I can't stand it, rain or not, I'm riding to work tonight

[ZOA NOM]

It's been over a week since I rode the bike, and I'm going nuts. After all the work to get her into tip-top shape and smoothed out, I gotta risk the slippery roads and get a fix. I work shifts, and I'm working a swing shift today from noon - 10pm, and it looks like there's a window of overcast but dry weather that'll let me make the commute. If it gets a little wet, it'll be a good test for the new Bell and the seal on the suit.

It's California, for Chrissakes! 

[FJmonkey]

Ride safe dude....

[ZOA NOM]

Thanks, will do...  Kookaloo!

[ZOA NOM]

Made it! Dry as a bone! Forecast looks good, too. Any day is a nice day for a ride.

[FJmonkey]

Made it! Dry as a bone! Forecast looks good, too. Any day is a nice day for a ride.

You did better than my GIVI bags, I left them on the bike in the light rain we have had over the last 4 days to see if they leaked. Both side bags had water in them today. Time to check the seals and see if I can find some fresh product that will seal better. The top box was dry, so I know where to pack my socks and underwear. 

Ride on dude...

[ZOA NOM]

Yeah, I've been studying the luggage sitch. Can't make up my mind. I lane split, so I'm loathe to do the saddlebag thing unless I can find a skinny pair. I think the hard tail box looks goofy, but it is functional, and convenient. I'm leaning towards a soft tail bag, maybe one of the duffle bag shapes that sits across the tail, and is large enough to stick the commute one-piece inside. I dunno, I'm lovin the bike as-is, so it's all bonus from here on out.

[FJmonkey]

Yeah, I've been studying the luggage sitch. Can't make up my mind. I lane split, so I'm loathe to do the saddlebag thing unless I can find a skinny pair. I think the hard tail box looks goofy, but it is functional, and convenient. I'm leaning towards a soft tail bag, maybe one of the duffle bag shapes that sits across the tail, and is large enough to stick the commute one-piece inside. I dunno, I'm lovin the bike as-is, so it's all bonus from here on out.

The bags come off so they are for the over night runs like rallies and this weekend up the coast. Otherwise I like my tank bag and the top box is nice to lock up the helmet and other small stuff. Now my tail bag is gonna get left at home...

[ZOA NOM]

Dang, I'm working both days this weekend, or I'd meet you somewhere so I could hear the real stories of the rest of these nuts. I'm eyeballin the WCR next May, tho. If it doesn't conflict with a race weekend, I'll likely make it for a day or two.

[~JM~]

Hell... I started my FJ in the garage the other day & let it warm up, then shut her down. I do that about once a month throughout the winter. Only 6-7 more starts to go before riding season returns.

[ZOA NOM]

Hell... I started my FJ in the garage the other day & let it warm up, then shut her down. I do that about once a month throughout the winter. Only 6-7 more starts to go before riding season returns.

Oh man, that sucks. I'll stop whining now.

[pdxfj]

You did better than my GIVI bags, I left them on the bike in the light rain we have had over the last 4 days to see if they leaked. Both side bags had water in them today. Time to check the seals and see if I can find some fresh product that will seal better. The top box was dry, so I know where to pack my socks and underwear. 

Ride on dude...

Never had one of my GIVI's leak and I've ridden though some heavy rains.  I think the seals around the lids are just large O-Rings.  Just as a precaution I pack everything in "Space Bags".  They are then totally waterproof and I can at least squeeze the air out so everything takes up less space.

[ZOA NOM]

I just had a crazy idea... Has anyone fabricated a rear bag platform that can be mounted on the post that the corbin backrest mounts in?

[FJmonkey]

Garth has my solution, traveling with soft bags for years has taught me to wrap it up, Use thick quality trash bags and stuff them in, the GIVI bags can leak all they want... And yes, the seals are a type of O-ring. That is why I needed to check the media in the current GIVI bag. I might find a slightly larger diameter filler to provide more compression and a better seal. The test was worth it, I was not going anywhere soon. Might have been a bad story if I trusted them on a long and wet ride.... 

The O-ring joint surprised me, it was at the top of the bags. I expected to see it at the bottom where gravity allowed it to leak out. In my world of design for this stuff, if it can leak in, provide an easy way leak out.... Flapper valves etc....

[Capn Ron]

Mark,

Which Givi hard cases did you end up with?

I have these two on the side (Givi E41 Keyless):



And this one as my top case (Givi V46 Monokey):



All my gear was bone-dry through 19 out of 22 days of rain riding through Canada.   

Might yours be an older designed case where they've now sorted out the seals on the newer ones?  Do the shell halves still line up properly? 

[FJmonkey]

Mark,

Which Givi hard cases did you end up with?

I have these two on the side (Givi E41 Keyless):

And this one as my top case (Givi V46 Monokey):

All my gear was bone-dry through 19 out of 22 days of rain riding through Canada.   

Might yours be an older designed case where they've now sorted out the seals on the newer ones?  Do the shell halves still line up properly? 

They are older bags, and likely need upgrades....