that you use if you just need a map. The side pockets serve to hold all the Autocom stuff with the transceiver. I would love to figure a way to use this bag on the plastic F650GS tank but it is a fairly flat design and the F650GS's tank is pretty sloped.

I haven't found an Oxford product I didn't like yet..love their Chill-out shirt, clock and balaclava.

[airhead]

You're reminded me of something else i wanted to ask....has anyone adapted a socket chrager to their R65 anyhwere? The cigarette lighter type? Would be mighty handy. Couldn't see any posts suggesting this.


Steven.

Do you already have the accessory socket on the left hand side below the seat? If you do it's not a problem. I fitted accessory plugs to all my 12v devices: battery charger, float charger, timing light, and one with a cigarette lighter socket for my mobile phone and PDA chargers. I actually only have a couple of accessory plugs as I have fitted quick disconnects to the leads so I can use the normal battery alligator clips for other vehicles if need be. See the photo for what I mean. The plugs allow me to say, just plug in the float charger overnight for mid winter morning getaways. It only takes seconds.



If you don't have a socket (it's different to a cigarette accessory plug/socket), don't get the BMW one, it will cost a small fortune, if you can get one. NARVA make an identical socket for only about $15 and is also waterproof with a snap close lid (82105BL on the website), and don't buy the BMW plugs as they are over $20 and the NARVA ones are only about $8 (82106BL). Just wire it directly to the battery with a 10A inline (waterproof) fuse. Here's the website for NARVA, you can get them at REPCO.  http://www.narva.com.au/Switches_37.html

Bill........................;-)

[Melena]

Where's Will from England when we need him!    I need him to interpret for me.  I don't understand a bit of what you said in your last paragraph milkman.  

Anyway, about tank bags.  I have an RKA Tank Bag and I really like it.  It's the 16 liter size and has a zipper for expansion and a great map holder.  They have quite a few different sizes and so there's one to fit every bike.  Check out their website.  http://www.rka-luggage.com/   The have both the harness fasteners (which I have) and the magnetic fasteners.  

I now keep the bag slightly off center on the tank to the left.  This was started after a hard right turn and getting way behind my riding partner because he didn't realize I had a sudden stop in the middle of the road.    [smiley=huh.gif]  We eventually found each other again.  

It would be neat if we could all post pictures of our tank bags on our bikes.  Then we could really see what they look like when being used.  I'll have to get a picture of mine next time I have it on the bike.

[milkman]

Thanks Bill, thats bloody brilliant.
I probably do have the bmw socket, like I say, I have NO idea of the beemers.

Thanks Sue, I think the one you described is the one I looked at.

So I'll chase an adaptor and I can plug in my Ipod, phone etc for driving along....

I like the Narva proucts, been considering looking at wiring some of their smaller driving lights onto the bike, maybe a pencil beam on the right and spread beam on the left...but thats a post for another occasion

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Ignore the fuse block.  I just wanted you to see where the "official" BMW outlet is located.  On the left side of the bike, behind the angled subframe member, and in front of the shock.
It is behind the black plastic cover that lifts to reveal it.  As Bill said, there are less expensive alternatives.
The nice part of the BMW kit, is that it comes with a bracket which mounts to the upper shock bolt.
If you are lucky, your bike already has one.

[milkman]

My bike does have the bmw socket, located ti this morning. SO now I just need to fashion a plug adapter to all my accessories (phnoe charger, Ipod charger etc etc) OR change the BMW socket...probably leave the BMW socket, keep it original. So off to Repco I go.....(thats an Aussie auto parts store).

Thanks for the tips, and the clear picture.

As for translating cricket talk - don't bother, its all over. England collapsed or their largest test defeat on Aussie soil and the match only went for three days instead of five.

Sorry if I seem to be rubbing it in, but last year they beat us for the first time in 20 odd years, the only victory in my life time, so they had a parade through London and the Queen gave half of them Lord-ships (little bit over teh top??)

Seeing as half the country seems to live in Sydney, they have been insufferable (bad enough after they won the Rugby Worl cup over here in 2003), not to mention the work lads on the wire in England.

Now the balance of the universe has been restored, with the feral un-cultured colonials (thats us) victorious.

To put it in term you may all understand better When England beats Australia at cricket its how a Canadian would feel when the USA beats them at hockey. And I'm not even that big a fan.......

[nhmaf]

Hmm, I was thinking of getting a magnetic tankbag myself this year (so I could easily
change it between my bikes) and was looking at Cortech, Nelson-Rigg, and will now have to look
into the Oxford ones.  thanks for the tip !

[suecanada]

Your oh so right....Canadian hockey teams must win over US teams...doesn't always happen though  Many of our best players are skilled enough to be offered scholarships at US Universities and this helps out everyone! The best rivalry at this moment in time is the rivalry between the women's teams, US and Canada...the rest of the world is trying to catch up to them both..but so far they represent a league onto themselves. What a joy to watch too.

I inherited a BMW tankbag from my ill-fated purchase of the R1100RT. It can be made to fit onto my new F650GS with bungee cords here and there but I really dislike the bag...no side pockets or front pocket, smaller map envelope and the worst...the bottom part doesn't expand...it's the top section that expands so that means the largest section is up top...so the thing looks lopsided and tilty when fully loaded. I am in the market for something that fits the GS and so far it seems to be the Wolfman Denali or a Wunderlich tankbag.  More money!!

[NC Steve]

Sue, check out this guy's assorted bags and luggage on eBay, although he doesn't currently have any listings: holidays maybe? He was shipping last week.

http://myworld.ebay.com/digicam11/

I bought some soft saddlebags a few months back and they're gorgeous & very well made. He has a line of tank bags in various sizes too, and nothing but rave reviews from all his customers. Canadian too, which might be a plus in s&h for you!

[suecanada]

Thanks Steve! Those bags look pretty good alright. I still wonder if I might be able to fit the Oxford magnetic bag on the plastic tank F650. It sure would be nice not to have to switch stuff from bag to bag depending on which bike is going out that specific day.  Oh the woes of owning 2 bikes  The prices of those bags are very reasonable as well and a great warranty.

[Justin B.]

Steve, I almost bought one of those bags a year ago as they look very nice, extremely reasonably priced, and good reviews.  Sue, you could get one for each bike as inexpensive as they are and not have to worry about it!  

[NC Steve]

Yes, I was very pleased with the price, quality, customer service and quick shipping, and am considering adding a small magnetic tank bag too. I bought a pair of the GTS-60 saddlebags, and they're top notch and much roomier than I had expected.

And, I see the seller's listing items again as of this morning...