Had a quick google and couldn't locate Gear Sack either. May go by another brand name, ie that's the model name? Not sure.
Had a quick google and couldn't locate Gear Sack either. May go by another brand name, ie that's the model name? Not sure.
Unfortunately looks like they are no longer in business; followed a link via netrider.net.au and there was a couple there searching for them as well.
The son of the original designer/owner laid down the story of what had happened to GearSack....... Jack Burger sold the company to PGF Australia and the decline started, they sold it off to Ron Angel ( ronangel.com.au ) who struggled with what was left as the brand's wholesale agent and eventually the brand was dissolved.
Bloody Shame as it's good quality and makes crap like Ventura bags & Rjays bags look like something from the Warehouse
There are still some Aussie shops with remnants of stock.... Or even searching Gumtree.com.au brings up the odd one listed, this below is from Perth Street bikes
I have SW Motech waxed canvas bags, which basically are saddle bags. They are removable with a clip, and carried away with my stuff in them. Waterproof and look different than most. I mostly just use one of them. They come in bigger size as well, which for me was too big (I don't do out of city trips, yet).
But I don't know whether they make something for your bike. I tried the backpack a few times but found it uncomfortable.
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I have a MOTODRY bag-excellent bag,not sure where to get them,got mine off TM
When life throws you a curve ... Lean into it ...
Look here for some ideas ...
http://www.motomail.co.nz/estore/category/luggage.aspx
You can get some good stuff on Trademe AND here on KB. (Click on the Bike Trader tab)
When life throws you a curve ... Lean into it ...
Agree with the functionality of a top box. Mine is 35 litres - minimum size to hold a fullface helmet. Very useful for popping into town. Helmet in topbox, then helmet on head, shopping in topbox. Had a nice SWMotech tailbag but sold it quickly.
For commuting, I have a small 10 litre bagpack for my laptop and lunch. Slid down the road with it and worn a hole in the top. Glad I wasn't carrying more.
Have a small Givi tankbag that has extra padding inside for my camera. Better than getting bounced around at the rwar of the bike.
Also have OEM panniers and bags. Compared to Givi, the OEM rack locks an integral part of the bike so stays on all the time. Don't use the bags much, e.g. weekend away with my wife, extra shopping, or holds bike gear at airport. Might replace the OEM bags with Givi hard cases for better waterproofing. In any case, panniers keep the weight low.
For a week camping around one of the islands I add a roll bag for extra camping gear.
So I have a bunch of mix and match options
Need to get some different brackets to mount the top box on the Ventura racks. $80 to buy new + 3 week wait to order in - so have asked my flatmate if he can knock something up for me (welder/metalworker by trade, loves making things).
Top box may be 35-40L, not 20, it looks big enough for a helmet (buuut did I try? no). Bought it second hand without a size but it has all the mounting bits and bobs and was a bargain. A larger top box (the 46+ L variety) would probably solve all my problems at once in terms of commuting - bag into box, bag out helmet and jacket in, off to work.
There will never be one perfect solution for everyone...
I'm happy with a MACPAC day pack. Fully waterproof (I've tested it...) and can take heaps of shit. Rainsuit normally lives at the very bottom.
I'm steering away from kathmandu since their pack didn't last and wasn't waterproof. Sealed zips make a difference.
Givi topbox. Lockable is important.
I got the big bastard one that acn take 2 helmets. 50~ litres?
Good for long weekends 2-up touring. Carries loads of stuff inside and is dry unless you live in Fiordland, where everything is wet.
TOP QUOTE: “The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people’s money.”
I ordered that top box converter last Monday from MotoMail and it arrived on Saturday (they said up to 3 weeks to get it in, so within the week is great). Definitely heavy duty/strong construction (much more so than the L brackets and pack rack).
Packs (though widely used and rightfully so) are dark as fuck inside when you're looking for that rather small thing you put in earlier that day before you left. I recall being on the east side of Mt Taranaki one day (Okura I think?) and being in this situation, the red mist can descend rather quickly much to the ammusment of those with you when a pair of your skids end up in the middle of SH45 Ventura could/should produce their product with a lighter coloured interior.
When it come to preference between hard or soft luggage? I would probably go with hard luggage mainly because it wont move on the bike and it's easier to put on/remove than a double soft pack is.
The Triumph came with hard luggage as did the Suzuki which was a plus, the Suzuki luggage was upwards of $2000 if I were to buy it separately so probably wouldn't have.
I always faced the soft pack inwards when pillion was not requiered as per the FZ8
The Honda was demon and didn't care what you put on her. But can you imagine trying to find something in the pack in that state?
I commute daily - and need to change to "coporate clothes" at work.
I've used Ventura gear for more than 30 years - and have no problem with it.
I've had hard luggage (on a BMW) - it messed up the handling at speed. The Ventura gear does not - I've been past 240 klicks with no issues at all from the Ventura gear.
"So if you meet me, have some sympathy, have some courtesy, have some taste ..."
FWIW
I played around with some backpacks I already had. Main problem was my laptop, which is large and heavy... It stayed home for a few weeks. And rain - Auckland weather sucks.
Then I bought a 40L Givi topbox. It easily fits my laptop/s plus other stuff. I usually leave a backpack inside it, which I can take out if I need to put anything bulky in the top box (ie if I go to get groceries). Super simple to throw lunch and work clothes in before I leave in the morning - no need to fight with putting on a backpack if I don't want to - and fits things like gym gear for after work and extra layers in case of weather changes.
I can throw most of my tools in for my second job, if/when I want to take the bike instead of the car - as well as the laptop. Or some groceries without having to lug them in a backpack.
If I want to leave stuff with the bike, and don't have the laptop bag in there, I can fit helmet and either jacket or pants (haven't tried both, but have usually had other shit in there too).
At this point I'm not bothering with a waterproof backpack. I find longer trips are much better when I don't have to wear one.
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