Okay, folks, let’s talk about how I finally got around to slapping some saddlebags on my sportbike. It’s been a long time coming, and I’m stoked to share the whole messy process.
First, I agonized over what kind of bags to get. Hard cases? Soft bags? Something in between? I went back and forth, reading reviews, watching videos, driving myself crazy. Finally, I settled on some semi-rigid ones. They seemed like a good compromise between capacity and keeping things relatively streamlined on the bike.
The Hunt for the Perfect Fit
Next up, finding bags that would actually fit my bike. This was trickier than I thought. My bike’s got a pretty short tail section, and a lot of the universal-fit bags just looked… wrong. I spent hours measuring, comparing specs, and generally feeling like I was in over my head.
- Checked the bike’s manual for any weird restrictions.
- Measured the tail section about a thousand times.
- Read a bunch of forum posts from people with the same bike.
- Ordered, and returned two sets of saddlebags.
I ordered a set of brackets and two saddlebags.
Installation Day (aka Wrenching and Swearing)
Finally, I had the bags, and it was time to get them on the bike. I cleared out the garage, grabbed my tools, and put on some music. I’m no mechanic, but I figured, how hard could it be?
Famous last words, right? The instructions were… vague, to say the least. There were some diagrams that looked like they were drawn by a five-year-old, and the written steps were clearly translated from another language by someone who’d never seen a motorcycle before.
It took some creative problem-solving, a few choice words directed at inanimate objects, and a couple of trips to the hardware store for some extra bolts, but I eventually got the mounting brackets installed. That was the hardest part, honestly.
I bolted the brackets according to the less-than-helpful manual. I tested their firmness, and was quite sure they could hold enough stuff.
Getting the bags onto the brackets was relatively easy after that. They just clicked into place, and I was done. I stood back and admired my handiwork. It wasn’t perfect, but it was functional, and that’s what mattered.
The Result
I tested the newly installed saddlebags by throwing in a bunch of stuff that will be used for a short trip. Everything was well-fixed!
So, there you have it. My saddlebag saga. It wasn’t glamorous, it wasn’t always fun, but now I can actually carry more than a toothbrush and a credit card on my sportbike. And that, my friends, is a win in my book.
