Saddle Bag recommendation?

[yellafella]

Good morning all,

I hope everyone is able to get out and do some spirited riding. I had another item that has been nagging at me when I commute to work. Right now I use a magnetic Teknic tank bag and a Ogio backpack.

I can't help but think that my life would be a lot easier if I had saddle bags to put my work shoes and junk. Has anyone mounted any saddlebags on the Hawk before?

I would love hard saddlebags but will settle for soft bags if there isn't a hardcase option. The only one that I have seen that looks decent is the Joe Rocket Saddlebag for the Sportsbike. Other than that, I have no clue where to go and what to look at.

-Nguyen

[dagus]

Saddlebags risk cracking your cowling. I never used them, but I used to bungee-strap a large duffel bag with a backpack stacked on top, and never had a problem - but the straps (and rubber-covered hooks) wore the finish of the cowling, and the pressure cracked the two rear tabs off after one season of riding. I'd stick with the tank bag, and get a comfy made-for-motorcyclists backpack.

[Phyxius]

Can I ressurect this question to see if there's any more input on the subject? I'm thinking of taking a road trip and currently have no storage on my bike. Someone pointed me towards Ortleib, saying they're compatible with Hawks, so I'm looking at these, but have yet find confirmation on whether or not they really work with my Hawk.

So - any experience with Ortleib or any other brand of saddlebags?

[LeftRightLeftThrottle]

There was a diagram out there for making a bracket to mount hard cases to the Hawk. I think that would be better than soft saddle bags, I used some cruiser bags I had laying around and they ended up getting shredded...oh was I going around that onramp loop that fast? I've also been looking into the Aerostich tank panniers for more storage but I'm not sure how they'd fit/look...$.02

[KDNYC]

Can I ressurect this question to see if there's any more input on the subject? I'm thinking of taking a road trip and currently have no storage on my bike. Someone pointed me towards Ortleib, saying they're compatible with Hawks, so I'm looking at these, but have yet find confirmation on whether or not they really work with my Hawk.

So - any experience with Ortleib or any other brand of saddlebags?

That was me

These were the ones that were mentioned to me. http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/...s-p-16156.html

I can't remember who it was.... I think she's on the Hawkgt.com mailing list.

Also, Ventura still makes a rack system for the Hawk. I don't really see how it'd be a better option than a large tailbag like a Cortech tribag, though. It was mentioned on the forum a while ago:

http://www.hawkgtforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=2103&highlight=#2103

[KDNYC]

Btw, it looks like with the Ventura L-Brackets and Pack Rack on the bike, a backpack with an internal frame could probably be modified to attach to it. Sturdier than a tailbag, prob more aerodynamic.

I've been eyeing the rack for a while. Can't justify spending cash on the packs themselves, though.

[MrDude_1]

as far as i know, there are no bolt on solutions.

however, some creative use of a welder and some pencil rod should make most aftermarket bags fit very nicely... the problem i had was the plastic cowl wants to be broken by the bag....

[Phyxius]

Coincidentally, I happened to walk right by a Hawk last night... with saddlebags. As far as I can tell, they were these.

[HaChayalBoded]

bump, lets see your hawk outfitted with a set of bags

[honda coaster]

hey guys.. I just got one of these and it is good and cheap.You can even take it with you as a bagpack with straps.
its the Fieldsheer Tourismo Tank Bag for only $35+shipping at newenough.com

http://www.newenoughhp.com/closeouts/luggage/fieldsheer/tourismo_motorcycle_tank_bag.html

[thepathlesstaken]

Oxford Lifetime Sports Luggage

[Katrina Light]

any new leads in 2018? Looking for a compatible saddlebag.

[BillnOroville]

I have had an older pair of Cortech bags that I have used on my Hawk for a couple of years. Last year they went on the West Cost Hawk meet in Redding CA. You can fortify those fragile cowl tabs with JBWELD and some screen material. Do it underneath the tab and where it attaches to the cowl. Also the passenger pegs sticking out can offer a support leg under the bags and a place to tie them down. Running the adjustable straps under the seat will lock them on the bike. I bout them used for 50.00 and they looked new when they arrived. I got a black pair on my FZ-09 in 2014 that pretty much stay on that bike. Look on ebay as I think other companies make a similar shape. Cortech bags now look more rounded.

I like bags over rear top cases because it is easier for me to get on and off bike. I don't ride double and they don't get in the way. Of course I like the rare red version for my red Hawk.

The last 2 pictures were a frame PO made that did not touch the cowl. Sorry you can not UNSEE the old Vetter faring that was also on the Hawk when I bought it. Only 14k miles. So do it yourself if you wish as it is possible to have hard cases.

tail.jpgtoday.jpgbefore 1.jpgIMG_5206.JPG

[6]

Does any one know where 80sNight put the picture of the loaded down ex500 we took to the rally??

[joel]

I can’t believe the Hepco and Becker hard mounts in the for sale ads here didn’t sell immediately.

The Hawk sucks for soft bags as the passenger seat is so small,the tail is fragile and so forth. The Chase Harper semi-rigid Stealth bags work better than many things so long as one needn’t carry too much.