From my experience - paint, plastics and decals will show scratches after only after a few kilometers or a few on and offs. It doesn't matter what type of material the bags are made of, or which type of mounting they use. The materials and the bike itself will attract grit. Bike vibrations, bags shifting arround ever so slightly while riding, or every time you come in contact with the bags or mounting system - will cause wear. I've never seemd to care - except for when I get a prisitine bike - and until I know if I will keep it, or until battle scars start showing up.

Questions

• Do you do anything to protect against chafing, and why or why not?
• What have you tried, why this solution and not another, and what's your verdict?
• What would you do the next time about?

Advice for me?
Two things have changed since last time I was to purchase soft luggage (including tank bag): The first being new innovative bags. The second being new innovative chafing protection solutions or hacks. The third, and most important - I now kindof care about chafe protection a little bit (where I previously didn't give a damn, because my bikes were not brand new).

One of the bike has side rack (T7 Rally) with aluminium panniers. The other doesn't as of yet have any rack or luggage(390 Adventure). I am going through the decision process of getting soft luggage for both bikes - but I am undecided wether to have rack mounted bags (i.e. Mosko Moto Back Country), or something to strap over the pillion seat - but I would prefer if both bikes could share bags.

As for tank bags, the T7 has an atypical filler cap and not the tank ring found on most bikes. If I was to go for a bag that locks to the tank ring, I would require a weird mounting system that I don't like. So for this bike. Also, for an adventure bike, I don't like the bags that seem to hover above the tank - which these quick connect systems involve. I prefer a tight fit - in other words the kind that strap.

I don't want:

• A semi permanent solution - unless it is allmost invisible and is easy to remove
• A solution which covers up the paint and decals (i.e. a leather tank cover).
• I also don't want a solution where I will struggle with getting rid of ahhesives or that will ruin my decals when trying to remove it.

I have conscidered using:
...clear contact paper, tape, kitchen wrap, or any combination of these - then traced arround the contact points to make the protection invisible with the bags on top.

From what I have seen, the contact paper will look terrible with the bags off - but on the flip side it is easily repositioned or removed in less than a second after use - and could even be reused. I am also conscidering clear vinyl wrapping (semi permanent) - but don't know much about these - i.e. how my dacals would stand up to installation and removal, the costs, the durability, the looks???

It is a bit silly
I know it is silly to care about chafing on an adventure bike. But, since we've got two brand new bikes, I do want to care for the paint, plastics and decals - atleast until I am sure the bikes are keepers and not something I will soon sell something else. Also, it is kind of like having a brand new pair of shoes - that you try to care for, until those few first marks show up - upon after you don't give a damn.

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