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[BigPoppa]

Any Eva/EsseEsse9 owners have the factory side bags installed? I'm curious about the following:

• What's the maximum load in the side bags?
• Will they hold a laptop? The only "specs" I can find indicate they're 22 liters in capacity but not much else.

I'm currently using a backpack to carry my work laptop, accessories, and the occasional lunch. I do have Kriega drypacks as well if I need to pack a little more but I don't really like the dangling straps when I take the drypack(s) off and carry it into the office.

I'm debating if the side bags are worth it or if I should just spend more time fitting the Kriega straps so they don't dangle as much when I remove the drypack.

[SBK74]

The factory side bags on the Esse are the Givi ST604 Multilock. Data on the Givi website, I think 4 kilos weight capacity . These are semi-hard bags which can be expanded for more volume (zipper). They hold a fair amount of luggage, including a laptop. They do the job well and I use them for weekend trips and occasionally for groceries. Not so solid as the BMW 1150 RT cases I had, but the Esse at least has the best side bags in the electric business.  The standard bags on the Eva don't hold a laptop, these are very small.

[BigPoppa]

Thanks for the feedback. I may go ahead and pull the trigger on a set then.

[dittoalex]

Side bags have resulted in poor MPG on my bikes, and are not recommended on Zero electrics for that reason.  Are you seeing similar range with the bags on?

[ultrarnr]

I have side cases on my Eva. Have ridden with them off to see if there was any difference in range and didn't notice any. Granted the side cases on the Eva are small and when you are on the bike they don't stick out very much past your legs.

[BigPoppa]

I decided to hold off on the Esse9 side bags since my Kriega Drypacks (20l & 10l) are sufficient for commuting and I've been able to zip tie the loops down so they don't flap or dangle when the Drypack(s) is off the bike.

If I find myself needing to carry more I'll probably just use my ICE bike (Triumph Tophy) since it has the lockable hard cases (top and sides).

[BigPoppa]

Whelp...I went ahead and picked up the Energica side bags for the Esse Esse 9. Pretty straightforward install. I'm going for a ride most of the day tomorrow and I'll post if I notice any reduction in range. The bags themselves are pretty nice but I do notice that they sit at a slight angle on the bike with the front sticking out a little more than the rear. It may just be an optical illusion due to the shape of the bags though. It looks like the fronts are shaped to provide room for a passenger's legs (although I'll probably never have a passenger on this bike).

Looking forward to trying them out on my daily commute next week (the bags just arrived today).

[DonTom]

Whelp...I went ahead and picked up the Energica side bags for the Esse Esse 9. Pretty straightforward install. I'm going for a ride most of the day tomorrow and I'll post if I notice any reduction in range. The bags themselves are pretty nice but I do notice that they sit at a slight angle on the bike with the front sticking out a little more than the rear. It may just be an optical illusion due to the shape of the bags though. It looks like the fronts are shaped to provide room for a passenger's legs (although I'll probably never have a passenger on this bike).

Looking forward to trying them out on my daily commute next week (the bags just arrived today).

Great!  I look forward to seeing them also, in the morning.

-Don-  Auburn, CA

[dittoalex]

If I find myself needing to carry more I'll probably just use my ICE bike (Triumph Tophy) since it has the lockable hard cases (top and sides).

I really hope a top case solution comes out for the Energicas, or I'll need to keep the Zero. 

[BigPoppa]

I realize it's not a top case but my Kriega drypacks work fine with the side cases installed so you could potentially add a 30l, 20l, 10l or some combination of those sizes as tailbags...so 10l-70l worth of extra storage on the passenger portion of the seat.

[BigPoppa]

Unfortunately the side cases really don't allow you to fit a 15" MacBook Pro Touchbar. If you expand the case out and angle it in, you can get the case to close but it's not an easy fit. It's the internal shape of the side cases, not the capacity that prevents the laptop from fitting.

So...for those of you considering the side cases to carry your work laptop in, make sure your work laptop is around 13".

Looks like i'll keep using my Kriega in addition to the side cases when commuting.

[dittoalex]

Are the side cases wider than the bars?

[BigPoppa]

Only if you expand them and even then not by much.

[DonTom]

I'm going for a ride most of the day tomorrow and I'll post if I notice any reduction in range.

Still patiently waiting for that report!

I have mine on order. But they told me they ran out of the blue patches, but they will order them separately.  My side bags will come with the wrong color patches, but i was told they are very easy to change.

Do you know how the patches  are put on and removed? I forgot to ask what holds them in place.

I also ordered the Windscreen.

Total: $1020.17, includes the 10% discount and all taxes. And the $24.95 to ship it all out to me.


-Don-  Auburn, CA

[DonTom]

I see the installation instructions here.

-Don-  Auburn, CA