Originally Posted by ivar

But the rain covers dont cover the bags on the inside , where the water from the rear wheel hits...

That is true. It has also been true of other brands of soft luggage that I've used in the past. I don't know if Cortech is any better or not.

The only way to be sure things stay dry in soft luggage is to put it in plastic bags inside the luggage. Most soft luggage will hold up well to light rain of limited duration. With or without rain covers. But go through a few hours of really heavy rain - it all leaks. In my opinion, the main thing rain covers are good for is to keep dirty road spray off of the luggage, and there is no such thing as "water proof" with soft luggage. Water resistant, yes.

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Paul

2007 Triumph Bonneville T100
2006 Kymco People 250

I have Cortech fabric bags and love them. I just throw them over the seat and go when needed. The rails are Drag Specialties that are for a Sportster but work well and only cost about 20 or so bucks on ebay.

Never ever trust the term "waterproof". Whether hard or soft luggage, everything is packaged in 2.5gallon zip lock bags. Generally the clothes of the day are put in one bag. After changing, the laundry goes in that day's bag. Easy. Cheap insurance.

I'd post a pic but my network here at work won't let me pull up photobucket. Later.

Dennis

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Waste is a terrible thing to mind.

I forgot to mention earlier, look at www.newenough.com

they have great deals on bags.

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Ride, Wrench, Post, repeat.

Bonnie cafefighter!

+1 on the cortec bags, I have them on my bonnie, under the seat, and love them to death. They need no bars to keep them off the wheels since they mount so high and as previously mentioned you can put them either under or over the seat as your needs dictate.
As far as rubbing on the shock, they come supplied with extra pieces of neoprene cushioning you can cut to fit or otherwise install to protect your finish.
Wouldn't get the Triumph bags, overpriced.
Think the cortec bags come in black or blue.
Have attached pics.
Bill

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Mods: snorkel removed, bafflectomy, jets out 3 turns, summer screen, cortec tank/saddlebags, Bella Corse Highlander bars,Modre peg lowering kit.

Thanks for the info folks.

I picked up the cortech sport bags today at a local dealer that had them on the shelf. I got the saddlebags and the tail bag too. Next I went and picked up $100 worth of groceries on the bike. That was great, and I'll be using the bike a lot more now that I can actually carry a few things with me.

I remember seeing some excellent pictures (not Loxpump's, although they are good) of how to mount the sport bags. If could be posted again here, they would be great.

Just about any throw overs will work with the NB rails, which are not that expensive. I prefer the fabric types with good rain covers. I had the Triumph fabrics and now have Tour Masters. The Triumph system takes less work to make them stay put, while the Tour Masters are half the price and work good with additional bungees, for how little I use them.

I have the Cortech Sport Bags on an '07 Bonneville Black. Excellent quality, fit and finish. Enough space for two-up overnight stays if you are VERY spartan with your needs! Certainly enough room for one guy on an overnighter, unless you choose to dress like the guys in the Triumph magazine ads!.
I bought the New Bonneville mounting racks, but still didnt like the way it looked. I made an exact outline of the bags, cut a template out of 1/4" hardboard, and painted the templates Satin Black (both sides).
I then used the hardboard templates to line up exactly where I wanted the bags to sit on the bike. I then located the three holes provided by the NB rack, and drilled through the hardboard.
Using three M8 Hex head bolts, nuts and fender washers, I mounted the Hardboard onto each side (Zinc finish later sprayed satin black). I then stuck two black 2"W X 6"L Velcro strips across the top and bottom of each hardboard cutout, and matching strips of velcro on the insides of the bag foam pads.
Now, I throw the bags over the seat so they are easily removable (this is the only drawback, IMHO, of installing the connecting straps under the seat) and press the velcro strips together for more security.
The tops of the bags are exactly level, and in line horizontally with the top of the seat. No "bag-sag" either. They sit even with the top of the seat, just behind the shocks, with the triangular tip just about 1'4" forward of the directional signal chrome housing.
Were I to do this over again - which I probably will - I would use 1/4" Black Lexan Plastic for the templates. More waterproof and durable, albeit more expensive.
I like the end result, very stable and straight, and my wife can pillion without fumbling around with the bags for leg clearance. Lastly, absolutely no possible way for the bags to come in contact with the spokes, or shocks.
Build time was about three hours on a Saturday morning. Need a power hand held scroll saw, but I guess you could do it with a manual coping saw.

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Bob

"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem".

I have the Cortech saddlebags and tail bag. I don't have any rails and the whole affair is removeable in under 10 secs.

The tail bag has bunge cords that I attached under my stock seat at the strap location. The tail bag attaches to the saddle bags and all is good.

They are big enough for a week of touring if you are a light packer such as I am. But they work and look good. The got the all black ones to match my B/W T-100.

I don't have any pictures to show you but if you go to the TourMaster/Cortech website you'll see how they look.

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Quentin

"01 -20 -2009 I can't wait"

I didnt realize luggage was such a popular option for the Bonnie. What would all those hooligans, rockers, etc. etc say about a Bonnie with all these huge pieces of luggage sticking off the back ends of these bikes?????

Nathan