Re: [ST] Info about Triumph soft panniers & tank bag

[brian <brd@xxxxxxx>]

On Wed, Feb 06, 2002 at 10:11:06PM -0500, Sean Baumann wrote:
> 
> Hello!  I've decided to buy a used 2000 Sprint RS in yellow, I already love 
> it!  I plan to use this bike for commuting to work every now and then.  It 
> would make the trip much easier if I had some storage for things like 
> notebooks, books, cell phone, shoes, etc.  Can anyone comment on their 
> experiences with the triumph soft panniers and/or the tank bag?  How much 
> can they hold?  Are they of good quality for the price?  

I have the triumph tank bag.  I like it, though there are some that
complain that it causes buffeting.  Maybe I just don't ride without it
enough to notice the difference.  :)  It is very large and holds a good
deal of stuff.  You can expand it even larger, but I've never had to.

I don't have the soft panniers (yet), but from all I've heard and read,
they are awesome, fit well, are easy to install, and are very reasonably
priced.  I will definitely be buying them before July, when my JL 10%
discount runs out.

Depending on just how much stuff you need to carry, either one of the
above would be adequate.  When I used to commute on my previous bike, I
used my tourmaster tankbag like a briefcase, and took it to work whether
I was on the bike or in the cage.  Worked well for carrying lunch, PDA,
phone, gym clothes, sodas, etc, and it wasn't near as big as the Triumph
one.

The only problem with either of the above is that if you need to leave
them on the bike with stuff in them, they aren't secure.  The hard
panniers would solve that, except that the RS doesn't accept them.

>Any alternatives I should consider?

Yes, a topbox.  If you can adjust to the looks of them, they are
awesome, and the Triumph ones match the bikes and look very nice,
compared to Givis.  They make the bike much more utilitarian.  You'll
almost never find yourself saying, "I need to stop and pick up some--oh
wait, I'm on the bike today."  You can fit damn near anything in
them--from two full-faced helmets to a 24 pack of 12oz cans (of
Dr. Pepper, of course).

It's also nice to have someplace secure to stow your helmet and gear
when you get where you're going, since Triumph didn't see the need to
include a helmet lock on our bikes.  Also, with the turn of a key, the
whole box pops right off, for when you don't need the capacity.  Some
also don't like the looks of the luggage rack that the box clips to, but
I don't find it that obtrusive or worth it to swap the stock grabrail
back on.  It's also pretty easy to install.

In fact, when and if I ever get rid of the ST, I'll probably be very
tempted to buy another Triumph, just so I can keep my topbox.  Maybe
a new ST with the beefed up engine, except they don't come in black
anymore. :( Well, the new black RS looks pretty sweet.  Hrm, or maybe
the black Tiger...

Laters,
Brian
- -- 
'99 ST (black)
Dallas, TX

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