H&B hard bags

[gallo_se]

Hi, I followed the story of the different solutions to have nice and big journey bags on the V11 Le Mans, and I read the following topic:

http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1480

it seems to be a very nice solution, I saw the pictures also on Ian's web site, the only one thing I was wondering is:

from the picture it seems that the rack is going very near, if not even touching the back sid of the motorbike, where "Le Mans" it is written.

Has somebody noticed if the luggage rack does any harm to the paint? i meand scratches.

[twhitaker]

The pictures may be misleading. There is plenty of clearance there.

[Mr. Bean]

Here's a picture of my bike with the H&B 30 liter bags. Still not a perfect angle but I do think it shows the spacing of the brackets from the rear panels fairly well.

 

Randy

[gallo_se]

Hi Randy, thanks for the picture, it gives a not perfect, but nice idea of the result. I already saw some other pictures of how it looks like by the side, so, from the estetic point of view I know what I have to expect. I would like to know if it is not bothering you if you could write few lines to tell your opinion about the system, isit stable, is it charging the back too much, do you have problems with the steering becoming too light, or some problems of aerodynamics, i mean if the bags are creating some turbolence. Have you ever tried the 40 litres set?

I would also like to contact Ian johnston, cause he has the 42 litres journey set, but the e-mail adress on his web sit is not working anymore, does anybody know how to contact him?

[gallo_se]

some pictures I found on the web

[gallo_se]

some pictures I found on the web

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[RichMaund]

I hung 36 liter Givis on my V11S. They stuck out big time. But right up to 90 mph the bikes was stable and no problems. Even in cross winds. I never tested them at higher speeds just because I'd tend to run out of road around here.

[Mr. Bean]

I have not used the 40 liter bags on the Guzzi but used to have them on my MZ Traveller. The Traveller weighed about 100 lbs less and had full side fairings so I did feel cross-winds much more on that bike with the bags on it.

 

On the Guzzi, I must say I don't even know they are there when riding it. No turbulence that I can feel.

 

The mounting rack is VERY strong and rigid. It feels like you could lift the entire bike with just the rack. As you can see, I did install the top part of the rack where a top-case would go. I assume this ads to the overall strength.

 

The bags themselves are very good. Strong and simple. They are completely waterproof both in heavy rain or when washing the bike.

 

The only downside is they are expensive. For me they were a no-brainer. In fact when I first decided I liked the Ballabio I was going to walk away and buy a BMW because I was told there were no hardbags available for the V11. After living with them on the MZ there was no way I was going without!

 

Hope this helps,

 

Randy

[twhitaker]

The bags are expensive. I got around this issue. My California has bags so all I had to do was get the mounts for the LeMans and swap the bags back and forth.

[Guest IanJ]

Hi Randy, thanks for the picture, it gives a not perfect, but nice idea of the result. I already saw some other pictures of how it looks like by the side, so, from the estetic point of view I know what I have to expect. I would like to know if it is not bothering you if you could write few lines to tell your opinion about the system, isit stable, is it charging the back too much, do you have problems with the steering becoming too light, or some problems of aerodynamics, i mean if the bags are creating some turbolence. Have you ever tried the 40 litres set?

I would also like to contact Ian johnston, cause he has the 42 litres journey set, but the e-mail adress on his web sit is not working anymore, does anybody know how to contact him?

41537[/snapback]

 

And here I am! Sorry, I've been seriously out of the v11lemans.com loop lately. I had to drop that email address due to spam volume.

 

Anyway, ask away, and I'll try to answer. But, to answer the questions you posed here:

 

I have found the Journey bags to be nearly unnoticeable once they're mounted and I'm riding. The only reason they're not completely unnoticeable is that my bar-end mirrors can't see past them very well (not a problem with stock fairing mounted mirrors), and I can tell that the bike's heavier than normal. If they're not approximately balanced in terms of how much weight is in each bag, the handling changes noticeably. It's not bad, but I can definitely feel it.

 

I haven't noticed any aerodynamic problems, although I've only really tested them up to about 90 mph/145 km/h, and have spent most of my cruising time at 70 mph/110 km/h or slower. I haven't had them in strong crosswinds, but I don't anticipate any problems. They do stick out pretty far to the side of the bike, which is aesthetically somewhat unappealing, but that's the only problem there.

 

The rack itself has been very stable, and is separated by at least 1 cm on all sides from the bodywork of the bike. I'll try to remember to take some pictures tonight and post them on my website, and put a link up here, showing the clearance and mounting detail. It's quite solidly mounted, and when the bags are on there and loaded up, there's no play or wobbling to speak of.

 

If you were going to spend a lot of time with loaded bags on the bike, you would want to get an appropriate rear shock spring to deal with the weight. As I only use them rarely, I haven't done that yet. It hasn't presented any problems so far.

 

Note that I am not an aggressive rider, particularly with the bags on. I don't try for extreme lean angles or anything, and I take it easy over rough pavement. Obviously with all that extra weight on the back, you don't want to ride it quite the same way. That said, the riding I've done with the cases attached has been as enjoyable as that done without them.

 

Feel free to email me or reply here with any followup questions. I'll update my email address on that page, sorry you ran into the problem.

[griff]

BOTH MY BROTHER (LEMANS) AND ME (TENNI) HAVE FITTED H+P 40LTR PANNIERS AND FIND THEM REALLY GREAT,BUILD QUALITY IS EXCELLENT AND THEY DONT LEAK,ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT IF YOU CARRY A PILLION LIKE I DO THEN THE PILLION FOOT PEGS ARE QUITE CLOSE TO THE PANNIERS AND THEY END UP RESTING THE SOLES OF THEIR FEET ON THE EXHAUST,NOT A PROBLEM ON THE LEMANS COS ITS GOT A COVER PLATE BUT ON MY TENNI THERE ISNT ONE SO YOU CAN END UP WITH MELTED RUBBER SOLES!!,COULD DO WITH SOME SORT OF FOOT REST EXTENDER JUST TO MOVE THE PILLION FOOTRESTS ABOUT AN INCH FORWARD

BOTH OF US HAVE TAKEN THE BIKES UPTO ABOUT 100MPH (ONLY KIDDING OFFICER )FULLY LADEN AND NO PROBS WITH STABILITY

HAPPY RIDING

GRIFF

[gallo_se]

Thanks for the explanation to Ian and Griff, it seems the best solution to do some touring trip, the only one thing is that the racks without the bags look a little bit too heavy. Ian, don't worry about the e-mail adress, no bother. Did you then solve the problem of the handlebar risers? have you found another solution?

 

 

http://www.mgcycle.com/bars.html

http://www.mphcycles.com/BarRisers/RISERS.HTM

http://www.spieglerusa.com/cfm/clipon.cfm?type=offset

http://www.motostrano-store.com/cyccatbrserm.html

http://www.amcmotorcycles.com.au/index.htm...arget=d108.html

multi adjustable clip-ons made by Tommaselli http://www.agostiniduilio.com/

http://www.cliponrisers.com/

http://www.motostrano-store.com/bars1.html

http://www.convertibars.com/

http://www.daes-mototec.de/

 

These are the web sites where I found some handlebar risers that can fit on the Le Mans, it seems that the german ones are not bad, but what a price.

Cheers, Sergio.

[Guest IanJ]

Did you then solve the problem of the handlebar risers? have you found another solution?

 

I did indeed. I haven't put it up on my website yet, but I ended up getting a pair of Moose Racing (offroad parts company) handlebar clamps for about US$60, and a StreetMaster handlebar for about US$15. I removed my top triple clamp and drilled it on my drillpress. I really needed a better clamping setup, but the end result was pretty good, and more accurate than a Ballabio I sat on a few months later.

 

Since I already had the lengthened hydraulic lines, it all bolted up, no problem at all. It's a bit wider than I'd prefer, but quite serviceable (and a lot cheaper than the TBR setup).

[twhitaker]

http://www.cliponrisers.com/

Cheers, Sergio.

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These look just like the risers sold by MPH Cycle at $100 less. The MPH risers have deeper notches to clear the master cylinders though. I wonder if this would be an issue?

[gallo_se]

Hi Ian, would it be possible to have a couple of pictures of your new handlebar, to see how much you were able to rise the bars compared to the original? I might do the same, so Iwould like to know more or less how much you can rise without hitting the fairing.