MK1 luggage removal

[Brenner]

I am thinking of making a small mod to my project bike that will effect the convenience of removal of my bags on my MKI and started wondering. My question to all you MK1 or early 83-85 venture riders with experience is : How often do you remove your luggage or use it as intended? Do any of you ever ride without the added storage? The 86 and later MKII models do not have this luxury. Please if you will share any differences you find without the gear. Inquiring minds would like to know.

[friesman]

I think the only time I had the luggage off my 85 was when it was having mechanical work done. it was always on the bike.

 

Brian

[Wizard765]

I always rode with mine attached BUT I removed to clean or maintain the bike.. made this much easier.. Cleaning behind those bags is so easy when you can remove them..

[Marcarl]

I think I'll be with Friesman on this one, but then mine was an 85 as well.

[bongobobny]

We did take the trunk off as luggage once...

[cowpuc]

In all the years of owning and riding a fair amount of miles on 5 - 83/84 1st Gens I can honestly say I do not remember ever using their "luggage" ready bags/trunk as actual luggage (removed and carried around like luggage).. Like already mentioned, I do REALLY appreciate being able to remove them for maintenance purposes though, especially when swapping out a tire on a roadside out in the middle of nowhere. I have also ridden a fair amount of miles on my early 1st Gens by myself and always ran with the trunk off (I like that bagger look and its amazing how much better they handle without the trunk filled with junk when 1 up) and with a 6" shield.

I do carry a couple of nylon kids backpacks in Tweeks trunk and have found them very beneficial when extra space is needed while crossing the country.. Fill em with desert rocks, Grand Canyon pine cones even desert dirt to bring home (bring home desert dirt, add water and see what grows - pretty cool).. I have came home many times with those back packs hanging over the saddlebags, filled with all kinds of cool stuff!!

[Peder_y2k]

When camping with my first gen 1, I removed the trunk and side bags to leave at the campsite for my camp partner while I rode to where I could gather firewood and load onto the 'rack' and bring back to camp.

On my Mk II, I can't do that, so now I'm left to hook a towline to the crash bars and drag firewood back. Kind of a non issue now as most of my 'camping' is now accomplished with a plastic card and involves a heated/cooled furnished room.

 

I'd prefer to have the removable luggage just in case.

 

-Pete, in Tacoma WA USA

[Yammer Dan]

I used to take mine off when I went to play on the back roads. Its a different ride.

[yamagrl]

I only remove mine for maint and cleaning.

[Prairiehammer]

On my first Venture (1983 Royale) when we were touring, I would detach the bags and trunk and carry them into the motel room as luggage. Plopped the dirty 'luggage' onto the bed and opened as if suitcases. Probably caused some housekeeping crew some grief.

On my current '83, I almost always ride it with the trunk removed. The '83 is my 'sport tourer'. For full bore two-up camping/touring, I prefer the '91.

[Brenner]

Thanks all, this is pretty much what I anticipated. I think most likely I will be the same as most of you and keep the bags on most of the time. I am planning on installing led reflectors on the bags sides and debating on also putting a set on the rear rails behind the bags thus the questions. The leds are dual brightness so they will light normally with the running lights and I want to tie into the signals so they flash brighter when signalling just like a cars side marker lights. I am thinking safety first. I was going to smoke my lenses all around but have decided against that and have acquired a full set of chrome lens guards that I will black out and install to give the bike the look of darker lenses without compromising visibility. The bags will have a water tight connector for the wiring to the bike.

[Snaggletooth]

On my '84, like most others I leave the bags and trunk on most the time other than for cleaning and service. Like you i wanted more lights. I found some LED housings at Wally World that were real close to the same size as the OEM reflectors on the trunk and the radiator side covers. Peeled off the reflectors and with a lil work with the Dremel they fit into the recesses nicely. A quick wire mod and a new switch they were ready to go. I used 2 wire trailer lead plugs for the conections so bags still came off quick and easy.

 

Now the new LED side light give me a lil more comfort on being seen both at night and daylight hours.

[Brenner]

Very nice Snaggletooth, the only difference is that the items I purchased fit exactly and look like the original reflectors. I too am installing the front amber lights also and have the idea of the two wire trailer leads. I will post pics when the paint is on the bike and have just come out of the shop as I spent all day going over paints and ideas that I have for my paint scheme. I almost changed the color twice but remembered I want visibility and that I already own a dark colored bike. Still thinking of breaking it up with a couple of not so common colors but will make it stand out where ever it sits.

[bongobobny]

Hot Pink and Neon Orange would really make it stand out!!!

[Brenner]

Thanks Bob but unfortunately hot pink and neon orange are just not quite my taste. lol.. thanks for the chuckle

[paysaw]

[paysaw]

I just added some light bars to my old 84.

[Prairiehammer]

Thanks Bob but unfortunately hot pink and neon orange are just not quite my taste. lol.. thanks for the chuckle

 

What!?

You don't like this?:

[Brenner]

UMMMM.................. Yeah.

[Prairiehammer]

UMMMM.................. Yeah.

 

Bet it got some gears turning in that young whippersnapper brain of yours, though.

[Brenner]

Perhaps, I like being noticeably different than the crowd but I really do not find myself that flamboyant. To each their own, it's a colorful world in which we live. Besides I try to keep my projects looking as if they came that way from factory or like a limited production run. I keep my Yamaha nearly all Yamaha and my Harley is all Harley right down to tires, spark plugs and filters ( aside from screaming eagle upgrades). I really would like your opinion on my choice of paint style and colors once I post finished pics. I always like knowing what the following of a specific brand or model think about my non traditional choices. A little too cold to spray right now even in my heated shop and just working some unforseen mechanical bugs out.