Triumphrat

FattRat · 02-11-2006

I remember once seeing a rather funky looking tail bag that when compressed, resembled a seat-cowl. I thought that I wouldn't be caught dead with that thing perched on the back of my seat, but now I'm thinking differently.

I'm gonna butcher a seat I won off ebay recently for $35.00, cut completely away the passenger area, and install this particular tail bag I saw somewhere. I searched for a good hour via different key phrases all over the Net, but to no avail.

It's literally a hard shell cowl that has an expandable tail bag beneath it.

Anybody got an idea where I might find this thing (again) ????

rodburner · 02-11-2006

Pat,no idea about the bag,but when you cut off the foam,save the scraps so you can build up the remaining foam into a Corbin like pocket with side and rear bolsters.Shape and glue down with generic foam/fabric spray glue.[the good 3m 80 or 90 glue dissolves the foam].The Triumph foam is easily shaped with a wood rasp.You will have to fabicate a means to hold the the foam on the pan as its only held on by the cover and you don`t want it to shift back when you get on the gas.A small lightweight aluminum platform,suitable bent up at the front would "locate" the seat,maintain pan rigidity and give you a flat platform for the new bag.Just bolt it to the pan.Diamond plate aluminum would work and be shiney [Lowes,HomeDepot,etc] but its flimsy and expensive.I got a bunch of patient parking signs from a demolished doctors office that are quite stout.Maybe a recycler in your area has some? Good luck.

D9 · 02-11-2006

Pat-

This ain't your bag, but it's the one I referred to in another thread -
outside of bag is fabric, but rigid & holds it's shape & plenty of
stuff - not too ugly for a tail bag all things considered...

Good luck with your custom seat/storage project - post some
pics when it's done!

Cheers,

D9

FattRat · 02-11-2006

Rodburner..... thanks, great tips!

D9, I almost bought that bag when I first got my bike. I think it's the cleanest thing I've ever seen on the back of the seat. Your bike in that color combination is without a doubt the single MOST HANDSOME Bonneville ever offered by Triumph.... I love it!

D9 · 02-11-2006

Pat -

Thanks!

I think I'll print your reply, run upstairs and out into a very cold garage and read it out loud to my bike.

Soul of the machine, and all that.

Cheers,

D9

50yrDream · 02-11-2006

FatRat's Right!! VERY Very Nice bike--Pretty!!

D9 · 02-11-2006

Billie - thanks! Thunderbike pipes coming soon.

Pat - I'm still intrigued by this hard shell bag you saw - know that
somebody else has been scouring the web tonight for the not-impossible tail bag... any chance at all it was an off-road bag?

Cheers,

D9

D9 · 02-11-2006

Pat-

Is this your bag???

hard shell tail bag?

Cheers,

D9

FattRat · 02-11-2006

D9, that's the one......

I just spent the last hour scouring the web after being provided that link. It's made in the Netherlands and was once marketed by Givi, but the reviews are polite.... not glowing. I can find nothing about it on any Givi sites, and now I know that the danm thing is upwards to $400.!?!?! It's also too long, too tall, too awkward, too expensive, too much. And NOT too popular.....

I may have to go with something else. The Cortech Sport Tri-Bag (in Black) looks functional, but I woulda liked to find something with a hard shell. I already did the Shook on the Beemer, but it's too limited.

I'll find something...... even if I have to buy a Thruxton seat cowl and modify it to fit over some Tupperware.

keef · 02-12-2006

I'm also thinking of making a home-made tail bag/seat cowel out of something like an old jacket or hold-all which I'd probably then wax (I used to make bespoke wax cotton chainsaw jackets for my workmates when I was a woodcutter, so I have a vague idea of where to start). I'd like to have it expandable in the same way as the tank bag, but that might be just a little beyond me. If I do ever get round to it, I'll be sure to copy my patterns and take photos of it in progress for anyone interested.