I finally picked up my hardbags for the VFR and they are freaking great. I don't know how I got by without them. Today I picked up a 4-liter jug of oil, a filter, and some more and I didn't have to even carry it on my back. So wonderful. However the bags are in need of some painting to match the bike and this is where the problem lies. I've only had a few chances to ride with them and I find my foot to be hitting the bag every single freaking time that I get on/off the bike. To match the bike they have to be painted asphalt black which of course does not have a clearcoat on it. I'm not so sure that I'll get used to them being there for quite some time and am pretty sure I'm going to end up taking the paint right off with my foot. Anybody else out there with short legs and hardbags find themselves catching their foot on the bags? I've also thought about doing something the cheap way and using some black truck bedliner on them and saying screw it. It will definitely add to their durability as nothing will ever damage them and its super easy to put on. Even better is the cost of it compared to paint and since I kinda have a flat black look going on I think it would match well. Anyone think this would be a terrible idea? I thought about doing this for a full bike and about two weeks later I saw an Aprilia done in just that. I thought it was quite tasteful.
Just a few points: 1) Just because it's flat doesn't mean there's no clear on it. 2) If the sole of your boot takes the paint off then they were not painted properly. 3) I kick mine every time and they still look fine (Italian Red).
