Bags for the Monster, Touring Bike?

[SCouch]

Can anyone suggest some saddlebags for the Monster.  They don't need to be spacious, looks are more important since I probably wont be going to far on it. 

How does the Monster work as a sport touring bike?  Do risers help any.  I wasn't really planning to ride very far on it, but it seems comfortable enough to ride all day, so now I'm thinking adding bags, risers and a throttle lock and doing some light traveling on it.

[Nitewaif]

Cortech makes some great bags that fit the Monster perfectly.  The Monster is a great touring bike.


 http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/product.php?productid=149          <--linky to saddle bags

[COWBOY]

I've used a number of methods on some 1200 mile trips ranging from tailbags,bungee cords, tank bag, backpack, etc.  The best so far has been the bagster tank cover/bag system by a long shot.  The Ducati branded tank bag it comes with expands and I'm able to get up to 4 days of necessities in there (clothes, toiletries, maps, phone, ipod, tools, etc.).  The bag anchors to the tank cover but is easily liftable (anchors in rear, clips at front) without removal for fueling.  It is stable on the highway and doesn't shift or cause issues in the twisties (it was on my bike throughout my day at Deal's Gap).



Been very pleased with it and now use it daily commuting as well.
 

[numbskull]

I've used a number of methods on some 1200 mile trips ranging from tailbags,bungee cords, tank bag, backpack, etc.  The best so far has been the bagster tank cover/bag system by a long shot.  The Ducati branded tank bag it comes with expands and I'm able to get up to 4 days of necessities in there (clothes, toiletries, maps, phone, ipod, tools, etc.).  The bag anchors to the tank cover but is easily liftable (anchors in rear, clips at front) without removal for fueling.  It is stable on the highway and doesn't shift or cause issues in the twisties (it was on my bike throughout my day at Deal's Gap).



Been very pleased with it and now use it daily commuting as well.
 

Is that the one in the DP catalog?

[remy]

I use a Wolfman bag on the tail (tail/saddle bags in one). I quite like my Monster for touring duties. The gas tank will take me just as far as I can usually handle before wanting a little stretch/water/snack break. I don't use risers, just the stock bars.

[PizzaMonster]

I like the looks of the Cortech bags but I'm not sure how they would mount on an S*R bike with high mounted pipes.  Maybe somebody has some firsthand experience with them?  If they fit I'd say they are the bomb.

I put a Ducati Performance bag on mine.  It's the one that goes on the left side only.  It's got decent size when expanded and once you figure out it's goofy velcro mounting it works okay.  I can get my gym stuff into it and that's about all.  I guess that would translate to one change of clothes and a rainsuit.  In stock form it isn't compatible with the rear seat cowl and you have to run without it but a half hour of careful cutting of the inner plastic support of the bag with a Dremel tool and it now clears with the seat cowl installed.

As far as risers I suppose it's personal preference.  When I bought my bike I was afraid my gimpy neck would give me problems so I installed risers.  After a month or so I took them off.  Not needed as the wind kind of holds you up at speed.  I found rotating the bars back (down) did more to make for a better cruising attitude than the risers did.

The Monster is better for "light" touring than I expected too.

[Tommy T.]

I've done 2500 mile tours on my 695, going from Texas to the Great Smokies to ride the twisties.

I use Cycle Venture's system which is a frame mounted rack support that will accept three upper parts: a grab rail, a luggage rack placed above the bread tray with a 4" high rail, and a luggage rack placed above the bread tray with a 12" high rail.  Cycle Venture makes nice bags in a variety of sizes to fit the racks or you can just bungee or strap stuff on the luggage rack and on the passenger pilion using the risers.  I have a small "sport pack" that is good for a day trip and a pair of large knapsack sized bags that fit over the high riser and can sit on the luggage rack, the pilion or zipped together and put one in each place, no bungies or straps required.

This is the low riser with the "Sport Pack:"



And this is the high riser with one of the larger packs on the passenger pad and a tent and sleeping bag in a waterproof stuff sack on the luggage rack.  This is right at the start of a trip to ride the Tail of the Dragon and other roads in western North Carolina/eastern Tennesee.



On the way back from that trip, I passed through the remains of a tropical storm and everything in the packs stayed completely dry.  It sits high, but I pack for 10 days of warm weather camping with no more than 20 pounds so there really is no COG problem with the way that is loaded. 

Cycle Venture is at http://www.cycleventure.com/

Tommy T.

(Just to be completely open, I got a gift coupon from Cycle Venture for writing an article and submitting a photo of their rack on the Monster.)

[Manx]

Had these Givi bags on a trip to France last year, worked well.

[ArguZ]

Cortechs 
Served me well on the long trip last month

[COWBOY]

Is that the one in the DP catalog?

Kind of.  The DP one and mine are the same but mine is directly from Bagster which is the English Company that makes them for DP.  They also sell a number of different bags that attach to it varying in size and functionality.

http://www.bagster.com/en/


Here's a couple of pics of it on my S2R while at Deals Gap.  It looks tall in the first photo but in the second you can see it doesn't affect reach.  You won't be sliding off the seat and draggin knees with it on but you can ride fast and enjoy the twisties with it easy enough.

[Tommy T.]

Here's a couple of pics of it on my S2R while at Deals Gap.  It looks tall in the first photo but in the second you can see it doesn't affect reach.  You won't be sliding off the seat and draggin knees with it on but you can ride fast and enjoy the twisties with it easy enough.

Hey, Cowboy!  I think I remember that corner:

[COWBOY]

From their site this is the tank cover



Here's the info on the bag (Alpha)

     

Alpha

Expandable - will hold a full face helmet when expanded.
Dimensions (cm):   L:40 W:26 H:27    
Capacity: 30 Litres

[COWBOY]

Hey, Cowboy!  I think I remember that corner:

That's great!  My friends and I enjoyed our trip there and will be going back this October - this time without the tank bag  . 

[Tommy T.]

That's great!  My friends and I enjoyed our trip there and will be going back this October - this time without the tank bag  . 

It's a 1000 mile ride one-way for me, but I will be back just as soon as I finish doing every paved crossing of the Great Divide in Colorado.  Leave the tank bag in camp,  but be careful with those knee pucks on the blind sides:



The driver of this one looked about 20 years old and was wearing flip-flops.  He told the cops that he had to swerve to avoid a motorcycle.   

[COWBOY]

I hear yeah.  A guy lowsided while I was there last time and those trucks are always a fear because even when they don't swerve they can't make all the curves and will take up the entire road. 

I won't be going much faster than I did last time (3 kids at home) but I will enjoy better lateral movement without the bag in front of me.  We also tend to ride at off times to minimize the traffic and trucks.