Wednesday, March 27, 2013

My newest farkle


I finally found a bag for my bike, I was getting seriously tired of lugging a backpack everyday. I bought a Nelson Rigg CTB 450 Overnighter. It is a tad backpack looking, but it sits well on my seat. It is a very good sturdy bag and has a great rain cover. 



Update:  Today I used the bag for the first time and it rocked!!!  Not too much of a hassle getting it on and off the bike and it was great to have all my work stuff and not have the feeling as Trobairitz described "being strangled by a small child" that is exactly what it felt like wearing the backpack!  I have always been worried too should there be a 'come off' the bike experience that I might get hurt due to the backpack strapped to me and I can't think that landing on assorted goodies would do my spine any good. Some people have asked why I didn't go with saddle bags? The problem with older bikes is finding suitable farkles. I have had a terrible time trying to find saddle bag mounts for my '85, the universal ones don't fit and I would have to destroy the frame and I am not willing to do that.  I am still on the hunt  for these and I have my eye on a very snazzy set of bags.  I still needed something to lug stuff and for weekends away.  I need to add a bit more reflectivity too it, because it doesn't have any reflective piping on it, that is the only drawback I can see at this point.  Hmmm I wonder if I should pull out the Bedazzler? 

18 comments:

SonjaM said...

So, when is your overnight trip happening...?

Brenda said...

That looks like a great bag Dar. The one I have is a Ventura which is a great big bag, but it hangs over the sides a bit and the top of it is narrow, really annoying to pack. Yours looks right on Scarlet and like it has heaps of room.

Gotta be better than lugging round a backpack.

Shybiker said...

Yay! I had something similar on my first bike (Vulcan 750). It's great when you find an accessory that fits your bike. Enjoy it!

Bluekat said...

Very nice. I've always had to have storage on my bike. I had saddlebags on my Suzuki, and the Ninja has a big, rather ugly trunk box. I took it off for summer and did the backpack thing for a while, but that soon gets old.

Trobairitz said...

Nelson Riggs is a great brand. Popular down here for bags.

I am sure it will make life easier not carrying a backpack. You won't feel like there is a small child on your back trying to strangle you.

RichardM said...

That looks like it would hold quite a bit. I've seen folks riding with a backpack and I don't see how they do it. It looks really uncomfortable. My one and only bike has hard cases and I almost always ride with a medium sized tank bag. Just big enough for shoes, phone and other junque I don't want to put in my pockets.

The City Mouse in the Country said...

Well I'm happy you found something your enjoying. I am still not sure why you didn't go with traditional saddlebags but I do like the sharp look of the new bag.

Black Inazuma said...

Looks a little like the Ventura Bike-Pack System. I guess, from the photo, the Nelson Riggs slides down over the sissy bar. It's a good idea to put the luggage right behind you and out of the wind. On the other hand, what can shake a bike around is over-wide panniers - they can really catch the wind at high speeds. Tank bags are not too bad as they keep weight nearer the front and the screens fitted to some cruisers keep the wind off the front of the tank bag a bit. I'm stilling waiting for some Givi racks to be manufactured for my Suzuki Inazuma 250 then I can choose some slim hard luggage which can be locked as it can be a real pain to take the bags off the bike every time I go into a cafe for a meal unless I park up right outside the window and get neck-ache watching the bike continuously!

Liz Jansen said...

Really glad to see any moves away from wearing backpacks. In my opinion, they create a safety risk by interfering with movement (no matter how well fitting) and in the event of a tumble, can create or worsen a back or spinal cord injury.

Dar said...

I tried out my lovely pack today and it works like the bee's knees! I am still on the hunt for saddle bag brackets and have my eye on a snazzy set of bags. A girl can never have enough storage if you ask me.

Unknown said...

Dar:

It's nice to have storage options. What ever happened to that tank bag that we all bought at the M/C show ? I use mine once in a while

I'll keep an eye out for your "Rack" at the antique M/C show swapmeet next month

http://www.classicbikeswapmeet.com/

bob
Riding the Wet Coast

Dar said...

Bob - I still use my tank bag all the time. I just haul a lot of junk apparently! I usually stop on the way home and get groceries and they won't fit in that wee tank bag. Still thinking of hopping the ferry for the day for the swapmeet.

Nikos said...

When you say it "rocks", as an Engineer I would take that to mean incipient instability ....

but I know what you meant!

VStar Lady said...

Nice bag Dar! I have a top bag that slides over the sissy bar and rests on the seat behind me, a trunk bag that slides over the sissy bar (at the same time) and rests on the luggage rack plus two saddle bags ... I've gotta agree, a gal can never have enough storage.

VStar Lady said...

Forgot to mention ... the challenge is getting it all balanced. I usually put the weight-y things down as low as I can - the light-weight stuff goes at the top.

Trobairitz said...

Dar, I just saw this and thought of you. You need it to pack your pup with you.

http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/mcy/3713444550.html

Deb said...

Looks like a winner with lots of room for overnighters and shopping frenzies...

Got a "jump seat" for Miss Roo?

LOL

Dar said...

Deb I don't think Roolly will be on the bike anytime soon, she hates the car and it's a little cold. I did look at something called a pet palace though.