Olympia Phantom -- YELLOW

wigo

OK so after the recent events and of course a few run ins myself, I decided to go buy "the suit". I call it "the suit" because if you cannot see me you are truly blind.
At first it was hard to get in but all the reviews said that so I kinda figured they were right. Well I have to say you loearn pretty quick. The suit is very nice.
I took the liner out and went for a ride and I was cooler than with my jeans and joe rocket jacket. I was really amazed. the venting is great.
So now what I have to figure out is what saddle bags are the best for the $. The suit is not small and I don't want to walk all over the place with neon yellow. (sometimes I don't want to be seen). Anyway any good ideas on saddle bags... I know this has been talked about but I wanted to bring the discussion to safety, suits and saddle bags so I thought I would start a new one.

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lois

The Corbin Beatle bags, which are bird specific, look great, but don't realy hold much.
But then on the other hand, the Givi's don't look as good, but you can pile a lot of goodies in them.....



Lois

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RED IS SIMPLY THE FASTEST COLOUR

heisti

beetle by corbin is too expensive and too small.
so i use oxford soft bags.

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wigo

Oxford looks nice but looks like you can only find it in the UK not in the states. Givis are really expensive and small bags won't do. Any other suggestions?
Plus no comments on the suit?

TigreST

I'd suggest the factory Hondaline Bags. Many in North America source them through David Silver Spares in the U.K. Cost?...well like most things, you get what you pay for,..you'll be pushing $1000.00 give or take with shipping. Size?..how's 33liters and 20lbs per bag(I think that's the numbers?) Each hard bag will hold a full face helmet. Many are factory color coded to the bikes factory paint, albeit, it seems they are more color key'd to the Euro spec color scheme's then the North American spec bikes. For touring and general cargo duty these are very nice. You can complement them with a Cortec style soft side Tail bag if you like. This only increases capacity and utility of the total package. A search will return more on the install of these bag sets to North American chassis ( use "hardbags" as a search word),...there is a small issue with a mounting bracket on the early 97 and 98 model years,..and a turn signal issue with most if not all model years (the Euro spec bikes run a different turn signal housing then the North American spec bikes).

My 2 cents.

Tony

edit: check my "gallery" for some pictures of both the install process (there is a thread with text, pictures and such on this), and the finished look of the bags on a 1998 model XX (start on gallery page 11)...plus a shot of my turnsignal install, which is a simple replacement of the stock units.

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"Stemmata quid faciunt."

heisti

i bought mine at "hein-gericke" in graz/austria.

and.... you are usind the WEB right now. why not buying via internet too?!?!?!

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wigo

perhaps. Which model do you have?

wigo

Well I tried ...
"There are no delivery options available for the country you have chosen" is what I get from one of the stores available online, I don't even get that far at "hein-gericke". Guess I will have to find another

No way I can afford $1000.

Anyone else got any ideas?

heisti

try to contact oxford in UK. maybe they ship the "lifteime luggage" (my model) to you too.

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wigo

My cell cannot call overseas, but I did email them. So we will see. It is hard crossing the pond from here.

Strek

Well I like the look of TigreST's bags and your get up glows in the dark. Should get you noticed.

wigo

Yea it does glow in the dark. It is nice though and feels great when riding. No more leg heat and no more wet.
Nice.

Strek

Well it glows in the dark and I think thats a good thing on a bike. I like it. I've been considering getting something like that.

wigo

My wife wanted me to get Hi-Viz Stuff and I wanted a suit.
I liked the Olympia and from what I read it was the best. Definitly water proof and tons of pockets, nice breathability, and very comfortable.
Not sure I could have pulled off the suit without hi-Viz so it was definitly worth it. Bought it for $425 which was the best price I could find.
Today I noticed a big change in drivers around me. They noticed and almost stopped for me. I had one lady at a stop sign stop and wave me through before I had even stopped. I came to a complete stop and then proceeded through. I was amazed. Tons of people on the interstate moved over. I think they feel I am a police officer, which is not a bad thing either.
I personally thing the color and styling is cool, different for sure but cool.

wigo

I did find these bags. What do you guys think?
Gears Ultra Saddlebag - Motorcycle Saddlebags Luggage

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wigo

Has anyone had any luck with gear luggage?

Strek

Wigo, I have used soft luggage bags in the past but not on the bird. Overall they do the job. One thing with these types of bags is that they have some sort of strap mechanism that holds them on the seat. Sometimes velcro sometimes buckles. They will sometimes shift and move under use. As a result they will tend to mar up the sides of the cowl in time as it protrudes further then the seat. Some of the soft bag options have padding but if they move at all they will start to wear the sides of you seat cowl through time. I've seen some folks mount/wrap lamb skin type padding around their seat cowls to stop the wear. Most of the hardbag type options have frames that hold the bags off of the seat cowl. I do believe there are some soft bags that do have frames that hold the bags on without the straps running across the seat but I haven't seen those in a while.

wigo

Well thanks. I will keep looking around. For now I bought a duffel bag to go in my backpack. I fold up the duffel to put in my backpack. When I get to the location I just put the suit in the duffel and carry it. It works for now and was a $10 solution.
I rode with the suit to work and back today and I am very impressed. It was 90 degree and I was not any more hot than usual and while going I was not hot at all. I think everyone should get the yellow and we can form a gang ;-)

Shorebird

Wigo.
Like the suit! May go that way myself next time.
I am also doing the luggage search. Have not settled on anything because soooo many options. One I like is the Ventura Pack system. I used it on a Moto Guzzi Sport and was quite happy with it. Big advantage was that it does not stick out on the sides so you could still easily white line in CA. Also saw a Locker saddle back system used by one gent on this list. Called up the company and they are about to roll out a locker with LED lights on the backside as a safety item. So may wait around to see what that is like.

Hope these two links work and this helps some.

HD

Motorcycle Luggage from Luggage Locker

Products : Soft Motorcycle Touring Luggage, Hard Motorcycle Touring Luggage

Catenaccio

The suit rocks!

wigo

Yea thanks, I really like it, as I said. It was definitely worth the money.

There are a bunch of options for sure with saddle bags. I find myself saying I like that and that and that but don't buy any of them. I will check out the links for sure... Thanks.
BTW I grew up in Jax.

Shorebird

BTW I grew up in Jax.[/quote]


Good place to be from now with Faye still hanging around! If you come home to visit drop a note.

HD

wigo

will do for sure.

Taetor

I used Oxfords before I got Givi's. Nice stuff. You can order their stuff stateside from this place, probaby some other sites too.
Oxford Humpback Luggage