Corbin Bags?

[SteveC]

About to pull the trigger on a 2014 Black ABS.  I'm looking at Corbin bags, and wondering how involved it is to install them?  I live in a condo in Hawaii - not allowed to do any work on property, and no one here has a garage.  I suspect this will be a 'parking lot' install.

Difficulty, time involved?  Do I need anything from Honda, or is all mounting hardware included?

Thanks,
Steve

[hubcapsc]

Some things I remember about my install...

This connector that hooks the bags together at the end really
does fit up in there...





You have to remove some stuff, including the fender. The fender looks a lot
like a fender  but it's more like a plastic shell held on by funky little plastic
fasteners.

Really nice brackets (looked pretty much as good as the Honda frame parts
they bolted to) bolt onto the subframe below the fender/shell. This bolt looked
weird/wrong to me, like it would hit the final drive when the suspension
compressed... turns out they sent me the wrong bolt... their detailed
instructions included the intended bolt size, and I got one that size from
Lowes and it fit great...



I've used them on a three day trip. I could get a four day trip out of them, too...
They're not as big as classic Valkyrie hard bags, so I don't have my air pump,
tire tools or other odds and ends in there, still trying to figure out how
to carry some of that stuff... maybe three-day is the real max... they're a
funky form-fitting shape inside... I'm glad I got them...

That's Chewie's original tire, less than 2,000 miles... the next weekend I rode it
down to where chords were showing... the middle of it just wore right off...
The new tire has 2,000 miles on it now, and it looks great

-Mike

[SteveC]

Thanks, that's good info.  Other than the run to the store for a new bolt, how long did it take you to installl these?
Steve

[blackvalk]

I think the easy answer is yes and Mike gave you some good info.

I would recommend having a couple of blankets laid out for tools and the parts you are installing and removing from the bike. That way, you have everything within reaching distance and you won't scratch the parts going back on the bike. I used moving blankets.

One of my biggest time issues was Corbin sent some wrong bolts so I had to run to the hardware store at least 3 or so times. That takes time and because I used stainless steel they cost more.

The tools you should lay out are a set of metric sockets and allen wrenches used on a socket wrench.

I don't remember reading in the instructions where the bracket Mike shows in the picture that goes between the tail of the bags, but I figured it out (the bolts supplied were way too long)

The removal of all the existing parts went quickly and the install of the frame work to hold the bags did as well. It's a few hour install and you can't quite until you are finished, so start early in the day.

I haven't traveled with the bags yet but, they aren't huge and the opening is a bit on the small side. I am unable to put my half helmet inside. I purchased a couple of helmet bags from Cycleworks yesterday for $15.00 each that I will load up and be able to carry into a hotel. I will then fill in the little bit of open space in front or in back of the helmet bags.

The bags do look very good with the shape of the bike.......good luck!

I'm in the process of ordering an additional fabric tail bag to use for additional clothes and use as a back rest that will be held in place under the passenger seat.

Bill

[hubcapsc]

Thanks, that's good info.  Other than the run to the store for a new bolt, how long did it take you to installl these?
Steve

A few hours... previous work on the front end had de-mystified the
plastic fender fasteners for me already, but still you probably
can get it done in the parking lot in an afternoon or on a Saturday
without rushing...

-Mike

[Robert]

Thanks for the pics guys ordered my bags when I bought my bike am looking forward to receiving them. Corbins turn around time is a bit slow, so I should be getting them next week. I always have bags on my bikes and without them its a pain. On the plastic retainers try some silicon grease it makes them alot easier to get on and off and prolongs their life.