Not like taking a roadtrip in a automobile, the place you possibly can pack every thing however the kitchen sink, touring by motorbike requires you to be extra selective about what you convey. And no matter is in your “can’t go away dwelling with out it” record, you want a method to carry it on the bike. SW-Motech presents a bewildering array of bike baggage in varied shapes and sizes, together with carriers, racks, and adapters.
These choices permit for a customizable, modular method to kitting out your motorbike, all designed and manufactured with the standard and a spotlight to element so usually attributed to German engineering. SW-Motech additionally makes all types of cool equipment for security, safety, navigation, and energy provide (beware: sitting down together with your favourite refreshing beverage and browsing their web site will result in temptation).
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Our 2022 Honda CB500X long-term check bike is an inexpensive, environment friendly, light-duty journey bike that’s excellent for solo touring, however in inventory type, it has neither baggage nor a baggage rack. We surfed over to SW-Motech’s U.S. web site, entered the yr, make, and mannequin into the “My Bike” filter, and clicked the “Baggage” product class.
First, we needed a method to carry baggage, so we ordered the Avenue-Rack ($252.95), a small rear rack with a number of tie-down factors that’s manufactured from black PU-coated 5mm aluminum. We solely deliberate to make use of the Avenue-Rack as a lashing level and service for a tailbag, however SW-Motech additionally presents a rack extension, tank ring adapters for mounting a PRO tankbag, and a variety of adapters for varied kinds and types of prime circumstances.
Subsequent, we ordered the PRO Aspect Service ($350.95), which is manufactured from black powdercoated 2.5mm metal. Not solely is the aspect service suitable with SW-Motech’s personal baggage, however adapter kits are additionally accessible to be used with Givi/Kappa, Hepco & Becker, Krauser, and Shad baggage.
For baggage, we ordered a SysBag WP M (Waterproof, Medium; $249.95) to make use of as a tailbag and two SysBag WP L (Massive; $399.95 every) saddlebags with adapter plates that permit them to be shortly mounted to or faraway from the PRO Aspect Service. The SysBag WP L has lashing straps, so if you happen to didn’t need the quick-release adapter plate, the bag alone is $319.95. Nonetheless, the straps have to be threaded by way of slots within the service’s metallic plates, so loaded baggage would possible transfer round, particularly throughout off-road driving, which can put on on the straps over time. Given the comfort and added safety of the adapter plates, they’re price the additional cash.
As a result of I used to be midway world wide testing the Royal Enfield Tremendous Meteor 650 in India (see my Royal Enfield Tremendous Meteor 650 First Journey overview right here), our esteemed former EIC and go-to mechanical guru Mark Tuttle was form sufficient to deal with the set up in my absence. From his set up notes: “Total a pleasant, heavy-duty system that was pretty simple to put in with a minimal of fiddling. Took me about two hours, largely as a result of every hanger on the adapter plates have to be secured with 4 @#$%& screws and nuts, or 32 pairs complete. SWM ought to preinstall these. IMHO putting in the system might be finest left to the (a minimum of considerably) mechanically inclined, although the directions are clear, and it makes use of high-quality {hardware}.”
Set up of both the Avenue-Rack or the PRO Aspect Service requires eradicating the CB500X’s passenger seize handles, however the aspect service arms can function safe handholds for a passenger. Though the directions name for drilling the rear fender to safe the rear horizontal assist arm, Tuttle stated it wasn’t obligatory; it aligned simply sufficient with the license plate bracket holes.
A nifty function of the PRO Aspect Service are Fast-Lock fasteners that permit the service to be eliminated with 1 / 4 flip, forsaking solely minimal attachment factors for a clear look. Because the fasteners are instantly behind the loop a part of the service, securing them with a flathead screwdriver is hard. Nonetheless, SW-Motech sells a stainless-steel Multitool Key Chain ($11.95) that features not solely a fastener instrument for PRO and EVO aspect carriers however hex keys in 5 sizes and a bottle opener. For those who’re involved about theft, a Screw Set ($11.95) is offered to switch the Fast-Lock fasteners.
As soon as the PRO Aspect Service and adapter plates are put in, it’s actually a snap to mount the 2 SysBag WP Ls to every aspect – simply line up the hangers on the pins, raise the discharge lever, and pop them proper on. The SysBag WP M was laid flat on the passenger seat and Avenue-Rack, and its straps have been used to safe it in place as a tailbag.
The SysBags are manufactured from TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) with rubber-like EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) elements and thermally welded seams, and so they have roll tops manufactured from 210 Ripstop TPU to maintain water and mud out. They’ve strengthened handles, MOLLE patches for attaching equipment, eyelets for cable locks, Velcro fasteners for bundling extra strap lengths, and detachable internal pockets. An outer flap covers the roll tops and secures with quick-release buckles, and contained in the flap is a zippered pocket. The M bag’s quantity is expandable from 17-23 liters, and the L bag’s quantity is expandable from 27-40 liters. The L bag additionally has internal dividers and an simply accessible exterior compartment for stashing raingear, a thermal layer, or different objects.
Total, that is a powerful, high-quality setup that provides as much as 103 liters of storage on the Honda CB500X or different motorbike. One factor to remember, nonetheless, is the added weight. The Avenue-Rack provides 6.2 lb; the SysBag WP L provides 6.4 lb per bag and three.0 lb per adapter plate, for a complete of 18.8 lb; and the SysBag WP M provides 4.2 lb. All in, that’s 29.2 lb earlier than including any gear.
The whole price of this setup is $1,677.65. Given the standard and flexibility, it’s a great funding in a baggage system that may final for years. The one query is, the place will you go first? An excellent place to begin is the SW-Motech web site.
