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Touratech tankbag with sidebags for F650 GS Touratech tankbag with sidebags for F650 GS
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Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  #1  
Old 20 Jul 2004
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Touratech tankbag with sidebags for F650 GS
We are searching on the internet for a decent tankbag for a F650 GS. Preferably with side tank bags ( extra luggage, better balance, extra protection from wind and in crash,...)

I have seen the Hein gericke ones and used thos on my Transalp but I am not happy with the way the sidebags are positioned.

Just checked this model on the Touratech site:
VP 45 F650 GS

Who has any experience with this model? Is it recommended?


Any advice or other options welcome!
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  #2  
Old 25 Jul 2004
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Pffff... everybody seems to be on holiday or travelling ;-)

Nobody with any advice concerning a good tankbag with sidebags for a BMW F650 GS?

Pieter.
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  #3  
Old 26 Jul 2004
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Since I don't have a BMW and everyone that does is on holliday I suggest the chain gang, a BMW dedicated site.

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  #4  
Old 28 Jul 2004
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Thanks for the info. I quess I'll find the site with a google search.


Pieter.
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  #5  
Old 29 Jul 2004
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I have this model (originally purchased for my 1988 GSPD so I do not know if the mounting systems are smiilar) but it fits kind ok on my F650. I have the touratech 39L tanks so that may modify the fit...but in general I like the set up. The side bags are shaped so that my knees fit in nicely behind them, shielding them from some of the elements. Down side to that is that when the fan for the radiator is on, it feels like someone is holding a hairdryer to my right knee. Map case hasn´t yellowed. The zipper that holds the main bag on has lost some teeth 3/4 of the way closed, so I can only use the zipper to that location. I have seen this also on another VP45 bag. Not sure if it is preventable.
My girlfriend has the Touratech main bag only (side bags from Aerostich), and while I can´t speak for her, the mounting system on her bike is anything but quick, and the bag has a tendency to slide from side to side, but those are only my observations from my bike....
Cheers,
Rene

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  #6  
Old 29 Jul 2004
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Rene,

That is pretty much what I hoped to read. And if you are using the bags since 1988 the zippers have been holding very well I think.

Do I understand correctly that you can take the mainbag of a sort of baseplate that stays on the bike?
And can you also use the mainbag without the sidebags?
Is it possible to place only the mapholder on the baseplate, or do you always have to use the whole tankbag?


Thanks for the info!
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  #7  
Old 30 Jul 2004
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Fireboomer, Sorry , I was not 100% clear. I bought the bag 3 years ago for my 1988 GSPD.

On my model, there is a baseplate (thick cordura fabric) that secures by way of 4 nylon straps and plastic pieces (like those found on a rucksack for compression). For each bag, half of the zipper is on this piece, the other half of the zipper is on the removeable bag.

You can certainly use the top bag only (or the side bags) alone. They all remove independently of each other.

The clear mapcase is attached by way of big velcro pieces to the top of the topcase. The top of the baseplate is not velcro, so no you could not place the clear map case on the base plate, but with 25 cents worth of velcro you could fix that! Picture of baseplate with out bags here -
http://www.renedian.com/53103650LHside.JPG

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  #8  
Old 30 Jul 2004
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Sounds decent to me. A modular system. And I hope you used them intensively the past years. My Hein Gericke tankbag + sidebags had zippers that haven't last a year and straps that started to come apart after trip one.

Now the last question is will it fit on a F650 GS with a normal tank?
You don't happen to have neighbor with a F650 and a normal tank to try it out? :-)

I quite convinced we will buy this model. Gonna take a couple more days to look around and see if there are no other alternatives.
I found Wolfman and Famsa in the States. But they are not spectacular cheaper and with the shipment they become even more expensive.
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  #9  
Old 31 Jul 2004
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I would bet if the Touratech catalog is calling for this model to fit the F650GS, it probably will. I have modified the angle of the mounting straps to fit my tank set up. Oh, and I looked again, there IS velcro on the top of the baseplate, so you could run the map case directly on it.
Cheers,
Rene


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  #10  
Old 31 Jul 2004
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Just checked the touratech website again and there is a version of the VP45 tankbag specifically designed for the BMW F650 GS.
So it shoul fit. Think we will order it quite soon.

I'll post experiences with it here.


Pieter.
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  #11  
Old 24 Aug 2004
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Ok,
So we've received a VP 45 from Touratech. It sits very well on the bike. The thing seems to be ok.
The sidebags are sitting over the upper crashbars (also touratech). But I don't think this will be a problem.
I did expect a bit that there would be a raincover included, wich isn't.
Instead I'll make waterproof liners with plastic bags.
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  #12  
Old 26 Oct 2004
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I would be very interested to have your opinion on the Touratech side tank bags.
I'd like to use them to put fuel containers inside. Wath is the volume of them ?

Best regards.
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  #13  
Old 26 Oct 2004
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Last September we went to Spain. My girlfriend used them for 7500k's and after the trip they stayed on. Don't ask me why since they are empty. Guess she loves the look of the bike and the compliments she gets with it ;-)
But as I write: the tankbag and sidebags have been USED, not ABUSES. On tracks or dirt roads we went easy and rather slow.
The bike never went on its sides, so no idea how they would take an impact.

In general:
* good fixation
* looks decent en sturdy
* if you are a tall person they will be in the way for your knee's.
* mapholder works OK
* concept in general is OK.


We are happy with it and if I buy a new tankbag for my TA, it will also be the same one.


Question: why don't you place your jerrycans on the footpegs of the passenger? Placement is lower, better proteted against impact and way cheaper then the sidebags (4 good straps is all you need). Plus it is lost space filled in usefully.


Pieter.
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  #14  
Old 28 Oct 2004
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Thanks for the info. Sorry my english is very bad. What is the passager footpegs? Do you mean that I could fix a small jerrycans where the passager put his foot ? If it's correct, I don't do that because we are two on the bike and I'm looking for all the solutions to fix any luggage every where as possible !

Renaud.
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  #15  
Old 1 Nov 2004
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The footpeg are indeed the things where you place your feet on.
If you are two up that is indeed no option.

I think you could carry some fuel in the side-tankbags. But I think you can strap a jerrycan to the bike and be OK instead of buying the expensive tankbag.
In anyway you wonna have the weight as low as possible and a bit equally spread over the bike.

Major thing: take as little luggage with as possible. The lighter the happier!
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