99 VFR with BMW K1200 hardbags

First post so bear with me. I grafted a set of hard bags off of a BMW K1200S onto my 99 VFR and I'm never going back to soft luggage. Pictures are in the pictures gallery.

 

Nice mod.
the rear 3/4 shot shows them off well. I like!

 

Very cool. Was it a lot of work to get the mounts attached?

Good luck with them.

 

BMW hardbags on VFR

The mounting brackets are std. GIVI. I designed up some adapter plates and still have the drawings if anyone wants them. Bags are one-key removable, single lever to open (lockable too). and the best part is while they look small, they are expandable and open big enough to carry a full face or two racks of 'er...bottled soda, each.

 

What was the advantage of the BMW bags? I guess I am wondering why you chose those instead of Givi whatever.

 

hardbag choice

Corbin Beetlebags look georgeous, but they are small, don't expand, and aren't (key) removable. GIVI stuff is practical but to me it looks stodgy. Honda hardbags were a rumor (unavailable) until when...'02? Are Honda bags key removable? These BMW units mount high, they open "clamshell" style (beetlebags have tiny load ports), they expand, they are not painted (you can scuff against things, put them down at a campsite, etc). BMW quality, all stainless steel fasteners, and Frank H. has them in stock to mail directly to your door.

What are you other guys using and how do you like your set-up?

 

I like it.

The BMW bags are small, but certainly less intrusive than Givi's.

I don't like the Grey mudguard, but then the bike is a bit mix-and-match anyway, since the tank is from the Anniversary model which normally has (horrid) silver fairing with yellow flashes..is it an anni with new fairings or a Red one with an anni tank ? The silver pinstripes are also on the single seat cowl on the anni.

No offence meant by the way

Rod

 

mongrel mix and match

no offense taken. Anniversary tank on std. USA model. I put on the silver fender to compliment the silver wing and stripes on the tank. Still have red fender, and put it back on last time I put on fresh tires. I had found by then that the silver fender had grown on me so I went back to silver after about a week. All my vintage bikes are painstakingly stock, so it is nice to be a little more expressive with my daily ride.

Anybody need a stock red tank? Rougue, is the anniversary tail cowl with silver accent stripes commercially available outside US?

 

Anni seat cowl

The seat cowl will turn up on ebay like all the rest..frankly it's rare though since the colourscheme wasn't a big success.

 

can the anniversary seat cowl be ordered new at a non USA dealership?

 

BMW bags on VFR

I would be very interested in the plans you made. I'd love to be able to use the same bags on both of my bikes, and the second one is a R1100RS. I think the RS bags are considerably larger than the bags you used though.

 

looking good.Nice work on the mod. looks like an OEM option to boot.

 

Fred, You can look at the actual bike and bags if you like. I am near Keene, NH. If you're in NH, the most you could be is 300 miles away. Stop on by evenings or weekends. If anyone wants plans, email me at abolduc@kingsburycorp.com or call 603-525-3830.

 

Revival thread :smile:

Anybody else made this mod? Any lessons learned?

Thanks.................gettking tired of my softbags and thought this would be cheaper than a 6th gen:crazy:

 

Anybody out there gone this way for 5th Gen luggage

 

looks great ! Its not as nice as the imposible to get corbins, but looks stock.
Nice job.

 

I like this shot from Flameface's Album.


Wonder how close to the bike the bags are?