'Still no Spyder - another couple of weeks! Wife is ready to head out for a trip!!!

[Greg H.]

Yeah! The word is still September for my Spyder to show up. Sept. 3rd will mark 2 months since I ordered it. Our anniversary is Sept. 6th. So, heading to Hot Springs, AR for a long weekend would be awesome! That's about a 3.5 hr. drive from our place.

Now; I have not owned a bike (she's still calling it a bike! :yikes in 30 years. That, of course, means I have not rode with a passenger in that length of time, either. So, if all is right with the World, my Spyder will arrive in a couple of weeks (and not September), and I can get used to it, and used to having my wife on the back, too! :2thumbs:

That leads me to this observation: Cortech Bags. I want to get these for overnighters, and longer. Do they just hang on - mounting under the seat in a simple manner? My guess is too, that the Cortech Bags are universal fit.

Thanks!

 

[zzneonzz]

That leads me to this observation: Cortex Bags. I want to get these for overnighters, and longer. Do they just hang on - mounting under the seat in a simple manner? My guess is too, that the Cortex Bags are universal fit.

Thanks!

I would also like to know the answer to this question. I'm looking at getting some for road trips but don't want bags on when i'm just riding around town and all.

 

[Greg H.]

... but don't want bags on when i'm just riding around town and all.

Bingo! :agree:

 

[sleepman]

For the most part all of the soft bag systems simply use bungee cords for attaching to bikes. This allows for the bags to be pretty much universal for any bike. The Cortech Tri-bag is a good system. I haven't used the saddlebags but I have the duffel tail bag that goes with the system and think it's great. The bungee system will keep the bags secure, I just make sure I check them at stops. I rode 200 miles with one of my bungees flapping on the tail bag and it didn't move at all.

 

[Greg H.]

For the most part all of the soft bag systems simply use bungee cords for attaching to bikes. This allows for the bags to be pretty much universal for any bike. The Cortech Tri-bag is a good system. I haven't used the saddlebags but I have the duffel tail bag that goes with the system and think it's great. The bungee system will keep the bags secure, I just make sure I check them at stops. I rode 200 miles with one of my bungees flapping on the tail bag and it didn't move at all.

Thanks! I found a photo of one of their systems....
http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=&L2=&L3=&L4=&item=HEL_82-416_G&tier2=3129

I like these!

 

[axhead]

Check out the Nelson Riggs line of bags. I have their small round bag on the rack of my scooter - was $49.00 & included rain cover. I think their quality is as good as Cortech, and a little less money.

 

[sleepman]

Check out the Nelson Riggs line of bags. I have their small round bag on the rack of my scooter - was $49.00 & included rain cover. I think their quality is as good as Cortech, and a little less money.

+1, I've never used them myself but I have a few riding buddies who swear by them. They've used them on some of our trips and they seem to be top quality.

 

[Greg H.]

Thanks for the head's up on the Nelson Riggs bags! Those look nice, too! I'm heading over a dealer at lunch to look at helmets (again). I'll check out what they have.

 

[zzneonzz]

I wonder if these would work on the spyder. Looks like they would hold enough for a long weekend and fairly easy to install/remove

http://www.cycleluggage.com/nelson_rigg_cl850_saddlebags.html

 

[dltang]

I have the Cortech bags and my husband has the Cortech sport saddlebags. They are actually about the same size as far as putting stuff in them, they just have a different look. We strap the bags under the seat with the velcro straps and then attach the lower snaps to the footpeg brackets. One thing we both did that made it easier to put the straps under the seat is we cut the neoprene protective strap in half and slide it half way down each strap on each side of the bike. That makes the reach under the seat easier. I did have to adjust my seat post latch a little bit so that it would open more easily. Here of some photos of my bags and system while my spyder was still silver.

 

[bjt]

I have used the Cortech Sport saddlebags. They can mount either over or under the seat with the two velcro straps. Most people are mounting them under the seat. Also, there are two straps per bag that loop around some point on your bike / Spyder and snap to the bags at the bottom to hold them in place. There is a large neoprene backing on both the bags and the velcro straps to protect your machine's finish. Strapping these bags over the seat for a quick jaunt with only one rider only takes a minute. Going under the seat (which would be necessary for passenger comfort) is just a bit harder because of the narrow work space and the length of the velcro straps. They are long enough to hold together but not so long that you can easily attach them. The other advantage to going under the seat with the straps is that you don't have to undo anything to refuel. Both bags have a waterproof cover that you install seperately over the bags for riding in the rain, the bags themselves are not waterproof.

The Sport bags are just a little narrower than the standard bags but they have an expanding side that you unzip to get about two more inches of width. That gets their capacity close to the standard saddlebags capacity.

If either of you are interested in buying a used / nearly new set of Cortech Sport saddlebags, let me know via PM. I'm sure we can work out a fair price. I no longer need them as I have the Thibault rack / Givi bag setup. I used to have them listed in the For Sale forum but the thread got lost when lamonster converted to the new software and I never got around to relisting them.

 

[Greg H.]

I have the Cortech bags and my husband has the Cortech sport saddlebags. They are actually about the same size as far as putting stuff in them, they just have a different look. We strap the bags under the seat with the velcro straps and then attach the lower snaps to the footpeg brackets. One thing we both did that made it easier to put the straps under the seat is we cut the neoprene protective strap in half and slide it half way down each strap on each side of the bike. That makes the reach under the seat easier. I did have to adjust my seat post latch a little bit so that it would open more easily. Here of some photos of my bags and system while my spyder was still silver.

Nice! Away from the office, I can now see the photos! Those will work fine, I'm sure! I appreciate you posting those.

Something else I wanted to ask; do the Cortech's hinder the passengers comfort in any way?

 

[bjt]

You will have to 'work with' the bags a bit to get them positioned in a good spot that combines passenger access to the footpegs without pushing on their legs while not blocking the turn signals. I know that jeuchler had posted pictures of his Nelson-Rigg bags mounted backwards. That allowed his wife to ride in comfort when the bags were installed. :banghead: I can't find that thread now. Maybe John will grace us with a few of those pics.

How about it John? :nopic:

 

[gregc]

nelson riggs-CL950

Hey Greg Check out the nelson-rigg CL950 bags. I got them from newenough.com Great bags for 110.00,lifetime warranty. Great quality!!! Also Greg, you have over 100 postings and you dont even have your spyder yet. You are going to be out of control when you finally get your machine. Greg Nashua NH

 

[Greg H.]

Hey Greg Check out the nelson-rigg CL950 bags. I got them from newenough.com Great bags for 110.00,lifetime warranty. Great quality!!! Also Greg, you have over 100 postings and you dont even have your spyder yet. You are going to be out of control when you finally get your machine. Greg Nashua NH

Thanks Greg! I'll check out those bags. Also; if you knew me, you'd realize, I'm already out of control! :cheers: :yes::cheers: