Dowco make great products and that stack-able sissy bar setup looks great. You should be just fine.

 

That T-bag looks big enough to get you across the country.

 

That looks great Soupy. And if you're riding solo you can rotate it to sit on the passenger seat to provide you with a free backrest. Comfortable!

Someday if you DO decide you need the extra capacity that a set of saddlebags provides, you can install them using quick-release brackets. That way you'll have them when you need them, & gone when you don't. I installed a set about a month ago, looks like this:

And when they're removed, all you see still on the bike are the small mounting studs:

 

That looks great Soupy. And if you're riding solo you can rotate it to sit on the passenger seat to provide you with a free backrest. Comfortable!

Someday if you DO decide you need the extra capacity that a set of saddlebags provides, you can install them using quick-release brackets. That way you'll have them when you need them, & gone when you don't. I installed a set about a month ago, looks like this:

NordicMan, I really like this setup. Is this type of setup a universal setup, or is it bike specific?

I like the idea of getting saddlebags for when I need them, but I also like the look of bikes without them. This would be ideal, as it gives you the best of both worlds with minimum intrusion (looks wise) when you don't want them on the bike.

 

I have the same set you pictured, and they are well made and easy to attach to the luggage rack. For one person, the total capacity of these two bags is about the same as a small suitcase so it should be adequate for a long solo trip. I have used mine for overnight or weekend travel two-up, since my leather saddle bags are pretty much full with my everyday carry of two rain suits and some miscellaneous items like a tool kit, extra bungee cords, first aid kit, etc. For the price, this is a real value.

 

I prefer a single bag without attachments. This one I've used for the last 4 years with no complaints.

http://www.kuryakyn.com/images/item/Large/4148-4.jpg.ashx?width=400&scale=canvas

 

T Bag

I could go 10 days with that bag and not have to do laundry. Since you like to ride in the rain so much, you might consider a dry bag style luggage. Revzilla.com carries them. :biggrin:

 

Glad to see that there are no "negative" reports on the choice I made. That's encouraging. I wanted the option to break them down, and I DEFINITELY will be mounting them ON the passenger seat, (strapped to the sissy bar) for the backrest potential, but my personal mounting and dismounting will have a learning curve to it, I'll bet!

Tracking has indicated that this combo bag product should arrive on Monday, so I'll be able to give you pics and thoughts, fairly soon. Shipped out of PA today. PA to CT is a "day trip" at best, but of course we are up against a Holiday.

-soupy

 

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I have found that even traveling solo, I have never had 'too much room' and left some unused. Rain gear, jacket liner, tools, camera, water, tire repair, bike cover, glasses, maps and phone--just these alone will take all of your side bags.

One thing I've done is to build a wooden platform for the pack to rest on when perched on my passenger seat. The seat was not flat enough and the pack would shift around from side to side, especially when I would put it on the sidestand. I velcro strap the platform (which is black and has studs in it so it matches my seat sides) to the sissy bar and down to the fender bolts. It stays real sturdy. Then I just loop the large band of the pack around the sissy bar and strap the front of the pack to the platform.

I don't have quick connects to the side leather packs, but I have glued/screwed 1/4" ABS plastic to the back of the packs, so I could attach quick connects just as on hard bags, if I wanted to.

--

 

...............The seat was not flat enough and the pack would shift around from side to side...............

I'm not sure if it was in here or not, but somewhere I heard some brief discussion about "shifting" of the pack. I'll watch for that. If I am parked (side-stand engaged) I'd default to taking the pack off the bike and "back-packing" it, if for no other reason than to keep my belongings with me, and safe from theft. (Not sure that I really cherish the idea of walking around a bike show with a backpack or not, but I don't go to those, generally). I'm assuming that the straps that secure the pack to the passenger sissy bar back rest, are going to hold the bag setup with a relative amount of tightness, (also assuming the ability to adjust it as tight as I may desire).

My bigger concern was wind flow. I purposely chose a smaller bag (dimensionally) for that reason, AND because I'm only likely to do "day trips" more than longer cross-country trips. A passenger, (I figured) would be a much larger object in the wind, particularly over my head, and the abbreviated version of this pack would keep it from being "over" me, and certainly narrower than me (lol).
I'm hoping that proves out even more true (that this bag setup will be a smaller profile in the wind) by mounting it on the passenger seat exclusively; lowering it a bit more, (an inch or so) and tucking it in closer behind me.

Not sure how realistic it is to anticipate the "back rest" potential for me, attempting to lean back on it. Will have to try out the fit, to see if that's real or not. I know that some bags ("T-Bag") DO have a detachable (velcro'd) "back rest pad" included. I considered that. It would have brought the bag surface a couple inches closer to me. Trial and error, I guess.

-Soupy

 

Quick detach was not a concern for me. if you put your stuff in a liner bag, you leave your bags on the bike for side and trunk bags and don't have to worry about scratching them carrying them into the house or hotel or wherever you are unloading. Still have the security of locking hard bags and water shed. I did not stay with conventional metric bags but did have to make all my own hardware to mount...

 

I've been considering a sissy bar bag but always concerned about leaving the bike in a city parking lot all day and it being lockable AND locked on the bike. I suppose I could use a jacket lock wrapped somewhere on the bag but it could still probably be cut off.

 

That is the concern I will have in Baltimore, and why I am making quick (for me) detaching mounts for my saddlebags. Two bolts, and they come off the bike. Then I just keep all my luggage inside the hotel room, and I will be golden.

 

Just be sure to get a cover for them, even if they say they are water resistant...believe me...stuff can get wet! I ordered a T-Bag cover for my Saddleman luggage....best thing, I keep it in a little compartment of the luggage and when it looks like rain, stop and throw it on.

 

Just be sure to get a cover for them.........

Comes with it. Good point! There's a bunch of different bag sizes available. The ones in this video are close, but not the exact bags. Same manufacturer, didn't grouping. I only put it in here to show you more about the way they are made; the way they function, and the included rain cover(s).

-Soupy

 

Not to try and compete that looks like a fine Bag but thought would mention while on this topic for 3 Years this Saddleman Sissybar Bag was a Great Asset for my FXR4 .. Was right around $100.00 and had lots of Storage including zippered pockets most everywhere for smaller easy to get items .. Made many Road trips with it as my total storage because just refused to put saddlebags on the FXR4 which felt would ruin it's looks .. The Bag had a built in Backrest as well which was great for the Long haul ..

 

Update........here's the bag on the bike.........I'm not 100% happy about it, but:

 

Luggage rack will help matters there.

 

If you bring Nightmare moon we can't go ridding. By the way my daughter's father-in-law is in the process of buying a Venture. So there would be 3 of us riding the back roads.

Are you staying in the city limits or out in the burgs?

 

I'm sorry............are you talking to me? Or to the OP?

-Soupy

 

"So, what did I do? I hung it over here by the window". :coffeescreen:

 

yeah, the larger piece. Don't' need THAT, unless I'm doing a serious trip. Not needed for "back-n-forth" to work.

-Soupy

 

That is what a luggage rack is for. Or turn it around and let it sit on the backseat.

I'm oneofthem that thinks motorcycles were invented as a place to put saddlebags.

 

-I may upgrade at some point, and put a luggage rack on there.
One step at a time.
-Putting it on the passenger seat IS something that I considered, and
"when" I need the larger piece, I will most likely DO that.
-I took OFF the "saddle bags" that came with the bike, because I like
having full access to the rear wheel and components at all times, and
like the idea of exposing as much of the rear-end (being the "butt" guy
that I am.....lol), as possible, since it looks so dang sharp!

-Soupy

 

Then it looks like your best option

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Fieldline-Motorcycle-All-Weather-Backpack-Black/23591041

Doesn't need bottom support.

 

Actually, the smaller of the two bags, hangs just fine without sagging, off the back. I'm happy.

-Soupy