Guzzi OEM bags or Hepco & Becker C-Bow

Looking for some information on the Guzzi OEM bags vs. the H&B C-Bow mount bags.

Normally I hate the idea of hanging stuff off my bikes but since the GRiSO has zero storage I need something. No real place to stick a tail bag and I don't want to drill holes to mount the OEM tail rack. Not sure I want a tank bag either so saddle bags are the next best option.

The H&B C-Bow mounts seem to be a lot less obtrusive than the OEM mounts if the bags are not mounted on the bike. I expect the bags would only be mounted about 10% of the time. However it would be nice to have the official Guzzi bags and it looks like they have stronger mounts and would keep the bags from moving towards the tire.

Anyone have experience with either of these?

I have the oem side bags and tail bag.  The original owner had them fitted when new, and I consider them a bonus for the riding I do.  I ride with the tail bag all the time and use it to carry such essentials as camera (when not in my jacket pocket), wallet, water bottle, cleaning cloth, spare glasses,side stand puck, sometimes a book or magazine etc.  The expandable side bags are small-ish but hold more than I first thought.  Unless I know that I need to use the side bags I remove them.

I don't find the mounts particularly unsightly and find the practicality of picking up a bit of shopping or whatever (my nearest town is about 30 kms away) far outweigh not having some carrying capacity.  The bags themselves are HD cordura and are very well made (in Germany as I just noticed), they are not waterproof but come with covers.  

Sorry I can't comment on the HB C-Bow mounts, but just bear in mind that you will need to make sure there is adequate clearance between the bags and any pipe you are running.  I have a 'textured' SS GPR can with a CF end piece that has less than .5 inch clearance to the bag, and heat is not a problem.

I have the oem setup too. The racks for the saddlebags are pretty easy to install & remove, so they're not on the bike unless I'm planning a trip. The oem tail rack stays on all the time. I don't find it intrusive either, and the holes are easy to drill in the rear cowling. The hole centers are molded in to the underside of the cowl, so there's no guesswork. Everything lines up just fine. And the rack comes with black rubber plugs for the holes if you want to remove the rack. The stock tail bag fits nicely, and is all I need for day trips.

With the saddlebags, tail bag, a leftover tank bag from my California Stone (it fits!), and a duffel shaped dry bag lashed to the pillion seat, I can carry all the crap I need. If I'm camping (frankly getting too old to sleep on the ground), tent, sleeping bag and air mattress all fit on the back too. Love those Rok Straps! My G has a small Givi fairing and Stelvio hand guards. Wired for electric gloves and a small Garmin GPS. It's actually a pretty good touring bike. And it's the only bike I've ever owned that has a comfortable (for me) stock seat.

I have the C-Bows on mine.

They have been fine for me on many overnight trips.

Here are some pix of dressed and undressed.  


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As long as you understand that these are soft bags, and you haven't been spoiled -- as I have -- by the Norge's (or similar ST car-trunk capacity, all is well.  

Best,

Bill

I should have bought a Norge.









j/k!!

I have the H&B bags and have used them multiple times and over some big distances, always found them good.
They do not go anywhere the rear tyre and to my eye are far better looking than the OEM bags whether they are on or off the bike.
One major advantage is the mountings take 10mins to put on and 5 Mins to take off so there is no need to leave them on if you prefer a cleaner appeance.
When I don't need mine I take them off the bike.

Thanks for all the great info.

May go for the back rack and Guzzi bag if it's that simple to put on. I have a while to think about it as the bike is in mothballs wintering at the dealers heated winter storage location. I do miss it very much

I found the OEM rear seat bag with its expanded zipped section deep, convenient and for short trips alleviates the need for the rear rack, side bags etc. It just hooks to the four mudguard studs with straps and plastic rings at the end.

Just ordered the C Bow rack and bags. Love the simplicity and the tidy appearance. Tired of not being able to carry an extra set of gloves, heated gear, bottle of water, etc.

I've had the OEM bags for quite a while. They leak, of course, and the covers are the most fragile thing I can think of, short of a butterfly's wings. I finally have given up on the covers and carry everything in two-gallon Ziplock bags inside the saddlebags (which I highly recommend).

I don't find the brackets particularly unsightly, and I'm picky enough to have removed my crash bars for unsightliness.

I used to use an OEM small tank bag for carrying the basics on day trips, including a tire patch kit and electric pump. But now I've added two small, inexpensive, leather tool rolls like the ones the gay pirates strap to their handlebars. I strap them to the saddlebag brackets in place of the saddlebags for the day trips. They are just as long as the brackets are wide, and about 4 inches in diameter. It's a neat arrangement, though they look pretty much like saddlepurses if truth be told. It's nice not having the tank bag to worry about, and I'm not too worried about someone unbuckling my purses, so the emergency supplies are always on board.

Moto

Sounds like a neat solution. Can you post a picture of your setup?

I have the OEM set up.  The other advantage of it is that I can fit a 1L tool tube strapped to the inside of the side bag frames, so even without the bags on I have some storage (could actually fit one on each side of the bike, but I only put one on).

Eric

Just got my used to me OEM bags. Couple nit pics so far. Expansion zipper jams on one bags (used, so what do you expect?). But more damning; my sleeping bag (that barely fit in my Ortlieb bags, does not fit in the Guzzi OEM bag. Considering transferring the mounting system from the OEM to the Ortlieb or seeing the KlickFix mount can be purchased (yes) cheaply from Germany (unknown).

I like the OEM zippered opening and the semi-ridgid black look. On the other hand, the bright yellow Ortliebs are the adventure roll top full access and completely waterproof (tested!!) without the funky angles the OEM bags have (gee, I'm talking myself into using the Ortliebs!  ).

Still going to use the OEM bags for the up coming Not-a-Rally, see how they perform on the road. I know how the Ortlieb's do. I have a medium dry bag from Wolfman that I convinced to take the sleeping bag (if I was not camping for one night I would not need the bag, tent and pad that go into the duffle bag). What I'm doing on this trip will pretty much match what I intend to take on the Datil Rally, so this is a dry run.

Dry run because no rain in the forecast and Datil gets you wet coming, going and staying!

blue thunder wrote:

Sounds like a neat solution. Can you post a picture of your setup?

Here you go! Moto

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rboe wrote:

... seeing the KlickFix mount can be purchased (yes) cheaply from Germany (unknown).

I looked for those mounts on the internet with no luck. The producer's site just indicated wholesale/manufacturer availability. So if you do find them, post!

Moto

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On the left, select adaptor overview


On the new page, scroll down to Pannier Rails, highlight the KlickFix icon and click on it.

moto wrote:

blue thunder wrote:

Sounds like a neat solution. Can you post a picture of your setup?

Here you go! Moto

Thanks Moto! That looks nice. It gives the bike just that litte extra roughness.

The C Bow kit arrived today.  Put on one side without trouble and thought it looked great.  Went to put on the other side and found one of the tapped holes had been tapped for a much larger bolt.

Put the second bag on anyway with just the 3 bolts.  Wanted to see how it looked.  Even with just 3 bolts, it appears to be very secure.  

Put a call in to Moto Machines anyway.  Want another C Bow with the proper tapped holes. So much for German attention to detail.

How about GIVI 3D600 Semi-Soft Easylock bags?
As usual, Givi do not produce tubular holder for GRiSO. I did and they are now available.
Givi 3D600 easylock side bags : Up to 25 litre each, expendable, comes with rain cover.
Holder is very easy to fix, lightweight (1450 gr both sides), No cutting or drilling.
Easily and for few dollars, it can revised to carry Hepco&Becker Cbow paniers
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That's a nice piece of engineering. Why can't Givi come up with such a simple solution? Looks like the Italian company doesn't like Italian bikes. Weird.

You're right. I am sometimes asking this question to myself. I hope Givi don't get mad at me for doing something for Italian bikes

Awesome Onur

Really nice!

What should i say:

Sven