Touring with a 650 Ninja

[gnome]

Late last September I picked up a brand new 2009 650 Ninja from a local dealer.  Price was very reasonable; $5400.  I would like to do some moderate touring with it.  Say a anything from a weekend to a week's worth of traveling.  Due to financial constraints I would be doing a lot of camping along the way.  My last major road trips were many years ago; primarily in Europe with a 650 BSA.  Everything got stuffed into a backpack and bungeed onto the passenger's seat.  Last major trip made in the US was in the mid-1970's with a Yamaha 350.  Same "luggage" system as had sufficed in Europe.

I have a couple of questions that I would like to put before the wiser and more experienced members here at ST.net.  

The first is in regards to luggage:

Does anyone have any experience with the Ventura racks and bag systems?  I have been looking at these as an alternative to the SW Motech systems found at Twisted Throttle (very nice, very pricey!).

Short of that , what have riders found in the way of saddlebag/tailbag systems that have worked well for them?  I have primarily been looking at the Tourmaster/Cortech line and the Nelson Rigg lines.  But the Ortlieb and Wolfman bags at Aerostitch have also caught my eye!

The second is a Touring Wind screen:  The Standard screen that comes with the 650 does a fairly good job of deflecting the head-on wind blast except at speeds in excess of 50 miles per hour.  This is where it hits me right under the helmet and tries to lift it off my head!  I am "vertically challenged" at 5' 5", with a 30" inseam,  and have done Spencer's modifications to the seat to lower it a bit and change out the padding.

Any and all advice, both straight and smart assed, would be appreciated!  (I just know I am going to get the latter, so I might as well be prepared for it!)

Thanks;  Mike  

[bluepoof]

Hi!  I don't have direct experience with the Ninja 650R (other than really wanting to get one after this dang back injury heals), but I can speak to the specific accessories that you mention!

My husband had a Ventura system on his Honda Superhawk for a while.  It worked pretty well but we wound up swapping it for a Givi rack and bag so that he had something waterproof and lockable.  

For soft luggage, I've been using the TourMaster Cortech tri-bag system for about 10 years (same set of bags).  I don't honestly like the tailbag that much as it flops around, but the saddlebags are excellent.  They've held up well, too.  

If I did have to replace them for any reason, the Wolfman Summit saddlebags would be top of my list.  I've used exclusively Wolfman tankbags since about 2001 and I've been really impressed with the quality/durability/etc.  

Hope that helps!  

[JReazor]

I'll echo most of Poof's opinion of the Cortech Tri-Bag set up. I find that the tail bag is OK as long as it's clipped to the saddle bags but it's way too floppy when it's bungeed to the bike by it self.

I switched from the Cortech stuff to a Ventura set on my SV. It works really well on a small bike with a short wheelbase. Pack the heavy stuff low and towards the front and you'll never it's there. Ventura sells waterproof covers as an accessory. They're not convenient but they are definitely water proof.

[scarecrow]

I've been looking for some luggage for my '09 ER6n because there just isn't much cargo room at all on the back of the ER6n/Ninja 650R and the shape tends to shoot bungee cords off the back like a rubbando pistola. Best I've seen so far for soft bags for the bike is the Bags-Connection setup with the bag stabilizer bars (Twisted throttle). The stabilizer bars are what I find interesting about the setup in that the mount is bike specific and looks strong. They might work quite well with some larger soft tour bags. J&P Cycles sells a black leather set up that would killer on an electric blue ER6.

This site is for the Ninja 650R/ER6n. The only luggage they offer is Givi but they have a large selection of windscreens. I recently ordered some stuff from them and the service was good and everything fit like it should.
http://www.motospecialties.com/store.asp?store=ninja650shop&gclid=COyXzZDS46cCFaZl7Aod-HWdSw

[gnome]

Wow!  Excellent!  

Scarecrow;  I like the Twisted Throttle stuff, just the price causes me some pause.  I agree with Bluepoof that hard bags would be nice, but ouch!  While I did save some on the purchase price of the bike, I will still need money for gas.

Bluepoof: hope your back heals soon!  Although you may want to take a test ride on the 650 before you hand over the green.  The suspension is a bit primitive.  I have been lifted out of the saddle on some of the more bumpy roads around here.  A little hard on the back!  Riding position is good, though.

JReazor:  thanks for the report on actually using the Ventura gear.  Which of their bags did you use?  Did you use saddle bags as well, or just the bar mounted pack?

Thanks!  Mike

[spinalator]

  I have been lifted out of the saddle on some of the more bumpy roads around here.  A little hard on the back!  Riding position is good, though.

JReazor:  thanks for the report on actually using the Ventura gear.  Which of their bags did you use?  Did you use saddle bags as well, or just the bar mounted pack?

I have used and rode with others using Ventura system, very nice kit, well designed and put together. I also have Wolfman and Eclipse tankbags, and Wolfy saddlebags, very impressed with them. I had a cheapie Joe Rocket (1st gen) saddlebags and Ebay'd them after a week, I did not like them.

As far as stiff suspension, my cure is to gain 15 pounds per decade, that seems to really help soften the suspension. Good thing the bikes tend to get lighter (except Hondas)
 

[JReazor]

I have 2 Aero-Spadas. They're huge. If I were buying them again I'd get one Aero-Spada and an Aero-Delta. I do not use saddle bags with them. There's no need. I could pack for 2 weeks in these things easy, more if I thought about it.

I also have the Sport-Rack and Sport-Pack for daily use.

[2Pokey]

I use all Cortech bags. The Sport saddlebags with the Tribag tailbag/duffel on top along with a Mini tankbag.
Clothes and toiletries go in the saddlebags. Maps, rainsuit, gloves etc in the tankbag.The duffel will hold my tent, sleeping pad and light sleeping bag. I have not noticed the duffel being floppy because the tent poles give it structure. The only drawback is the connectors between the bags and the duffel are different. But if attached correctly, there are not concerns. I can pack for 3-4 nights. A week would require a stop at a laundrymat. A photo is in my user gallery.

[McRider]

I have done trips of up to a week in length on my 06 650R and went through a couiple of stages of luggage.  I first used the Cortech tri-bag system which worked pretty well with three drawbacks; first, it didn't hold a whole lot of stuff, second, it wasn't waterproof, and third, it wasn't lockable.  I bit the bullet and went with the Givi hard bags but kept the cortech top bag to hold rainsuit, evening shoes, chainlube, etc.  I have 66,000 miles on the bike and plan to keep it until it falls apart, so the cost of the Givi stuff will be amortized over time.  

For a windscreen, I use the Zero Gravity sport touring model.  It gives me more wind protection, but is a little bit more noisy.  

[Fourstring]

My wife enjoyed the Givi screen before it was discontinued; if you can find a clearance one it might be your best option.

I use Nelson-Rigg stuff, but I've found the Givi racks to be well worth the coin when we take the bikes camping.  For a tankbag, especially if you're looking at Wolfman stuff, I highly recommend Bags-Connection.  Come to think of it, they make some great U bags that would work for you too.  I wouldn't give up my BC tank bag for anything.

My tankbag, the Engage-Sport.  Just awesome, spacious, stable, waterproof bag.


I met a guy riding an R6 across Canada from Maine to Alaska that put all his camping gear in one of these.  Looked like a very cool rig.


My wife's bike.  You can get a feel for the Givi windshield's height:



Good luck!