[Closed] (Motor) Bike Luggage

Depends what you want to spend. Racks and hard shells can be quite expensive. But soft bags are quite cheap.

Hard cases are more secure and can be locked and left but soft cases can't.

Both kinds can fall off while riding.

If you are just testing it out try some cheap soft cases then upgrade to hard at a later date.

Rack + box is a great option if you're going two-up, gives your passenger something to lean back on.

Annebr has pretty much said it all. Soft cases expect them to stolen/slashed open if you leave the bike unattended. Hardcases are more secure and steady on the bike. I would use a combo of hard panniers and a waterproof stuff sack on top (nice back rest on long trips).
Too much weight up top can make the bike hard to handle especially if two up.
Look out for makes like Givi that you can just buy the rack for the bike and then use 2nd hand cases rather than going make/bike specific.

If you are not taking a passenger ,you could try a seat bag and a rack for the rest.I used Givi stuff in the past.

when we went trailie camping we had sleeping bags on top of headlight. Some guys put tent poles across bars, mine was soft luggaged across rear seat.
ps pack stuff in waterproof bags .............
on a cafe racer (drop bars) I had a tank bag packed soft to the right height to lean on

This is my old touring bike. Not shown in the picture is the panniers, roll bag and tank bag. Yes that is a rack on the top box. The thing weighed a ton. The wife never could get her head round travelling light. Still had some great times on it.

If you get panniers remember they are wider than your handle bars!

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That confirms what I kind of thought. I think tank bags and rear seat bags are to be avoided on this bike as the "tank" is a luggage compartment and the fuel filler is under the rear seat.

I have plenty of dry bags so no need to worry on that score!

I've used Givi panniers, kriega soft luggage and ventura luggage.

Decent panniers and top box will always be best, easy to clip on and off the mounts, reasonably secure and easy access to your nick nacks.

The Kriega luggage is very good, but a pain to strap to the bike and awkward to remove for overnight stops or access your paddy wacks.

Using the Ventura Mistral and frame on a Blade at the moment, very good, and with no side panniers it doesn't hamper filtering.

Just another +1 for a top box, and don't mess about with a toy one, get something vast. Don't overload though, weight high and behind the wheel has obvious side effects.

Is that a single piece seat, and is it just you or is it 2 up? Reason I ask is that if it's not... I got a spare pillion seat, took the foam off to leave just a hard base, and bolted a couple of bits of alu rack across the top. Perfect for attaching other kit, basically a roofrack for a bike. I never bothered to make it work for panniers, never needed that much luggage but it'd work.

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http://www.kriega.com/

I have been using the 'Ventura' luggage system on my ZZR1400 for 4 years now, and the Mrs has the same for her GSXR750. Not sure if they have made one for a NK750X yet but a quick scan of their website would tell you. Can't fault the system at all, its cheaper than a panniers and top box combo,very versatile and unlike panniers, it doesn't significantly make the bike wider so filtering through traffic is a breeze. Clearly its not as secure as hard boxes but I suspect that any determined thief would be able to overcome the locks on them no problem at all. That beig said, I should think you would be very unlucky to be the victim of theft in the North of Scotland regardless of the system you use. I use waterproof liners in mine too.

Northwind, are you in India?

I bet the front was a bit light with that box on.

s'hand top box for security and cheap dry bags with bungees...cheap and practical..just love motorcycle touring

Another Kriega vote here, been using for years and they're spot on.
As for soft luggage being slashed? Never had it happen, although a friend with hard luggage did have his broken into and his g/fs helmet stolen from inside his top box...

Also, if that's how Northwind wants to play it, it's on...

Pair of speed triple wheels and replacement tyres
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25kg of pork
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Picnicing
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Triumph Fairing
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and I'm getting carried away here now, but several gallons of Cider
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What I don't think anyone has mentioned is that lots of modern bikes (like the OPs NCX) have very slim rear ends that won't take soft luggage. This is because there's nothing to stop it swinging under the tail unit between that and the rear wheel. As such soft luggage will need some sort of brace to stop this. These are available as are soft luggage systems with their own mounts. (SW Motech I think)
I have an NCX too and there's LOTS of accessories available for it. There's even a dedicated website selling accessories and seperate US and UK NC owners forums with lots of good info on them.

http://www.nc700shop.com

http://nc700.co.uk

If I was getting luggage for my NCX, I'd be getting these, the SW Motech Blaze

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Cheap soft luggage is a nightmare to fit and use plus everything gets wet or melted. Expensive soft luggage like Kreiga/Giantloop etc is great for offroad but just as pricy as hard luggage and so for an NCX, hard luggage would be my choice with a cheap 'sausage' waterproof bag accross it for camping trips. Lomo watersports do these for £20

Tank bag and Givi-type top box (and panniers if you need the room).

Tank bags are the best when touring, as you've somewhere to keep the map/GPS (see-thru section) plus they usually have built-in rucksack straps so you can take it with you when you leave the bike. Also more centre of the bike.