Saddlebags- On or Off?

[madmike2]

I used to ride with my Panniers 100% of the time. NOW, I am commuting with just the top case. It makes the bike a bit more narrow and that's useful when sharing lanes here in CA.

When on trips, day rides and riding around town on weekends I always have the side cases on. Anything that makes my bike look "innocent"...more like a touring bike...I assume is a good thing. That's the mental image I want a law enforcement officer to have when he looks at me.

 

[mfletch69]

i leave my sidebags on all the time and only use the topcase when i'm 2-up

+1. Plus the side bags have my 3M reflector tape on them, so I am much more visible.

 

[SacramentoMike]

I used to ride with my Panniers 100% of the time. NOW, I am commuting with just the top case. It makes the bike a bit more narrow and that's useful when sharing lanes here in CA.
When on trips, day rides and riding around town on weekends I always have the side cases on. Anything that makes my bike look "innocent"...more like a touring bike...I assume is a good thing. That's the mental image I want a law enforcement officer to have when he looks at me.

Oh, you look innocent all right. Police officers everywhere agree.

 

[Bike Effects]

On only for overnights. I have a rear seat bag for my crap.

 

[Flyguy]

Sidebags and Cortech tankbag on at all times. Allows impulsive purchases but mostly to prevent any confusion with the sport set.

 

[Breadman]

Bags on all the time. I havestopped for a couple gallons of milk on the way home from work. How convenient! It's also too handy having all that extra space for extra gear, cold beverages, and snacks on those longish rides. I do really like how the FJR looks without the bags, however. Now that I own a large tank bag I plan to head out for a Sunday ride naked (no side bags) in the near future.

 

[Danno]

On 98%+ of the time.
Two reasons:

1) You completely crush the ego of the throttle brapping R6-running squid when you fill his rear views with huge freaking saddle bags all the way down to the bottom of the valley, where he makes a right at the first available stop sign.

-and-

B ) A sport bike and a bagger are cruising down the same highway at the same speed. Who gets the performance award? 'Zackly.

What a coincident, I have been in both of those situations. Riding on a two lane towards a nice curvy road heading down a valley, I looked in the mirror and coming up on me fast is a sport bike. I can tell he really wants to get by so he can impress his girl on the back. It was double yellow the whole way, so I get over to the right and wave him past. That way I figure I can enjoy the road without worrying about this clown right on my tail. As he is passing I am thinking maybe I'll try to keep up through the curves. Then I thought better of it and decided to ride within my comfort zone. Well when we got to the bottom, I came around the last curve before a stop sign and there he was. When he turned around I could see the suprised look on his face. Then he quickly turned right and pulled into a diner.

B) Pulled over by a police office for going 47 in a 30, I was sure I was in for a ticket. He looked at my license, realized I was a 43 year old dude minding my own business, commuting to work, looked at the bike with side bags and givi V46, saw me wearing my helmet, jacket, boots, gloves. Told me I should probably slow it down a bit, and went on his way. I bet a young guy on a sport bike wearing a t-shirt and shorts would have been given an award.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Danno

 

[MisterMR]

90% on. I work out of the house so I don't get those calls from my wife to pick up stuff on the way home, but I do use my bike for running daily errands. The side cases give me a very convenient place to put my helmet when I stop somewhere and I have used them to carry all sorts of stuff home from Home Depot, Lowe's, etc.

If I am going on a local pleasure ride and I know I won't be stopping anywhere, I'll remove them to boost my gas mileage a bit and enjoy the slightly better handling.

 

[kiteman11]

How the hell are you going to keep your beer cold if you don't have the sidecases on? To me, it just looks weird if you run a top case but leave the saddlebags off. Think about it.

 

[odot]

I agree.....bad planning on y'alls part. Keep the bags on.....keep the beer cold. And, iffn yer storin the beer in the top case...use the saddle bags for ice.

 

[MojaveFJR]

On... always. Well there was that one time at the race track I took them off. The sprotbikers couldn't handle being passed by a BAGGER!

Anyways, there is important stuff in there. Hair brush for the GF, windex wipes cause we know the windshield doesn't stop the bugs, and a hat to cover the HELMET HEAD.

OH, there is a rain suit in there somewhere for those off sunny socal days.

 

[beacher]

Took 'em off the minute I got into the parking lot, and put 'em up in the loft. I've got a tank bag that weighs a whole lot less, and in these days of $4.58/gal gas, I'll travel as lightly as possible! I do have to admit, though, that I don't mind the looks of the bike with them, but prefer it without!

Oh, yeah, and Kiteman11, is your sig there just because the PRS is one of the most beautiful guitars in the world, or do you play?

 

[palerider]

On my two previous bikes, both K1100 BMW's, I usually took them off after overnight trips to facilitate cleaning. They remained hanging on the garage wall until my next out-of-town overnighter. Also, my logic was that I didn't drive around in my car with empty suitcases in the trunk.
Now that I'm riding an FJR, I find it is more convienant leaving them on the bike to store my helmet, gloves and jacket. the old K bikes had more lockable nooks and cranies than the FJR so there was room for the emergency stuff without using the saddlebags.

As far as styling go, the FJR is miles ahead of the BMW's, both old and new so leaving them on is probably the way to go.

One on, one off. Becasue I'm straight, I leave the left one on. Gay people leave the right one on.

 

[UFO]

Sidebags are always off unless I need them. The Givi trunk is always on.

 

[big ears]

on all the time, only off for one short ride.

 

[kiteman11]

Took 'em off the minute I got into the parking lot, and put 'em up in the loft. I've got a tank bag that weighs a whole lot less, and in these days of $4.58/gal gas, I'll travel as lightly as possible! I do have to admit, though, that I don't mind the looks of the bike with them, but prefer it without!
Oh, yeah, and Kiteman11, is your sig there just because the PRS is one of the most beautiful guitars in the world, or do you play?

It's actually a Carvin CT6. Yes, I actually place my fingers on the fretboard and play it. Mostly death metal and bluegrass anthems.

 

[wambow]

I searched but couldnt find a matching topic.
What do you guys do? For daily commuting? Short day trips?

What are the pros and cons of leaving the bags on vs. off?

Right now I have them off because I am enjoying the streamlined look, but I plan on using the FJR for daily commuting to work. I am sure I will figure out what works best for me but I was just curious as to what you all do...

TIA!!!

99% on. I store my helment in the left bag and jacket in the top case when I stop.

 

[Big T's FJR06]

Off all of the time ... added the corbin smugler which has plenty of room. I prefer the sport look....Not to mention I'm not old enough to ride with the bags on. LOL

 

[Charlie Hoss]

Three bags on all the time.

 

[dragonchef]

No need to pose for any badges.

The roads here are only patrolled by radar/camera rigs, and plenty of them too (no and I mean NO highway patrol of anykind....they sit in the office and wait for calls). The cams are all aimed to hit the specially designed front license plates of the cages. Bikes only have rear plates. Very important to look out for the camera's 'cause that's where the cagers are hittin the breaks, and this causes more accidents than anything. I'm sure they have wondered about the dark cherry cola flash they see on thier videos clocking through at 200 KPH+

Mostly no on the bags. Like my Nelson-Rigg tankbag, it's plenty big for what I need. Seems like the only times I have dropped it are with the bags on...