Keith_UK
04-12-2005, 12:40 AM
I took a ride-out (85 miles) this last Sunday afternoon for two reasons:-
1. Firstly, to enjoy the fine English Springtime weather; and
2. Secondly, to get just enough groceries from a nearby town's supermarket store to fill my new Bagster "Athena" tank bag. I wanted to see how the bag felt and positioned itself with a full (29 liter) cargo load.
Everything was going fine until I pulled into the store's gas station to re-fuel the STeed's tank. The good news is that rearward end clip-in attachments on the bag easily detach, which in turn means the bag can be swung up and pivot on the bag's forward swivel attachments to access the gas cap, thus avoiding the need to remove the bag completely and risk getting it dirty on an oily forecourt.
And now for the bad news! ....
.... When manoeuvring the bike at slow speed around the forecourt's pumps I had reason to lock the handlebars onto a full left-hand turn. Unfortunately, with the bars in this full LH lock position, the left grip's horn button comes exactly into contact with the corner of the bag's left-hand side strap container pocket. [Note that the bag has pockets on each side to store straps that enable the bag to convert into a back pack].
I attach a pic of the contact point, which I hope will help explain the position.
It was a bit disconcerting - and slightly embarrassing! - at the time to hear the horn blast off, just because I was manoeuvring a full LH turn. I quickly discovered that by yanking the bag down a little and to the left meant that this unwanted horn button contact could be avoided; but then the next contact point is the bottom of the windshield's rocker switch control, so that the windshield ends-up by lowering itself involuntarily.
My thoughts were that this might be quite a predicament, but I guess I'll need to deal with the issue by guarding these control buttons with my thumb when making a full-lock LH turn.
Is this is a design fault on Bagster's part?
By the way, I have Heli-Bar risers fitted, which means, of course, that my bar grips are not situated in the standard stock position. However, it does occur to me that the stock position might be even worse as far as this issue is concerned.
Thought you guys should be made aware of this 'snagette' that I've just accidentally discovered, especially as there's a group buy going on at the moment.
Thanks
KEITH (UK)
1. Firstly, to enjoy the fine English Springtime weather; and
2. Secondly, to get just enough groceries from a nearby town's supermarket store to fill my new Bagster "Athena" tank bag. I wanted to see how the bag felt and positioned itself with a full (29 liter) cargo load.
Everything was going fine until I pulled into the store's gas station to re-fuel the STeed's tank. The good news is that rearward end clip-in attachments on the bag easily detach, which in turn means the bag can be swung up and pivot on the bag's forward swivel attachments to access the gas cap, thus avoiding the need to remove the bag completely and risk getting it dirty on an oily forecourt.
And now for the bad news! ....
.... When manoeuvring the bike at slow speed around the forecourt's pumps I had reason to lock the handlebars onto a full left-hand turn. Unfortunately, with the bars in this full LH lock position, the left grip's horn button comes exactly into contact with the corner of the bag's left-hand side strap container pocket. [Note that the bag has pockets on each side to store straps that enable the bag to convert into a back pack].
I attach a pic of the contact point, which I hope will help explain the position.
It was a bit disconcerting - and slightly embarrassing! - at the time to hear the horn blast off, just because I was manoeuvring a full LH turn. I quickly discovered that by yanking the bag down a little and to the left meant that this unwanted horn button contact could be avoided; but then the next contact point is the bottom of the windshield's rocker switch control, so that the windshield ends-up by lowering itself involuntarily.
My thoughts were that this might be quite a predicament, but I guess I'll need to deal with the issue by guarding these control buttons with my thumb when making a full-lock LH turn.
Is this is a design fault on Bagster's part?
By the way, I have Heli-Bar risers fitted, which means, of course, that my bar grips are not situated in the standard stock position. However, it does occur to me that the stock position might be even worse as far as this issue is concerned.
Thought you guys should be made aware of this 'snagette' that I've just accidentally discovered, especially as there's a group buy going on at the moment.
Thanks
KEITH (UK)