Don't know if this is the best place to post, but does anyone know of a dealer that actually has the Kawasaki (not Givi's own) hard saddlebags and mounts in stock? Evidently Kawasaki is behind shipping out. I really would like to hit to road on my first long trip soon with hard cases.

There seems to be a scarcity of many Versys accessories. A good sign, perhaps..?
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I've had my dealer calling in almost every week since I bought my Versys (May 5th). Kawi won't get them off backorder until mid-July. We all have to wait.

My throttle/hand guards are also on backorder at twistedthrottle.com until at least the end of June.

So yeah, much of the accessories, both OEM and aftermarket, seem to be slow in catching up to the sales of the bike.

none to be had here in Ontario, Canada either. My dealer checked all variations and colors on the PLX V35 cases. Problem is, they are the same cases used on many other bikes. My friend in Chicago has an F800St and was told that the end of June could be a possibility.

I bought my V the last week of April. My bags came in 2 weeks later and the mounts came 2 weeks after that. I got it at Max Pitts in Peru, IN.

I bought my V the last week of April. My bags came in 2 weeks later and the mounts came 2 weeks after that. I got it at Max Pitts in Peru, IN.

Lucky you. I'm missing out on some good riding because I don't have luggage. I'm going to talk to the dealer tomorrow and see if I can get a top box. They told me they have the racks but no side bags.

I got a trunk for my bike pretty quick. :D

The problem is getting the bracket. I tried Kawasaki first and it was put on backorder, then tried Givi and it will ship on 6-17-08. :(

I talked to my dealer yesterday and they told me they had the PLX side racks but no top rack, so getting a top box through them was not going to happen.

I called Twisted Throttle and they have everything I need - I could get it next week. But, that means I'll be doing an end-run around the local dealer and I'm trying to forge a positive relationship with this place. They've also treated me pretty well.

The problem the dealer has is that they only have one supplier and that supplier has dried up on product. I've got to look into other options temporary until my gear shows up.

Your plan of establishing a good relationship with the dealer will pay off in the long run. If the dealer is, in fact GOOD, they will understand if you explain to them why you are having to shop outside their shop for this item.

If their source of supply has dried-up, they should be looking at alternative sources for serving your needs... They are there to serve you, not vice versa! Why not go in and explain the situation?

Since I started riding two years ago - that is something that I learned. You are married to your local dealer. Yes, you can do a lot of work yourself but there may be a time that you need the dealer's help. I try to foster good relations with them.

I went down yesterday and explained to them that I have some trips coming up and I'm getting nervous about having the gear I need before I leave. They seemed to have their hands tied and made a suggestion I take the KLR luggage they had on hand. No, thanks.

I'm going to get a dry bag and a spider web bungee and hope that will get me by until the luggage arrives.

dsmack - thanks for the help and the suggestions.

Your plan of establishing a good relationship with the dealer will pay off in the long run. If the dealer is, in fact GOOD, they will understand if you explain to them why you are having to shop outside their shop for this item.

That is the operative word, GOOD, isn't it? I have been fortunate to deal with some very good bike shops in the past. I gave them my money to keep them in business. The nearest Kawasaki dealer, though, seems to fall short on every count. :(

I forgot, but I read on the UK Versys forum that the hard saddlebag trim pieces in the U.S. are black, not red as previously indicated from Kawasaki. Has anyone gotten the trim pieces yet? Are they red?
TIA

Trim pieces came black. When I paint my hugger I'm going to paint the trim pieces red too.

How does the hard saddlebags affect the passenger. The wife doesn't ride with me very often, but still likes to make short trips. I don't want to add somthing that makes it uncomfrontable. I've notice on some bikes with hard saddlebags the front of the bags are so close to the passenger pegs that it makes it uncomfortable. Also, 2nd tank of fuel went 222mi used 4.4gals = 50.47mpg. I like this bike.

My trim pieces came in gloss black - but my dealer ordered the Givi setup and not the Kawasaki setup. I know they are the same but Kawasaki offers the color matched trim. I ordered my top box through Twisted Thottle - I got the matte black because for $35.00 more you can get the third brake light. It was $65.00 more for the gloss black. I plan to have all three trim pieces re-painted to the Candy Plasma Blue this winter.

On the passenger issue - I don't know. My S.O. hasn't ridden with the bags yet. Only got the lovely spouse to ride just once. It looks like there is plenty of room for the rear footpegs but I think getting on and off the bike is going to be more difficult.

I'm waiting for a passenger brave enough to learn with me...

V riders,

as mentioned earlier, i hve the givi V35 side boxes n the E350N top box. the side boxes come in quite close to the passenger foot pegs n this makes mounting the bike a rather "thread carefully" kinda affair especially with heavy biker boots. you cannot mount on securely with the left foot at right angle to the peg, but rather step on in the same direction of the peg and then turn the foot round when seated. makes it a little tricky when wet. and with the top box, the passenger cannot swing his/her legs over but squeeze between the rider n top box. if its big papa or mama mounting the bike, just gotta be very careful with the weight distribution to avoid a tip over, especially if the rider is on tip toes. then when underway, not much room for passenger to move her legs backwards. but she likes it tat way because the side n top boxes kind of cocoons her n makes her feel snug, without fear of falling off.

rgds

Does the bike "feel" any different with the hard bags on? I've never had a bike with hard bags, also wondered about getting on, and off with them.

Does the bike "feel" any different with the hard bags on? I've never had a bike with hard bags, also wondered about getting on, and off with them.


The bike doesn't feel any different with the hard bags. Getting on and off is a bit trickier. I kept smacking the right bag with my foot on dismount. I have long legs - makes this manuever easy. Riders with shorter inseams step up on the left foot peg and swing the leg around.

I'm waiting for a passenger brave enough to learn with me...

Riding with a passenger is a whole different ball-game. Your bike is going to feel really weird when you first do this. If you want to practice - try and find a motorcycle buddy. You need someone that can work with you - not against you.

The best advice I can give is - get the communication down pat first. Be prepared when your passenger mounts the bike and take it easy when learning.

Some good resources out there on riding with a passenger. Read and learn first and then give it a try.

Ocean any problems in the wind?

Ocean any problems in the wind?

None that I have noted. I finally was able to ride in to work this week and 'ride to work' for me means 90 miles one way. I only do this once a week - not that big of a deal.

I didn't notice any wind related problems with the bags attached. They are attached down low at seat height - they don't create any more of a sail than it did before.

Bought the Versys last Tuesday. Ordered bags and trim kit the same day. The dealer called on Friday to say the bags had arrived sans trim kit. Hope you've received yours by now. Timing is everything with ordering understocked items. Either that or you've fallen through the proverbial cracks with a 'lost' order that the dealer never sent in/got lost in the mail/kawasaki never processed. Good luck.

Thanks for the reply on the passenger. Myred, the wife said that snug sounded pretty good to her. Nvoelsch, you may have to give up on brave and go for crazy. More of those around anyway.

I'll go for 'crazy', just have to find one first. I have noticed no difference with the saddle bags on, and I had some serious weight in them this past weekend (bottles of Miller beer in each fully loaded - hey, I can carry groceries now to and from my cabin).

I was in 25-35 mph wind again this weekend, I felt no difference with the wind either.

I will say that Ocean is correct on the mount/dismount. It may be my only dislike... it is trickier.

Oh, and getting down the driveway between two parked gas hogs is a bit more difficult. I have to remember to allow for a bit extra width when parking the truck or car next to each other...