A rare sunny day

[Clockwork]

We had an unusually sunny week last week here in Halifax. A sign, I think, since it was the first week of having my new bike. Here is the beauty shot:

[blaine]

Like the color.Going to do any mods or keep it stock? Lots of useful mods in this fourm.

[Clockwork]

Thanks! I love the colour. Looks great in the sun.

I am not averse to mods. I like the idea of a tach. Right now I am trying to figure out a good pannier solution.

[Fish Baseball]

Originally Posted by Clockwork

Thanks! I love the colour. Looks great in the sun.

I am not averse to mods. I like the idea of a tach. Right now I am trying to figure out a good pannier solution.

As I've just done this, the bag supports are a must. sure they cost as much as the bags from suzuki, but are totally worth it. I was lucky enough to get the supports and bags from a mate who had an Intruder 250 up until a few weeks ago for a good price, but with the angled up pipe on the GZ it makes it essential to have the supports.

[alantf]

Originally Posted by Fish Baseball

but with the angled up pipe on the GZ it makes it essential to have the supports.

Not so!

It all depends how stiff the bags are. Mine are really thick, stiff, leather, & in 3 years I've had no problems with them. They seem to rest on the springs.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by alantf

Not so!

It all depends how stiff the bags are.

Unless you bend the supports out like wings (NOT recommended), they have little or nothing to do with the pipe clearance.

The supports are designed to keep the bags OFF OF the rear wheel and spokes. That is VERY important......but like Alan said, if your bags are the proper size AND you locate them carefully, the supports MAY not be needed. Thinking about what might happen if the bags get into the rear spokes.........I don't think I would want to chance it.

[Fish Baseball]

[quote=Easy Rider][quote=alantf][quote="Fish Baseball":2fwrrbsf] but with the angled up pipe on the GZ it makes it essential to have the supports.[/quote]

Not so!

It all depends how stiff the bags are. [/quote]

Unless you bend the supports out like wings (NOT recommended), they have little or nothing to do with the pipe clearance.

The supports are designed to keep the bags OFF OF the rear wheel and spokes. That is VERY important......but like Alan said, if your bags are the proper size AND you locate them carefully, the supports MAY not be needed. Thinking about what might happen if the bags get into the rear spokes.........I don't think I would want to chance it.[/quote:2fwrrbsf]

I dunno, my bags are damned stiff ones, reinforced with a steel plate at the bottom....by me of course after reading and re-reading the forums here, but I found that bags that where small enough to not need the supports didn't have enough volume in them to hold what i need to take.
I tried these...
[url="http://bikersgearaustralia.com.au/details.php?TiD=MTkwLTI1Ny0wLTYyMw==&Txid=a60d589a ed1ca1ce186f91d517600e0b"]http://bikersgearaustralia.com.au/detai ... d517600e0b[/url]
and while yes they did not even come close to the pipe, they didn't hold enough stuff. (work gear, tools, ipod, phone, laptop, lunch etc)
when the bags i ended up with hang too low (sit on the pipe kinda low) without the supports.

So maybe i should have said it depends on what you need to carry, but I personally found them to be needed. :2tup:

And it also scares the living poopoo's out of me to consider getting anything caught in the spokes while moving.

[Clockwork]

Thanks for the info guys. I can't see the benefit of not having bag racks, so I think I will get some. I quite like the Panniers mentioned on this tread tread. I read (and it was mentioned above) that a metal plate can help the bottom of the Panniers from burning. Is this going to be necessary with these bags? They seem to sit quite a way above the exhaust.

[Fish Baseball]

as long as they have about an inch of clearance from the pipe they should be ok....I went the reinforcement option due to my own paranoia and also i carry a lot of heavy stuff so i didn't want the bags sagging over time.

[alantf]

Originally Posted by Fish Baseball

and while they did not even come close to the pipe, they didn't hold enough stuff.

Mine DO touch the pipe (an aluminium plate, riveted underneath, protects it), & they STILL don't hold enough. That's why I've got that big box on the back. It can hold two helmets, or a week's groceries when my wife sends me to the supermarket.