The only complaint I have with my 5th gen

Hard bag options SUCK!!! :yuck: I'm sure this has been talked about before, but does anyone know of a way to make the 6th gen bags work on a 5th gen bike?

 

Yep, ther're referred to as Givi V35's. Ther're the closest thing you're going to find. Since the OEM Honda cases are made by Givi, who knows, these may be for all intents & purposes the same case.

http://www.giviusa.com/caschi_borse_bauli_accessori.asp?CO_ID=18171

KC-10 FE out...
lane:

 

Looks to me the 35's only work with bikes with underseat exhaust. The only hardbags available for the 5th gen that don't make me puke looking at are the Corbin Beetles, but $1,300 is simply stupid money for 18 liter bags :frown:

 

Go with Givis
The Corbins suck, IMHO.
Givis are super useable, well made and built, and can be taken from bike to bike to bike when/if the need arises.
I bought the Honda ones for my bike, and regret it frankly. If I had to do it over again, I would go with the Givis

 

Which ones would you order? the oval E36's don't go with the lines of the bike at all, the E41's look WAY too big for the VFR, the E21's just look like cruiser bags, and they all stick out way too much. I'd like to have matching yellow hardbags. The Corbins are the only ones that go with the lines of the bike and are color matching, but I can't justify the stupid price tag - I will probably end up staying with the soft bags.

 

You are quite correct. I emailed Givi & they responded the V35's are only useable on the 6th Gen. I guess the best looking one Givi makes that fit 5th Gen would be the E36 in silver. If anyone has any suggestions to other brands, by all means, post them.

KC-10 FE out...
lane:

 

Based on my pitiful choices, these by Hepco-Becker are probably the best, but they sure look like Sampsonite with those handles sticking up. http://www.twistedthrottle.com/imagecatalogue/imageview/3779/?RefererURL=/trade/productview/632/182/

 

Why?

KC-10 FE out...
lane:

 

Spike, the Honda bags are Givi's. They are the perfect size for the VFR, they fit the lines nicely, they are color matched and they hug the tail instead of stick out like Mickey Mouse ears. I'm seriously curious which bags you wish you had bought instead?

 

Since all my riding had been on crusiers before getting my VFR, saddlebags were a way of life for me on a bike. I am really disappointed with no option or choice for VFR saddlebags. I like the Corbin beetle bags, but I am just too cheap to pay that amount of money for saddlebags that are not filled with money. I decided to go with soft luggage for my VFR and have decided on the Chase Harper Stealth saddlebags (Ordered them on Mon from Motorcycle Superstore). I still want to get a Tankbag and a decent looking tailbag. As far as soft luggage goes the Cortech sports saddlebags and tail bag are pretty nice looking and do not stick out too far to stop you from whitelining the bike. As always the problems with soft luggage is security and weather. I guess having an issue with luggage for my bike is not as bad as having mechanical/performance issues.

 

I would have to look, to remember what I had previously. They won't integrae anywhere near as well, that is for sure -- or at all. But you get a lot more function, and the ability to take them on and off quickly and easily.
But I guess that also would be a matter for how often you will have the bags on the bike. If you will almost always need/want bags, that is less an issue. I only use my bags a couple times a year, so it is more important.
Yellow, besides being slower:smile: , yes, precludes you from getting color matched Givis. They do a make a red though for others. But the black, personally I like, and they disapear more that way -- visually speaking. Also they scuff less, and when you get your next bike, you don't have to worry about matching. The Corbins, you buy another bike, you have no use for the bags.

 

which part?

 

Yes and no. Are they built by Givi for Honda, yes. Are they interchangelble with other Givi bags, no.

For instance, if I had kept it when I sold the bike, the Givi topcase I bought 9 years or so ago for my BMW K1200RS, it would now fit my VFR. I would have to buy a new adaptor for the mount, but the main expense of buying the bag would be un needed. You could use the same bags for years and years, until you broke something. For those with multiple bikes, they can use one bag or set of bags along the whole collection.

Also, I think, although the actual bags are fine, and do look better than the regular Givis; the Honda mounts are just total crap. Look like crap, and install like crap. Poorly designed and executed. Really very disapointed with Honda on that issue. And you have to drill to install?
Plus, as I found out personally, if you loose one small part of the mount kit? Honda has not set up the ability to buy individual parts, you have to buy the entire kit again! To me that is incredibly poor. And furthermore, they aren't doing the bags and the mounts as seperate units anymore. So while I was looking at buying just the mounting kit for one small part, in the future, once the existing mount kits are sold out, you would be forced to buy the whole of the mounts and the bags! That is not small potatos and an incredible waste. The Honda mounts are also painted metal, and will rust, as they receive scratches in the normal operation of taking the bags on and off.
The Honda bags will not fit on the Givi mounts, I looked into it.

If my bike was stolen tommorrow, and I had to replace it. It is without question, if I bought a new VFR, I would mount Givis -- not the Honda line.

 

I love my Givis. I've had the same set for years, and I currently have three bikes, with Givi racks on each of them. I never unpack my cases all the way. Who cares how they look? You don't have to look at them while riding; they're behind you.

I like the matte black because it goes with every bike and it doesn't show scratches. But it is possible to buy satin black cases and have them painted to match the color of your bike.

If you have multiple bikes and want to be really fancy, you could get the E41, they have those removeable lids that are available in colors or can be painted. Get extra lids and paint them differently for the different bikes, use the same bases on everything.

 

Holy crap - I just went on the Corbin website with the smallest, lamest hope the bags were reduced in price from $1299 (because they used to cost a grand) and they are jacked up to $1699! there goes any thoughts to ever ordering these ridiculously overpriced bags. Why can't someone else step up and offer something decent for older bikes like mine? http://www.corbin.com/honda/2002_vfr800bags.shtml

 

How much gear do you need to carry, have found my Ventura Rack and Aerobag very usable for day or work commutes and large enough for up to 3 days riding. :smile:

Ventura Rack Linky:
http://www.ventura-bike.com/english/products/pack_system/index.html