Honda panniers

steve398

Just bought a set with the mounting frames etc, but no instructions.
Can anyone attach a copy of the fitting inst or perhaps some words and photos pls?

steve398

Ah.. very pretty please, I can't be the only bloke on this forum to have bough Honda OEM panniers..

TigreST

If you read through the following link you will find some info and pictures related to the Hondaline Hardbag mounting system, albeit, showing the bags for a late model installed to a early 1998 model XX. Regardless the idea is vey much the same. The tricky bits is the re-enforcing brackets that go around the two forward mounting points, and the fact that the regulator needs to be repositioned to clear the re-enforcing brackets on the left side. I may be able to provide scans of the instruction sheets (if I did in fact save them) and failing that perhaps more photo's of the installed mounting frame. To get you started I'll say this:

1) the forward tail cowl mounting hardware is replaced by the long black hex head bolts which work in conjunction with the re-enforcing hardware.

2) the exhaust hanger bolts at passenger foot peg locations are replaced with somewhat longer hardware to allow the frame to connect.

3) the rear passenger grab handle is removed in total and related hardware is changed out again to allow the main mounting frame hoop to be installed.

4) there are rear signal light re-vamp brackets and a wire harness extension to allow the stock signals to be re-positioned and connect to the factory harness...be sure to do the signal mode early on so that you don't have to remove the cowl to access the rear area again to do the wiring mods.

Key to the install is knowing that in no way shape or form should the tail cowl be forced or put under any undue stress,...there are bushings and such that allow the hardware to be tighten up but yet proctect the cowl from tomuch pinch loading.



Here's the link,..I'll see what else I can find.


Hard saddlebags

Tony

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TigreST

I found the printed install instructions in my ref. archives. There are 14 pages. It will take me some time to get the scans done...more so because it's a beauty of a day here and I'm about to take the RR-Repsol for a rip to lunch. I'll be back with more this evening.

Tony

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Strek

Tony, So how do you like these bags and how do you feel they compare to the GIVI bags? They seem like they mount closer to the bike. Do they make contact with the tail cowl?

TigreST

Strek,
As I've never seen GIVI gear in the flesh it is somewhat difficult for me to make an accurate comparison. Those that use GIVI equipement like them very much. That said, I can say that I'm very pleased with the performance of the Hondaline set up. (it has been mentioned that GIVI in fact produce the bags for Honda...I can not confirm or deny that statement...I have no proof myself.) Even with my off spec model year install the bags work perfectly well. The addition of the factory carry bag liner luggage makes them extremel easy to use. There is a enough room in the pannier to hold the liner bags plus have extra space for those other items that you may not wish to unload every night with your normal luggage items. For myself these items are namely bike support/maintenace or cleaning gear that I choose to carry. The panniers will also hold a full face helmet each should the need arise.

The fit of the bags to the bike is excellent and no they do not touch the tail cowl at all. The only contact points, if you will, are those required to connect the main mounting loop to the chasis, one point each side at the front tail cowl mount locations, and a couple bolt locations on each side at the passenger grab handle location. The two support tubes then connect at each exhaust pipe location near the passenger peg mounts...and then a upper connection to the main loop at the passenger grab handle position.

One of the two fit issues is the voltage regulator location problem (this only relates to 1997 and 1998 model year bikes...mines a 98. For 99's and up there is no issue in this regard as I understand it) and the rear turn signal relocation issue. The bags were designed for the Euro spec machines which use a different rear turn signal housing style, which is not as deep as the U.S. spec signal housings in a fore and aft sense. If you source your own replacement signals your good to go...this is what I did. Just keep in mind that a shallow housing is required if the supplied relocation brackets are to be used in the install. This issue will present with all the U.S. spec bikes I believe as they all run the same rear signal housings as my early 98 model XX.

I'm just finishing up the scans here. If anyone should like a copy. Please PM me and supply an e-mail address.. DO NOT POST YOUR E-MAIL IN THIS THREAD UNLESS YOU WISH TO BE SPAMMED TO NEAR DEATH! I may get them up load to my free photo viewer at some point so mailing may not be required..not sure when I'll find time to do that at this point.

The scans number 14 pages in total,..jpeg file format, and range in size from 225kb's to 150kb's in size. I will send the files when I'm able to..work, family and all that stuff sometimes gets in the way...and once in a while I might even be out actually riding the bikes.

Tony

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TigreST

What the heck,..here are the scans!

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TigreST

The Hondaline Hardbags at work:

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X1rider

Thanks for the pics, mate. I have lusted after these bags for a while, but seeing how w-i-d-e they are, I guess I will stick with the old Cortech softies I have used from time to time.

Like the Simpson lid!

Strek

Tony Thanks for the info on the bags and the scans. They look great on your bike. I do have a few additional questions. Do the bags come off quickly or are they directly bolted to the mounts? From the scans it looks like they are bolted on. If they do not have a quick release function how long do you feel it would take to remove them if you wanted to? Thanks again.

TigreST

Bag removal time?....hows 2.5 seconds per side...if your taking your time. The carry handle that is built into each Hardbag also includes a mounting lock/latch that secures the bags to the mounting frame. This keeps the contents and the bags secure to the bike. The same carry handle is also part of the latching system that keeps the bags lids closed..for the most part the only way to keep the bags on the bike is if the handle is locked closed. It's almost fail safe in that respect as the keys will not come out of the locks unless they are in the locked position,..just like your fuel tank lid.

X1rider....you will never notice the width issue you think you see when the bags are mounted. To me it feels like the bike does not have any bags mounted when I ride with the Hardbags installed. The extra cargo capacity they afford and the solid no fuss no muss mounting system is a joy when your out on tour. Trust me or not on this because I also am well versed in the Cortect soft bag sets,..this is what I've used on my old 1983 CB-1100F machine that the Blackbird somewhat put into to touring retirement. The Cortect set up is a very very good system (I agree with you 100% there) ,..but the Hardbags take it to the next level. There are no rain covers to mess with, no bag movement when installed, more secure when parked to name but a few of the pro's to there use. I still use the Cortect Tail bag as a soft trunk with the Hondaline Hardbags. It carries all that stuff that you may want to get at while your out on the road,..rain gear, extra gloves, maps, Ipod, etc etc. This year in fact I bought the Cortec Sport Bike Tail bag to further stream line the look and function of the bike,..and to force myself to re-think my normal routine of "overpacking the bike" with stuff I might never need. Yep,..love the Cortec,..but the Hardbags are the cats a$$ in my book.

If there's any more info I might provide just ask the question and I'll see what I can do.

Tony

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CanadianBird

on hard bags. Although I use Givi, not Honda line, touring is fail safe with them on, at any speed. I also have a top bag with a brake lite, also an excellent safety feature. I don't lane split so I have no issues with width, I don't even worry or think about the width. I use the top box for all things bike related and the side bags, with liners, for me and my wife. Or just myself. I've toured 126,000 kms with these bags, trouble and worry free. I do't mind the docking hardware and leave it on all the times. I also like the Givi turn signals especially for being seen. You can get a "back off" kit to turn the turn signals into running lites and brake lites if you choose. Mine are not colour coded to my Bird but I like the metalic black with the metalic cherry red. All my experience and opinion, of course. You can even add a backrest on the top box, if you wish.

Hillbilly4eva

I realize this thread is at least a month old but I have some questions.

Does anyone know if the Hondaline bags attach like Givis, since I'm pretty sure they're manufactured by them.

Actually what I want to know is if the Honda bags will work with the SW-Motech Quicklock system with the Givi adapters. Thanks for any help.

X1rider

Thanks for the info. How about detailed pictures? Like plan view, left, aft, right, opened & closed, etc. The pictures I have seen are always from odd angles and it is difficult to get a true perspective of the units.

You are right about Cortech bags moving around. Especially at super legal speeds.......

TigreST

First some pictures of the hardware associated with mounting the bags to the bike chassis. Sorry if these pictures suck, the suns fading so the bike is staying in the garage. Flash in use here.

Tony

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TigreST

These pictures I hope will show how the bags lock to the bike mounts. You can see the lower bag attachment over the lower mount hoop in the first couple shots. The main locking point is the short rubber shrouded loop at the middle of the upper mount hoop. The bags locks onto this small loop once the handle is engaged. As the handle is pushed from the "carry position" (as you might used to carry like a suit case) to the "down and locked position" (folding the handle downward toward the bikes centerline) the mechanism hooks the mount hoop loop and pulls the bag in tight to the mount hoop. More pictures attempt to show this locking action as the metallic silver attachment hook on the bag moves through it's transition to the locked position. Also over the course of these photo's note the position of the red key in relation to the metal lock tab directly below it. This metal tab both locks the bags closed and locks the carry handle down to ensure a secure install to the main mount hoop.

Tony

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TigreST

This last small set of photo's attempts to show the multi purpose feature of the carry handle. It perform two functions other then just a carry handle. It works in a "over center" fashion to pull the bag lid closed to ensure a water tight seal at the bags outer and inner parting joint interface. A long slim hook shaped section of the lid/handle latch grabs a similar section along the lids top recessed area and is pulled inboard (toward the bikes centerline) as the carry handle is pushed downward into the locked position.

The second function is to provide the latching locking action of the bag to the bikes main mount. Although the actions are related due to the single handles functions they can be operated somewhat independently of each other. By that I mean, with correct operation of the key and lock, the bags can be removed or installed to the bike without the lid being left unlocked and able to fall open,..and like wise the bag can remain secure on the bike while the lid is opened to access the interior of the bag to load or unload items as need be. For the most part it depends on how far one cycles the carry handle before re-engaging the key back into the locked position. It harder to explain then it is to do on the bags.

The last shot also shows the long lower mount track that engages the lower mount hoop on the bike.

So far I can report that the bags are extremely stable and there are no associated noise or rattles with them installed. With the loads I carry I do not even notice that they are on the bike for the most part. As with any side loads there is a need to have a good leg swing to get over the bags when mounting the bike (my preferred method of getting aboard), or you must practice the step through to aim a leg between the fuel tank and the bags. The step through may be the only way to mount the machine if you've got a top box or large tail bag in use I guess.

Last words: I don't know that these answer the question about Hondaline versus Givi mounting or not...I've never seen how the Givi gear or any other adapter work in respect to cross company adaptability.

When the weather clears tomorrow I'll try and provide some profile shots of the bike with the bags installed to give you a better idea how they look on the machine. There is no doubt that they do extend out board of the bike..but the capacity dictates this for the most part. They do present (in my eyes any way) a very clean install and do not take away from the bikes sport bike functional look very much, if at all, while enabling you to tour in a more secure fashion. I did not notice that gas mileage suffered at all with them in use either.

Tony

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TigreST

I found one shot of the bike with the bags installed that may give a hint as to the look:

http://www.cbrxx.com/attachments/rid...sc_0007-2b.jpg

Tony

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Catenaccio

I was thinking the same thing.

TigreST

I was out riding the RR yesterday, which included a mad dash for home prior to a rain storm at around 15:45, so did not get a chance to shoot pictures of the Hardbag clad XX until today. Sunny and cool here in Southwestern Ontario this afternoon...perfect riding weather.

Anyway, back to business. Couple of numbers to relate regarding the width of the bags, which is a concern for some. The span of the factory mirrors on the front of the bike come in at approx. 34" inches measured at the mirror rear face to the extreme outer edge of the mirrors. A nominal span for the bags (as they are somewhat curved in design and tilted in there install) comes in at approx. 40" inches (as measured with the tape and the Mk-108 eyeball via a top side view of the rear of the bags),..which makes them about 3" inches wider then the mirror's per side. I don't know that many of us would be attempting to shoehorn the front of the bike through a space giving less then 3" inches clearance per side,..at least not when at speed on the road. If you intend to put the bike in the shed/garage/storage unit with the bags installed then yes this bag span will come into play. As they dis-mount so easy getting the bike through a narrow door way should not really be an issue as such. I'm not a lane splitter so don't know how the bag span w