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Are the Cross Country saddle bags REALLY that bad?

N

no chrome

New member
my wife wants luggage.
I want the looks of the F3S naked rear.
we want to be able to reach our destination and drop the bags in our room and go cruise around.
bags would only be for the initial destination and from there only what we can fit in the front storage.
we both agree that whatever we install needs to be "Quick Detach" to maintain the look of the Spyder.
Shad bags are a no go because of the large brackets.
Corbin is a no go because they are not QD.
the CC bags leave almost nothing behind when unistalled but there is a LOT of negative feedback on them.

:helpsmilie:
 
Last edited:
I would like to add that we do not do any long distance touring.
our time away is very limited so maybe 150-200 miles a day at the very most and that would be pushing it.
 
Options....

There are many options for bags. Soft bags like Nelson Riggs, hard bags like Shad, Givi, Oem etc. Most are removable and will fit your needs. I do not know first hand but worth looking into for price availability and easy of use....:thumbup:
 
OEM CC saddle bags.

Depending how much & what kind of "stuff" is in the saddlebag, they may be difficult to remove due to the turning of the latching mechanism from inside the bag for removal. My main problem with the OEM bags were the locks, which, I have replaced with the 3-number rotary type.
 
Whenever you ask a question like this in a forum;: you're bound to get all of the "worst-case" horror stories thrown at you. :shocked: They can make you wonder why you even wasted your money on the bike!
Take it all with a grain of salt, and I'll bet you that the truth is somewhere in the middle...
The folks that I've spoken with about them (With one exception...) liked them enough to still be using them.
 
Bag

If it is just for a trip, then remove, I have two options for you: an Ortlieb dry bag, or, a bikers friend. Either will strap to the backrest, hold enough for a weekend, and remove cleanly. Throw overs work fine, too
 
BAG RESTRAINERS

I'M WITH YOU....
I LIKE MY F3 TO LOOK 'SPORTY' AND UNCLUTTERED... HOWEVER, I ALSO LIKE TO DO X-COUNTRY RIDES... I FOUND THE CURE FOR WHAT I NEEDED... I BUILT MYSELF & MY RIDING PARTNER SOME 'SADDLE-BAG RESTRAINERS'...
FLAT STOCK 1" X 1/4", POWDER COATED A FLAT BLACK...
20161016_142256.jpg 20161016_142846.jpg 20161016_161916.jpg
1st 2 PIX ARE PRIOR TO BEING POWDER-COATED... BEING FLAT-BLACK, I DON'T EVEN NOTICE THEM, BUT FUNCTIONALLY THEY WORK FINE... I HAVE THE SEDICI SOFT BAGS...
DAN P
SPYD3R
 
Saddle Bags

no chrome said:
my wife wants luggage.
I want the looks of the F3S naked rear.
we want to be able to reach our destination and drop the bags in our room and go cruise around.
bags would only be for the initial destination and from there only what we can fit in the front storage.
we both agree that whatever we install needs to be "Quick Detach" to maintain the look of the Spyder.
Shad bags are a no go because of the large brackets.
Corbin is a no go because they are not QD.
the CC bags leave almost nothing behind when unistalled but there is a LOT of negative feedback on them.

:helpsmilie:
Click to expand...

I have found that Oxford brand makes some really nice throw over soft bags. They allow the seat to be lifted for fuel, but hold enough for a day's outing. So far my experience has beed very good. They make a full line of tank bags and such and coming from England they have proven to be tough.

Good Luck
 
Okay, I'll be the first.

Now that I've gotten used to my OEM bags, I love them. At first they seemed like they were going to be a bit flimsy, but that is not the case. I've had them for over a year now and used them on an Indianapolis-Phoenix trip with success. The capacity is not as large as my GS Givi bags had, but it's adequate. The only time I challenge the capacity limit is when I'm going on a long trip.

Love the easy on/off (only easy after you figure out the system and get some experience with it) removal system. Takes me about 10-15 seconds each way. Removable bags are a must for me due to my garage size and the need to store 2 cars plus the F3.

The current price is more "reasonable" than it was in 2015 (they were $1500+ then) but any hard bags are expensive.

Also, I never stop getting complements on their appearance. I have my F3S decked out with some beautiful chrome accents, but the thing people always mention is the bags.

So, there's a pretty positive review for you. However, as you can see with earlier posts, there are a lot of options out there.

Best wishes in your quest. :thumbup:
 
I used these Sedici soft bags until I got my hard bags. Worked fine. I've still got them but don't need if you are interested. $55 for bags and universal mounts.

CJ JAX
 

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I have both the OEM Cross Country bags and a set of Leatherworks bags w/Easy Brackets, each on their own F3S. The Cross Country bags have been reliable and have preferred aesthetics. I've added LED lighting to them which makes side and rear visibility better than any F3 on the road today. The down side us that they were double the price of the Leatherworks combo.

The Leatherworks bags are difficult to add lighting although I have mounted some Custom Dynamics on them.

Both will lock on and remove in very short order - no bolts.

Wayne
 
I kept an eye on all the after market options that were coming out. I hated them all! They just did not look right on the F3 at all. I was lucky enough to purchase used BRP Cross Country ones for 400.00 this summer. Given the comments here about room and quality, I found that that they have plenty of room and the quality is in line with everything else I have seen on Bikes. If I ever go out more then 3 days, and need more room, I will use my waterproof duffel back and tie it to the back.
 
wow Tazz that's a great deal.:thumbup:

I just bit the bullet and bought the CC bags.
$1,161.00 shipped to my office.

can anybody direct me to the "rotary replacement locks" that retrofit to the CC bags?
 
no chrome said:
wow Tazz that's a great deal.:thumbup:

I just bit the bullet and bought the CC bags.
$1,161.00 shipped to my office.

can anybody direct me to the "rotary replacement locks" that retrofit to the CC bags?
Click to expand...

My cousin has the CC bags and they look good on his bike and very easy to remove. I like them better the fixed bags on the tourer models.
David
 
Jim,
I owe you a case of your favorite adult beverage:yes:...
just ordered those bags and canceled my order through the dealer.
thanks,mark
 
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