[gravityglide]

Well after much research I have not found a single picture of the bike without the bags on and if anyone could post that would be fantastic. It is hard to believe that tornado weather stopped me from picking up my CTX , if an when I stop crying I will let you know. Thanks

 

[Kookopelli]

Here ya go. I like it much better this way and will just use the bags for trips.

 

[ManInBlack]

Interesting ... Was it difficult to take them off?

 

[Kookopelli]

Interesting ... Was it difficult to take them off?

Easy...2 bolts inside and 2 bolts on each bracket.

I just posted some more pics in the photo gallery titled Darth Brooks.

 

[bob]

It does look nicer than I thought it would without the bags.
But I use my bags all the time so will likely leave them on. But good to see it this way.

Thanks.

 

[Kookopelli]

It does look nicer than I thought it would without the bags.
But I use my bags all the time so will likely leave them on. But good to see it this way.

Thanks.

I use mine more than I thought I would, but I really like the looks without them and have bought a cargo net thing that will work for most of the things I need to pick up, like beer. That is the criteria. If I can carry beer home, then I am good.

 

[sleepngbear]

Geez, that does look nice unbagged. I'll most likely keep mine on anyway, but it looks as good without as it does with. Thanks for posting!

 

[Willy]

It does look nice w/o them. Thanks for posting that. An alternative I use on my VFR is a tailbag. Lots of choices including bags that expand. Room for daily gear, day ride stuff, and even a 6pack. Ernie

 

[Kookopelli]

I suspect Honda designed the bike without them and then threw them on at the last minute because the quality of the bags doesn't match the quality of the bike. I know I ***** about the bags a lot on here, but they shouldn't rattle and they should be as functional as the ones on the bike they replaced...ST1300.

 

[flytrap]

Did you notice any difference in wind resistance/handling?

 

[Kookopelli]

I don't feel any difference. I would like to take a trip this way in order to check the gas milage, but I bet it wouldn't make a lot of difference.

 

[ManInBlack]

I suspect Honda designed the bike without them and then threw them on at the last minute because the quality of the bags doesn't match the quality of the bike. I know I ***** about the bags a lot on here, but they shouldn't rattle and they should be as functional as the ones on the bike they replaced...ST1300.

I agree that they are a bit flimsier than I would like, but mine definitely don't rattle. I wonder if something is off with yours?

 

[flyboy]

Mine rattle over bumps!

 

[bob]

Interesting. Mine are tight. Latches are tight and don't rattle. Mounting bolts are tight so the bags don't budge a bit. Even my tool bag is tight in it's holder with the band holding it tight. I do have a lot of loose stuff in the bags but enough is soft stuff there is no rattling from any of that. Makes me wonder what it is with your saddlebags that would rattle.

 

[Kookopelli]

The latches both rattle. when they are locked, you can still pull them up about 1/2" and unless I have the bags crammed full of stuff so there is tension on the latches, they rattle when I it bumps or cross railroad tracks, etc.

 

[bob]

Look under the latch where the lock is and check the metal tab that the lock turns into. It is held to the inner shell of the saddlebag by a bolt. Make sure the bolt is tight. Also the tab on both sides may be bent up a bit making it more loose than it should be. I just checked mine and the latch lever does move a little but doesn't rattle while under way and feels relatively secure and tight while parked. Another idea is that maybe you could put a strip of sealed foam weather strip across the flat part of the inner saddlebag shell under the latch lever. There is nothing else there and that should tighten things up some. You would have to check the clearance there since I really didn't look to see how thick a strip would need to be added to do anything, but I would think 1/4" would be plenty. But check that since there might be more clearance than I thought under there and 3/8" or 1/2" might work better. That place is totally hidden when the saddlebags are closed and latched and mostly hidden even when they are open.

Just some thoughts about what I would do here.

 

[ManInBlack]

The latches both rattle. when they are locked, you can still pull them up about 1/2" and unless I have the bags crammed full of stuff so there is tension on the latches, they rattle when I it bumps or cross railroad tracks, etc.

Mine close tight and there is no rattling. A 1/2" seems like a big gap. Did you say anything to the dealer about it?

 

[Kookopelli]

I didn't say there was a gap of 1/2". What I said was when the bags are latched and locked I can lift the latch about 1/2". It doesn't open because the latch is locked, but the latch can move up and down and rattle when going over bumps.

This same thing was noted on several of the magazine reviews I read elsewhere. I will be looking at the latches tonite while I have the bags off and see if I can find a wah to adjust the looseness of the latch.

 

[ManInBlack]

Oops, I misread that. I just checked mine again. I can pull the latch up a bit when it is locked, but it takes some effort. I think I would have to hit a bump pretty hard to get them to move up and down on their own.

 

[kniterider]

I will be taking my stock bags off and trying to ell them,, But will definitely be swapping them out for a better set of GIVI quick release saddle bags