Topic: Front wheel panniers/luggage/fork-saddle bags

[BomberMann650]

I'm looking to load down my cb550 with luggage.  Got ebay links  on old stock saddlebags and sissy bar trunks.  But I would like to also have a pair of bags up front.  The bicyclists do it, where do the motorcyclists go to get their fork luggage?

[RAFster122s]

Front fork panniers add too much drag and weight on the forks, really a bad idea.  On bicycles you can get away with it somewhat...the steering is very heavy and in some ways it stablizes the steering but that delayed steering can be a problem if you want to avoid a pothole or stone or chunk of metal unless you see it really early.  Tough to stablize the panniers in the front as well, any jostling back or forth can be hard to control in turns.
You looking for rear soft bags, there are several brands, A Moto___  brand out of Canada,  Cortech, Aerostich, etc.  You will probably have to fabricate your own pannier frames to mount the bags to and keep the bags out of the rear wheel/shock coils.

David

[navydad]

Bad idea to do anything that will impede air flow to your AIR COOLED engine as well.

[MCRider]

I would suggest a well designed expandable tank bag. I always used one on trips or not.

[BomberMann650]

Bad idea to do anything that will impede air flow to your AIR COOLED engine as well.

Not certain a pair of mid-sized travel bags would impede much airflow to the front of the motor.  Given the race bikes survived with those fairings.

The old war harley was an inspiration for places to carry a load too.

[BomberMann650]

I would suggest a well designed expandable tank bag. I always used one on trips or not.

biggest concern with a tank bag is forgetting it at the gas station after refueling 

[grcamna2]

I like the idea of a pair of small front panniers;I think you could even use a pr. of soft bags made for a bicycle and get a hold of a Blackburn(or even a steel rack) rack,cut it apart & modify it and mount it to the fender mounts in a way to keep the airflow good. They would have to be mounted solidly plus equally loaded w/ weight on both sides.I'm sure you would get lots of attention here in The States with that but would most likely fit in well w/ that set-up overseas.I would search the web and find a few foreign bikes that have them for some ideas. 

[RAFster122s]

That's why you put it on the seat rather than the ground BomberMan... or if the cap is totally removeable (no chain) then put the cap on top of the tank bag.  If that isn't enough...no idea what to say.

Do you inspect your tires and chain after/during gassing up the bike and quick visual for anything out of place?

David

[flatlander]

I'm sure you would get lots of attention here in The States with that but would most likely fit in well w/ that set-up overseas.I would search the web and find a few foreign bikes that have them for a few ideas.

you mean like this?


not sure what overseas lands you have in mind, but i haven't seen "fork luggage" here in europe and even in india i've seen people put insane amounts of crap on the back of their bikes but not the front.

honestly i think it's a bad idea. it adds to unsprung weight, will mess up functioning of your forks, and your steering. an accident waiting to happen.

check on http://advrider.com/ if anyone there has done it, or if the question has come up.

or just pack less - it's part of the appeal of a motorcycle trip, leaving unnecessary clutter behind

[70CB750]

There are tank panniers, like from Aerostich.

http://www.aerostich.com/aerostich-tank-panniers.html

[grcamna2]

flatlander,That pic you posted with the rider and all those bags is good,I imagine he doesn't gain much speed w/ that 2-wheel truck.How far do you think he needs to travel on it ?

[flatlander]

i don't know the guy and it's not my picture!
i've seen these kind of things in india where i travel regularly for my work. traffic there is generally slow compared to the US or europe. how far they travel.... it can be anything from within the same town to crossing the country on what they call a "highway". the things you see on their so-called highways... bicycles going against traffic, people with pushcarts... overloaded bikes (most of them mopeds, by our standards) are only the tip of the iceberg.

ok some of my own pics then:

3-generation family transport


yours truly on a royal enfield - wearing typical indian safety gear


[sorry bombermann for the highjack]

[MCRider]

I would suggest a well designed expandable tank bag. I always used one on trips or not.

biggest concern with a tank bag is forgetting it at the gas station after refueling 

I've had several bags and none required removal of the bag to gas up. Usually, you disconnect the harness (quick clips) from the front or rear and swing it out of the way.

[grcamna2]

flatlander,
I imagine that first pic you uploaded of the heavily loaded cycle(in India?)was going at a 'pedestrian pace' compared to our USA Interstate Highway speeds of 110-130+ KM/h.The speed limits here are not that high but folks do end-up going that fast !
I don't really enjoy Interstate highways very much unless I just Have to get there in a hurry;I've learned to slow down since a few years ago and Enjoy the scenery.

[flatlander]

nothing goes very fast there, the roads are not built for it. there are potholes the size of open pit mines and such...

last year i had a guy from india here in the netherlands, and took him on the bike down to another office of my company which is about an hour's riding. i told him to put on some warm and windproof clothes, gloves, etc. because we'd be going between 120 and 150kph non-stop. he showed up in some flimsy little jacket and was half frozen when we arrived. they're just not used to those speeds 

[BomberMann650]

An American Bike in India by Flatlander - love it

[evanphi]

I just got myself a Cortech Super 2.0 18L magnetic tank bag. Tons of room to keep stuff on the tank, expandable, and great for laying on when on the highway to reduce drag. Best way to carry stuff  in front of you, besides maybe the traditional blanket up front.

[flatlander]

An American Bike in India by Flatlander - love it

the enfields are made in india - since the original factory in britain closed down

[alacrity]

I would suggest a well designed expandable tank bag. I always used one on trips or not.

biggest concern with a tank bag is forgetting it at the gas station after refueling 

All my tank bags had a neck loop and a rear frame/seat loop.  Fastex buckle on the front side.. disconnect it, flip the tank bag on its back, it's upside down on your seat. Gas up. Flip it back onto the tank, find the loop ends around the bottom of the steering neck, click and go.  It add like 12 seconds to a fuel stop and obviously, as long as you have an even marginally functional central nervous system, it is impossible to leave behind.

[BomberMann650]

An American Bike in India by Flatlander - love it

the enfields are made in india - since the original factory in britain closed down

Guess I won't be trusting the local R.E dealer salesman anymore :/