Convenience vs. looks, 2021 V7 Stone Bags

[bobrebos1]

Thanks for all the opinions. I’ve decided.  I’m going with the hepco-becker Junior 30 liter side bags and a 40 liter top box.  Thanks again.  Il be ordering in spring. 

[Vagrant]

The way prices an delivery have been, don't wait!

[mechanicsavant]

Another vote for the H-B 30l bags here . Another consideration is safety. With the bike ,unfortunately laying on it’s side there’s just enough room between the bags , the cyl. Head & the ground for a human leg ! Unfortunately I tested this on one occasion! As far as looks go I get lots of compliments on the V7 with the 30l bags. Besides ya cant see them from the saddle . Lockable,easy on & off & pretty much waterproof . We’re I to complain about anything it would be aerodynamics. I get about + 7-10 more MPH on top speed without the bags . The mirrors are also good for about 5 mph too . At least according to my empty road , early morning dyno runs ! Using my radar doctor as a speed reference 

[flower_king001]

Thanks for all the opinions. I’ve decided.  I’m going with the hepco-becker Junior 30 liter side bags and a 40 liter top box.  Thanks again.  Il be ordering in spring.

For what it matters i think you made an EX-choice! I have been pleased with all the H & B bags I have and have had.

As for looks....I don't give a damn about looks but functionality!

[kidsmoke]

Thanks for all the opinions. I’ve decided.  I’m going with the hepco-becker Junior 30 liter side bags and a 40 liter top box.  Thanks again.  Il be ordering in spring.

That's my Jackal combo. works pretty well. enjoy!

[Ncdan]

I’m not crazy with high mounted bags, like what’s on sport tourers. However I do have the GIVI luggage on my Stone.
They are sturdy and functional. Parts are easily obtained from the factory.
The ones pictured came with the bike however if I would have had to get luggage myself I would have definitely used a different style. I like the way the HD heavy tourers bags look, low and close to the bike, neat and tucked in close.
Of course we know what’s said about opinions:)

[Kev m]

I like HB so much that's what I used on my RK.

[Bulldog9]

That's my Jackal combo. works pretty well. enjoy!

I have the same setup on my 1200 Sport. The best part of HB is I can easily swap the bags across 3 bikes.

/

[Moparnut72]

I mount my hard bags even with the seat so that they help support my large duffel with all the camping gear. With CBow mounts and the bracket that can be bolted on the bags I can put the height anywhere I want. One of my projects this winter is to figure ways to reduce the weight of all my camping gear. It has gotten kind of excessive but I need all the comforts of home.   
kk

[ChrisG]

I had some HB c-bow bags so I put some brackets on my Stone. Works for me for now.

[Brand X]

C-bows for me HB second..More versatile by a mile, and look so much better too..

[Kev m]

C-bows for me HB second..
..

I THINK I know what you mean but for the record both the Juniors and the C-Bows are from "Hepco &; Becker" so both are "HB".

Sorry, I'm pedantic in nature thanks to a career in data, or maybe just retentiveness. 

[73 sport]

  Kev, I think a better description of yourself would be "Didactic". We need more like guys like you to keep things straight and accurate. Horst.

[Kev m]

  Kev, I think a better description of yourself would be "Didactic". We need more like guys like you to keep things straight and accurate. Horst.

.

You are overly kind, but thanks... 

[73 sport]

  I tried to be honest, not kind. Honesty is less appreciated than kindness.

[Kev m]

  I tried to be honest, not kind. Honesty is less appreciated than kindness.

TRUTH!   

[bobrebos1]

Hi, I don't know your requirements for storage and whether you have a passenger but I did an 8 day BRP and back roads trip down to Asheville NC last year and was able to carry all I needed with a couple of 13L GIVI Corium bags and a medium sized duffle I got off of Amazon. I even had room for 2 bottles of wine for NC Dan and his lovely wife.....wonderful visit. I used a stretchy net over the top of the duffle for stuffing in my electric jacket and any other stuff as I delayered/layered with the changing altitudes. Hot in the valleys and 54 on the mountain tops! I wore and air jacket so the heated layer was needed a few times. Anyway, the Givi bags don't hold much but raingear packages fit perfectly and I had what I needed. They are not as simple to remove and install as hard bags but I didn't want any permanent hardware/brackets mounted to my lovely Sophia. Good luck on your choice. I should add that I don't ride down from NJ as that would require riding route 81 down from PA and I HATE 81 even in a car. So I trailer down to a friends place in Charlottesville.... ..the BRP is 13 miles from his house.....and ride from there...usually about 1,000 miles round trip but probably closer to 1200 this time.
Scott

Thanks for the pic and info.  I to am struggling with adding unsightly mounting hardware for the HB 30 liter bags.  I might change my mind and go soft bags so i dont have to attach the unsightly hardware.  I just dont know yet.  I said i decided on HB 30 liter but im changing my mind again!!!  lol

[Nick]

Love the H&B 40 liter Jrs on the EV, but I chose this setup on my V7 in Italy

[twowheeladdict]

Thanks for the pic and info.  I to am struggling with adding unsightly mounting hardware for the HB 30 liter bags.  I might change my mind and go soft bags so i dont have to attach the unsightly hardware.  I just dont know yet.  I said i decided on HB 30 liter but im changing my mind again!!!  lol

Trying to balance utility and esthetics can be difficult.  If you are truly going to travel with the bike the HB bags or Givi hard bags make a lot of sense.  If you don't like the look of the racks when the bags are removed, the option of getting soft bags mounted to the same racks for local use makes sense. 

Personally, after seeing your bike with that cool tank bag, I would go for the matching saddlebags and put a rear rack for strapping down a dry bag duffle for carrying camping gear. 

I think Mike's bike looks good because he balanced out the bags with the Corbin seat and windshield and turned it into a touring bike. 

I think your bike would look good with the brown bags.  I put snowseal on my leather bags to protect them if I get caught in a rain.  I'm sure you could do some kind of treatment to protect those canvas bags from getting weighted down from rain. 

Go with your heart, not your head.  Motorcycling is an escape from the grind of life. 

[Kev m]

I to am struggling with adding unsightly mounting hardware for the HB 30 liter bags. 

I might change my mind and go soft bags so i dont have to attach the unsightly hardware.

Then the HB C-Bows might be a good compromise. Much less hardware left on the bike.

[afulltank]

I have a 2022 V7 Stone and am looking at luggage, wrestling with this as in this thread. Don't laugh but if anyone has a photo of Giant Loop Great Basin or Coyote soft bags sitting on a bike like this that would be vg. I'm looking at doing 8000k's in 2023 to east coast and back, tent and accommodations. Great thread I'm taking in all the suggestions and have no advice to offer. I have an oem rack to add over the tail ight.     

[bobrebos1]

I have a 2022 V7 Stone and am looking at luggage, wrestling with this as in this thread. Don't laugh but if anyone has a photo of Giant Loop Great Basin or Coyote soft bags sitting on a bike like this that would be vg. I'm looking at doing 8000k's in 2023 to east coast and back, tent and accommodations. Great thread I'm taking in all the suggestions and have no advise to offer. I have an oem rack to add over the tail ight.     

Wow those Giant loop great basin and coyote bags are really nice for long range, bad weather traveling.  I would think they would be fine on a 2022 MG Stone, but of course i dont know for sure.  Look like nice traveling bags though!

[bobrebos1]

When I bought the V& Stone 850 Centenario the owner threw in a tank bag he had for it.  Nice leather one made by tripmachine company . com (I didnt put the link here because i know there is no advertising of products allowed) but you can look them up if you want to.

Anyways their leather bags are top notch leather and im thinking of a set of leather panniers and rear top duffel bag to match my tank bag.  Might be the way to go.  I know they are leather, so not waterproof but they sure look good.  lol.  We shall see what I decide!

The Hepco Becker waterproof and lockable facts are a winner though i think.  Looks arent everything!  lol.  Decision will be made within two weeks.   

[twowheeladdict]

I have a 2022 V7 Stone and am looking at luggage, wrestling with this as in this thread. Don't laugh but if anyone has a photo of Giant Loop Great Basin or Coyote soft bags sitting on a bike like this that would be vg. I'm looking at doing 8000k's in 2023 to east coast and back, tent and accommodations. Great thread I'm taking in all the suggestions and have no advice to offer. I have an oem rack to add over the tail ight.     

My 2 cents.  Security will always be a concern with soft luggage.  Absolutely there are ways to mitigate risk, but when you think about stopping at a trailhead to see a waterfall, or stopping at a grocery store on the way to a campground, or spending the occasional night at a hotel, or the campsite is "walk-in" only meaning your bike is a 1/4 mile away.  Extra hassle for sure. 

A buddy and I were in Yellowstone and were warned that tank bags were being rifled through while the rider was viewing the sights.

Even with hard bags full I would carry a cable lock to run through my jacket sleeves and helmet chin bar if I was walking to an out of view overlook.  I carried the tank bag. 

There wouldn't be products like Pack Safe if there wasn't a need.  https://www.amazon.com/Pacsafe-Backpack-Protector-Silver-Size/dp/B000FGVFP8?th=1

[bobrebos1]

A question I have?????

If i purchased the appropriate tube type hepco becker rear and side racks, and purchased the side panniers identified as Hepco & Becker Alu-Case X-plorer 30 liter side bags that are top opening, would they be able to open if i also installed a alu-case top case (45 liter).  Ive heard rumors that some top loading side paniers wont open if there is a top case attached to top case mounting tube structure.

Anybody have this setup on a 2021 V7 Stone Centenario 850?

[Dave Swanson]

Since my V7-850 is relegated to an easy life I went with "looks".  I mean you're bike needs to look the part while parked up in front of the local latte dispensary, right?   

[bobrebos1]

Since my V7-850 is relegated to an easy life I went with "looks".  I mean you're bike needs to look the part while parked up in front of the local latte dispensary, right?   

AWESOME!

[bobrebos1]

Soft panniers I had were waterproof PVC coated Wolfman's and I hated them. Major PITA to get anything in/out and they always smelled funky inside unless when you parked the bike you unrolled them stuffed in some newspaper to hold them open and a couple dryer sheets and let them air out. I'd never consider cloth non-waterproof panniers. Soft panniers are enough to deal with having to use water proof bags in your non-waterproof bags is just a lot of extra work and inconvenience.

I've also had plastic and aluminium panniers and found them to be a lot more user friendly. Even between hard panniers I also found I prefer the convenience of top loaders over sideload and aluminium over plastic. Side loaders every time I'd open the left pannier when on the side stand stuff want to spill out. I could have used straps to hold things in but that just another headache. Top loaders just work really well. Drop stuff in or pick it out no spillage. I also like when I go to the grocery store and have something that is fragile that I don't want rolling around the pannier I place it in th empannier then hold the bag out over the top of the pannier and close the lid to pinch the plastic bag suspending it in the pannier. Hard top load panniers are also lend themselves nicely to the addition false bottoms too keep things like tools separate from what's above.

That false bottom is a great idea!  My problem with top loading hepco and becker bags is finding some that will actually open when a top box (Hepco Becker) is also installed.  At least for my 2021 V7 Stone 850. 

[bobrebos1]

I like HB, you have many options and they are interchangeable.

I run the V7 Stornello like this for daily.






And like this for trips/camping/etc.






NOT a big fan of the soft bags, especially the Canvas, but as is obvious above, I have NO taste ;-)

If those are top loading hard bags in your last picture, will they open ok with the hardbox/topbox also installed?

[bobrebos1]

Got my new bags!