Hard top box (trunk),. Or Tail bag?
 

http://https://i.ibb.co/d0CCC8g/IMG-20210309-132000-2.jpgI have a big old camera bag rigged on the rear rack of my Brozz, and it is fine for paperwork, glasses, cap, and small things, but it is not big enough for me. I will probably be ordering either a tail bag, or hard box for it. I have been looking on Amazon, and it looks like I can get a conviently sized trunk for anywhere between the low 40s ,to mid 50s. , And bags start out cheaper, but most that I think I would like are close enough in price to the cheaper trunks ,that price won't be my main factor in making my choice. One bit of trouble I am having with my bag that I currently have rigged on my bike is that I am long legged, and have big feet , especially in my boots, and I have a little trouble with the bag being in my way getting on ,and off the bike. I have been turning my handlebars to the right, and standing as close to the front of the bike as I can, and that helps getting on the bike, but not much getting off. I think the trunks would probably mount more securely than the bags with elastic straps, and velcro mounting, but I may be wrong. What kind of advice can you fellow dual sport riders offer ? I welcome, and appreciate all advice.

I have seen the tank bags, and wondered if they would stay put with magnetic mounting. I have even thought about cheap convention saddle bags, but I figured the muffler placement on these bikes eliminate the possibility of using them.

This is what im rocking and has worked out very well.. inexpensive, waterproof and its shape aligns with the shape of the rack..mounted with zip ties

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks for the link. I seen that one on Amazon , and overlooked it because I didn't know it expanded to a taller size. They list it as 7" high. How high would you guess it can expand to ? Do the straps that it mount with work pretty well?

Been looking at this one, your picture answered my question. Will be ordering :)

I've got it on my cart now. From the pictures on Amazon they look like they are capable of expanding a good bit more than 7" in the center. I like the fact that they can also be.low profile as well.

My pleasure.. it was a guess when i ordered it whether it would contour to the shape of the tail rack and i was pleasantly surprised when it came..
I havent measured but its prob at least 7-8" and i have it pretty filled up..
portable battery jump start, expandable backpack, shades, bungee cord, some small tools, etc.. I didnt use the straps it came with, instead i attached using zip ties to the fabric grab rails on the sides of the bag and then attached to the tail rack frame.. (see attached pic)

Same here, like it will be nice for drinks, lunch, gloves, etc but if I am going somewhere over night I can stash some extra stuff in it! I will keep it pretty light though, I am also thinking of converting these bags into tank / luggage bags.

https://i.ibb.co/BngSjK3/bag1.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/PQgVKyY/bag2.jpg

I thank you for putting me into this type of bag. To be honest , with all the bags that Amazon offers, I was just looking at the pictures, and dismissed bags like that ad too small. I have 3 different bags in my Amazon cart , and am leaning toward one just like you showed me, but just a hair bigger, and just a couple bucks more. Thanks. https://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Sa.../dp/B07K3ZX19Z. https://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Ta.../dp/B07T8DL7RP. It is between these two,and the one you recommend. I like the one that is a slightly larger version of the one you recommend, but I'm a little suspicious by the fact that it doesn't claim to be waterproof, but instead water repellent, and it comes with a bag that covers it . I like the size of the one in the second link, but it may be more bulky. I don't know which to get .I think it's going to either be the one you have, or the bulkier one. I have decided to edit this post because ,upon better reading of Amazons descriptions of all these bags, I think they are all "pretty waterproof" ,The bulky one states that is may get contents wet in a heavy rain, and the other two come with covers that leads me to think that they are also in the "mostly waterproof" catagory as well. I will not be riding in the rain if I can avoid it,so I think I will just order the slightly bigger $29.00 bag. Thanks

I went to harbor freight and got a small plastic multipurpose box and mounted it to the back. Its water and air tight, has multiple layers of foam you can pull apart and make pockets for stuff like the tool kit, spare spark plug ect... then cover it with another layer and have you sandwiched and drink onto and still close it! I like it although my dad has a hard time getting his leg over the bike cuz his shoe hits the box.
This is what I got https://www.harborfreight.com/2800-w...ack-63926.html

That looks sick, do you have any pictures? I would like to see how you mounted it.

This is a really good idea. Very creative

One big advantage that soft bags offer is usually the ability to quickly detach and carry the bag with you, so you can bring along your goods in one fell swoop instead of having to open the box to remove them as most hard cases will be more "hard mounted" to the bike or rack. There are some exceptions of course, but as a whole this is kind of the general rule.

I have been eyeballing a bag like this more and more as it offers a decent amount of space, is also expandable for even more space, but isn't overly huge. It's water resistant, but also comes with a rain cover if you get caught in serious weather, and it connects and disconnects with 4 quick release buckles and has shoulder straps to carry/
https://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Ba...NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Dan ..I think the bag you are considering is ,the same.bag, possibly with a different logo ,as the one I ended up ordering last night . It is $35 bucks

https://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Ta.../dp/B07T8DL7RP. I ended up choosing this one because it has more capacity, and, after reading up on it more, I think it is still pretty collapsible..

I’ve been looking at these for the same purpose as the last couple posts.

A bit more on the waterproof end. Probably not so much on the looks end.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071VDMGTH...b-39b4a18c0b4c

I've used both but prefer the hard tail box. The one I installed on my Hawk is removable and can be locked. Also has a nice rack when the trunk is removed. Here's my thread on it. http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=22247

I also looked at HF boxes, but found this laying around the garage. Not very big, but waterproof and I can get a 6-pack or or a couple of bottles of wine in it.

I cant get pictures to load on here for some reason. I pulled the 4 bolts out under the rubber pads where the passenger handles are and got 1/4" longer bolts and used metal fender washers, then rubber fender washers to make it seal good and just bolted it to those 4 bolt holes.

Reduce the pictures to 197kb or smaller before uploading.

This is the one I use and I love it. Turn a key and press a button and you have a hard suitcase you can take with you.

Exactly! And it large enough to store a helmet.

Yeah, that looks more or less like the same bag, but cheaper. Probably made in the same factory as the other one. Let me know how you like it as I am actually quite interested in it.

I will let you know. I wouldn't be surprised if I get it by the middle,or end of the week. I almost cancel it after JerryHawk chimed in. Them hard trunks would be handy, and I think they would go especially good on a black bike, but I decided to stick with the bag, partially because I don't think I could get my boot over it. LOL. I also like the fact that the bag is more compact when not expanded. It was also ,about $15,, or $20 cheaper than the trunks I was considering. Not much $$$, but enough to fill the bike up several times.

That is a big reason I like soft tail bags more. Not so bulky and awkward when empty.

If you want low budget; lunch box from walmart, $7. Has a platic tub inside so I mounted it to the 4 bolts under the tail rubber cover. Had this setup on my KLR for years and it worked awesome

I haven't forgot about doing a review of the tailbag, but they have not shipped it yet. I knew it said get it by the 27th, but usually I get my items fast when I order off Amazon. http://https://i.ibb.co/h70SX75/Screenshot-20210319-171739.png

No big deal my friend. I am not in a huge hurry to get it right now, although I may just jump the gun and try it for myself soon. With fuel prices going up, I am working to make my Hawk my commuter these next 7 or 8 months.

Check out this recent thread by JOAMON and the modlist from his signature.
It's definitely set up for a daily commuter/ long tripper.

He has the same tailbag as the one posted above.

Thanks for the attempt to help, but my bike is pretty much already there (one of the most modded bikes here lol). I don't need much for commuting duty. I normally just wear a backpack, but the bag he is waiting to receive appeals to me so I don't have to have it connected to my body and can instead hook it up to some straps behind me.

I just bought all this crap for my first big trip on a dual sport using it as an adventure bike. This week long trip will involve mostly dirt with pavement stringing it all together (hopefully). There will be camping and a hotel or 2.

I did lose 1/4 of my pannier storage to the side exhaust and the Givi box did not line up correctly with the available mounting spots on the Lifan. It’s ever so slightly not centered. By about 3/16”.

But I already got all the stuff and am leaving tomorrow. So I ended up getting hard and soft as a combo.

Seems to be working well so far in testing it all out. I wish I got all hard, Square boxes, but the budget said I was crazy to try that. This was the cheapest way I could get this much storage

Sadly they don't sell these anymore at Ikea but it was the best $4 i ever spent and always carried along in my tail-bag.. if you can find one similar definitely worth it instead of wearing a backpack:

https://poshmark.com/listing/IKEA-pa...gaAoUFEALw_wcB

I like those soft side panniers. Where did you get them?

I’m happy with them so far and can have a real critique coming in a week since I’m about to be riding full time for a week with them.

I got them here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B089Z...b_b_asin_title

Look forward to exploits of adventure! and the review of the saddlebags.

They made it through the first day without shifting, without rubbing the tire, and without melting on the exhaust. I’d say that’s a good first day. Ha ha. The stitching has held up also. And it’s very heavy. I have a lot of stuff in them.

Only three buckles had to be clicked open to take them into a hotel that I stayed in tonight. Really easy to put on and off the bike. Didn’t take much longer than popping the Givi top box off.

Good to hear! Hotel? I thought you would be strapping yourself to a tree branch with a tie down over an alligator infested swamp?

Ha ha ha. I really wanted to. Could not find a place to do it. All my trails were closed that I was trying to take, and no campgrounds had availability. All sold out.

I am hopeful that I found a trail for tomorrow morning. And I was finally able to reserve at least a campground.

One thing that was great about these is they came right off the bike and it was almost like I had suitcases. Very simple. 3 fastex type buckles to click open and just lifted right off.

There are a lot of straps to adjust in the beginning, the first time, but they are going to stay in the same position when I put it back on the bike I think. So there won’t be any readjustment. Just reconnecting the three straps it took to remove them.

Bit of a cross-post, but my 3rd hand Zong came with a hard top box (also 3rd hand, by the looks of it). Its water proofing and padding is long gone, it has a few holes drilled in it, even its lock is gone (replaced by a latch and padlock) but hey, it hasn't fallen off yet :lol:


It's also quite spacious (it can fit a full-face + a modular helmet inside). I keep a tight-fitting cardboard box inside which I use when getting groceries, so I know how much I can carry.


http://www.chinariders.net/attachmen...1&d=1616158761

Agreed. If I was only getting one, if get the top box. I got both. You can see it sitting on the top of my panniers in the pic on the left I posted.

The top box is way more convenient. Panniers are more for carrying huge and heavy amounts of stuff. But running around town? Not carrying too much stuff or too heavy of stuff? Still want to fit in narrow trails? Top box all the way.

Hotels, showers, its all good! You are out there on the road! I am in the middle of figuring a cargo system myself to get out and do some camping and riding. You are not using a rack and they can support some weight, eh?