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[jpaulus]

Hey all, has anyone had any luck with installing side bags?  I'm not interested in the expensive/small bags that Zero has on their web site as I'd like to be able to do a decent shop and also commute with them so I'd like to go for a larger size; the problem is where do you attach them given all of the plastic on the back end, especially on the right side given the belt.  Also has anyone heard if the police fleet hard cases are compatible with the standard S?

http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/fleet/police/

I believe they are these Givi bags:
http://www.adventuremotorcycleparts.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=GVE21N-ATT&Category_Code=motorcycle-luggagehard&Store_Code=amp

thanks!

[ColoPaul]

They sure do look like the Givi bags you posted.   If you end up ordering the Givi bags and figure out how to attach them to your S, please post here how you did  it.   I would also like those bags, and if you blaze the path I'd probably follow!

[Richard230]

There are lots of small cheap throw-over fabric saddlebags on the market, including some semi-hard bags, such as are made by Chase Harper.  They are designed for use on sport bikes and should work well, provided that you can protect the painted finish on the tail section from the fabric straps and don't need secure and lockable luggage.

The problem with mounting hard bags is getting the mounting hardware. If Zero would sell the hardware separately from the hard bags, you could probably use it to mount other brands of luggage.

I have a set of Chase Harper bags in my storage closet, but have not tried to use them yet on my Zero as I have all the luggage space I need using my RKA expandable seat pack.

[Richard230]

Today I dug out my set of Chase Harper rigid fabric saddle bags on my Zero. Here is what they look like mounted on the bike. The Chase Harper bags are readily available through most motorcycle accessory catalog stores and their cost is much lower than the soft throw-over bags sold by Zero.

[Richard230]

And another photo.  These bags seem pretty aerodynamic and I don't think they will add much more wind resistance than your legs when riding. Note that they are attached with wide straps over the seat and additional supporting straps front and rear. I attached the front strap to the frame below the big hole and the rear straps are attached to the turn indicator stalks, as near as possible to their mounting point on the bike.

The Chase Harper bags seem to be well made and are pretty rigid. They look to be waterproof, but do not come with a waterproof covering.  They mount without putting much pressure on the painted tail section, but I would want to use some foam tape or other method to prevent scuffing of the paint just in case whern using these bags to carry heavy items.

[ColoPaul]

The Chase Harper bags seem to be well made and are pretty rigid. They look to be waterproof, but do not come with a waterproof covering. 

Thanks Richard230.  Are those the 3100MCM?.  If so, they claim "water resistant", and like you said, do not come with a cover.

[Richard230]

The Chase Harper bags seem to be well made and are pretty rigid. They look to be waterproof, but do not come with a waterproof covering. 

Thanks Richard230.  Are those the 3100MCM?.  If so, they claim "water resistant", and like you said, do not come with a cover.

 

I bought them so long ago that I can't recall their model number. But I think any Chase Harper bags that look like those are likely the same ones.  No doubt they are only water resistant, but the material is so thick that it will probably take a while for water to soak through, although the zipper seams will most likely leak a lot faster than the material. The zippers go all the way around the bags, from the front bottom to the rear bottom.  That makes them easy to over-stuff, but also likely to let pass water from anything other than a light rain.

[Richard230]

Bike Bandit is having a two-day sale on Dowco semi-soft luggage. It looks a lot like what Zero sells for their bikes as an expensive accessory, but these cost a lot less. It looks like a real good deal to me. Check it out here:

http://www.bikebandit.com/dowco-rally-pack-sport-bike-value-series-luggage-set?fc_c=2487124x8819321x152598981&WT.mc_id=2787891

[jpaulus]

Richard,  How supportive are the turn indicator stalks for an attachment point?  It seems like an awful lot of plastic back there.  Thanks.

[Richard230]

Richard,  How supportive are the turn indicator stalks for an attachment point?  It seems like an awful lot of plastic back there.  Thanks.

I wondered about the same thing. But using the turn indicator stalks for securing the luggage rear support straps is the usual place for these things to be attached on sportbikes.  There is not a lot of stress on the rear straps. Most of the stress (which is not a lot) is placed on the front straps to keep the bags from moving to the rear due to wind pressure or hitting something.  The turn indicator stalks are attached fairly well and if you attach the straps as close as possible the stalk mounts at the the fairing, there should be no problem. Yesterday I went on a 50-mile round-trip ride to pick up a 10-pound wall clock at a clock repair shop. I put the clock in one bag and the weights in the other bag. The real stress is on the support straps placed over the seat and if you balance the load between each bag, there should be no problem carrying stuff in the saddlebags.   

[jpaulus]

So I tracked down the company that makes the mounts for the Zero police bikes with the Givi E21 hard cases and they sell them retail, mounts + bags, for $680 with no bike frame mods required.  I'm having difficulty wrapping my head around that price but I'm new to this.  Is that reasonable given the circumstances?

[Richard230]

That is typical for a mid-priced hard luggage system for an ICE motorcycle. Some aluminum luggage kits made for BMW's go for well over $1000 USD.  That is why I prefer soft luggage. It is much lighter and cheaper and can be used on a variety of motorcycles, not just the model that the mounts are designed for.  If security is an issue, most soft luggage can be quickly removed from the bike and carried with you using shoulder straps or handles, which are typically included with most soft luggage.

[jpaulus]

The bags themselves are $170 elsewhere so the balance is the mounting brackets which I suppose is what I'm reacting to.

[ultrarnr]

So who makes the mounts? Also curious if larger cases will fit on them.

Thanks.

[BSDThw]

Maybe I am the only dummy, but I zoomed in the photos of the Police pdf or Photos I found in the NET.

The quality was to bad to see the mounts.

Now I found that at "http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/press/   => 2012 Zero DS Police Motorcycle" all high resolution Photos available and you can see every detail.

Maybe this will support my "creativity" how to build my own mounting frame.