Rear end luggage question.

Hi Folks,

Bit of an odd question and I'm sure most of the responses will be, "urgh sounds horrible!"/"why would anyone want one of those?!", but I thought it was worth asking:

You know those fuel tank covers (usually for bikes with plastic tanks, but a few SVs have them) that tank bags strap to? Does anyone make anything similar for the SV (or for that matter, any bike; I've never seen one) that would cover the tail end of the bike and make attaching soft luggage tailpacks/panniers a bit easier as well as helping prevent chaffing of the paintwork. Obviously it'd need to leave the brake lights/indicators and probably pillion seat uncovered. I use those anti-slip mats under my panniers, but I find that, particularly if the weather is bad, bits get flung up from the road and manage to work their way between the matt and the bike, which causes scratches as the panniers rub. Nothing T-cut can't sort out, but I'm sure that over time, it'll look far from pretty. Ideally this thing would be attached securely to the bike and could be left in place, but you could just clip soft luggage onto it and know it was secure.

I ask because I'm going to be using my bike for work a bit more and will need to take luggage with me a bit more often, but don't really fancy doing anything irreversible like drilling holes in things to mount brackets/racks for hard panniers, or, God forbid, a top box.

Sounds like your after a baglux/bagster cover and bag yes they do them for the SV 650 and 1000.

I use the bike for commuting to work and I stay overnight for 3 days.

I got Oxford Sport panniers at the back (left and right). They stay on with velcros under the rear seat.

I have also ordered a baglux tank cover and the corresponding bag. You can fit a lot of things in the panniers and if you get the tank cover and bag as well you have pleeenty of space.

If you will not be carrying a pillion look for a tail pack as well. I went for the Oxford Sports because of the thicker material (prevents rain from going through). Have no probs with paint scuffs(for the time being fingers crossed) and they do come with that special material as well if you want to add it between the plastic and the bags for further protection.

God thats a big reply

[Stu]

I saw a bike with a tiny rear rack fitted in place of the grab rail and a colour matched Oxford humback on it. Looked very tidy if you need to carry something, keep the pillion seat free, keep the tailpack off the paint and not be as big (and ugly) as a top box.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Moo

Sounds like your after a baglux/bagster cover and bag yes they do them for the SV 650 and 1000.

But do they make them for the tail? - is I think what he's asking

I think you may have identified a niche in the market.

Originally Posted by Carsick

I think you may have identified a niche in the market.

I think if it was colourmatched with the seats and the joins were nice, it wouldn't look too bad either. The straps to secure it could run across the undertray. Ideally, I'd like to not have to remove the pillion seat to attach any of the bags (as I currently do). Getting the pillion seat to lock into place, with the tailpack strap running under it and the pannier securing straps running across it is a bit fiddly.

Originally Posted by stu369

But do they make them for the tail? - is I think what he's asking

Indeed

Personally, I think a magnetic tank bag is perfectly adequate and would only ever use the tank cover/bag on a bike with a plastic tank.

I was looking at the baglux website just last night they do allsorts now tank bags, tail packs and panniers.

I have Oxford Sport Life time Panniers, Oxford sprint tank bag (the very small one) and the Oxford first time tail pack. I aint used the panniers and the tail pack on the SV yet so not sure how they will fit like.

My bike in France
Baglux tank cover £30
Baglux tank bag £25
Kapper top box and plate £20
Givi rack £14.95
Hein Gericke waterproof tote bag fo my camping gear
It all worked very well on 2500 mile trip