Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Two highly unrelated accessories I'm looking at that I'm curious if anyone here has experience with. Going on an '04 Ninja 500:

Rev Performance Engine Bars (about $150): Keep that 'new' look even after I send the bike on a horizontal boogie down the Jersey turnpike:

http://www.revsperformance.com/renntec/engine_bars.htm

Motopak saddlebag & tail bag (I typed that as "saddlebars and tailbag" first -- Can't even think what "saddle bars" would be)

http://www.motopakluggage.com/gts60.html -- they have one size larger but it seems like that would be pushing one's luck on a Ninja.

And the tail bag:

http://www.motopakluggage.com/gttaile.html

Or, alternatively, a tank bag:

http://www.motopakluggage.com/gtx20.html

Are there any advantages or disadvantages performance wise to a tail bag v. a tank bag? I prefer having stuff behind me that sitting hunched over a big 'ol bag strapped to my tank, but then I've been riding for a grand total of five minutes so my own opinion is the first one to be discounted.

You sure those engine guards are going to fit on a fully faired bike?

Most engine bars only protect part of the engine by design, not the body.

Highway or crash bars, only as a bi-product, will protect more of the body but is still designed to protect your legs first.

They do make some that will fit the Ninja 500, yes.

I have the bigger Motopak 90 saddlebags and the GT Roll bag(or whatever they call their bigger roll bag). I am not impressed with this product at all except for the low pricing. They have some good ideas but the execution lacks in the details. The quality of materials and design leave a little to be desired. The mounting system is also not what it should be.

Check out the Cortech Tri-Bag saddlebags and tail (roll) bag. We have this on my wife's bike. The materials and workmanship are better. The mounting system is much easier and more versatile than the Motopak stuff.

The saddlebags are smaller with the Cortech.

20 litres for saddlebags probably won't hold what I need them to hold. The tail bag and tank bags look good though.

Just out of curiosity -- how waterproof are soft bags?

I don't plan on riding in downpours (and probably not any significant amount of rain for a while) but I'd like it to be an option. Does this eliminate soft luggage entirely?

Some of the soft bags seem to indicate that they're waterproof, but I wonder how true that is.

I had the motopak bags out in an all day storm on my trip a month or so ago. Kept everything inside dry all day.

Ended up going with the Motopak just because I can't beat the price. Off of Ebay (new), got a tank bank, pair of saddlebags (GTS-60) and tail bag all for about $200.