Modern Vespa

So I've been quite lame getting my act together for Cannonball. I admittingly was overwhelmed with the onslaught of hotel bookings in the hours after registration and might be sleeping behind a dumpster or in a Walmart parking spot.

So I might have to pack-mule my GTS for the trip with a bivy and some other gear.

I have been dabbling in ADV land and have been looking at soft bags. Curious if anyone has attempted or rides with the over seat kind?


should fit a bivy, sleeping pad, and cans of hobo beans.

my immediate concern would be rubbing on the sides damaging paint. Especially if significant dust etc gets between the bags and body. One solution to reduce this could be that thick clear plastic film that you could stick to the body (forget the name of this film).

I have the same concern and would probably add that 3M protectant film. I might do that anyway pre-Cannonball as I know it's hard on the bike. Or just duct tape the sh*t out if it.

A larger topcase, like a Givi V47 or similar, holds a two person tent, sleeping mat and sleeping bag easily.

Combined with one drybag on the pillion seat, that might also work out for you instead of the saddle bags.

This (the dry bag) is also easier to take off, when you need to leave the bike where you can't see it.

There is a floorboard bag called T-Bag from German manufacturer SEA ´N´ SAND for the GTS:

https://www.seansand.de/english/

Also available for PX.





Last edited by GermanGTSDriver on Fri, 10 Mar 2023 02:05:47 +0000; edited 2 times

I have a shorter one of those by Givi. Useful but can rub against the lower part of the glovebox if on bad roads for long periods.

EDIT: found it https://www.givi.it/givi-products/soft-bags-for-motorcycles-and-scooters/tunnel-bags-for-scooters/ea135


Near Mount Roland in Tasmania circa January 2015

I had this bag for a while. It's awesome and in my opinion it's the best way to carry luggage. Because the bag sits so low and forward that' it doesn't really affect the handling much.

definitely placing some of the weight towards the front instead of only to the rear is a good thing

Problem is most people carry their spare fuel on a rack over the battery compartment. There are stretches where you are likely to need at least a few liters of gas, more if you leave early to beat the heat. In 2016 I left a bit after 5 am on a Sunday and I couldn't find a place open or with self serve pumps that didn't require a coop card to activate until after 10am. If I hadn't had a 10L can I'd have been screwed.

In 2016 I rode both ways and used a pair of saddlebags designed for a sports bike. I found they fit better on the scoot and I was able to run the straps under the seat. If you have crash bars on the rear you can tie down the bottom to prevent flapping. If not, you can secure to the footpeg but I'd put down the protective film. Thought best if you can get bin space on one of the support trucks to carry your stuff during the cannonbal. That's what I did after I got to the start.

I'd add a front rack to distribute weight better adding some forward.

SEA ´N´ SAND offers specific protection against damage on legshild/glovebox:
https://www.seansand.de/unsere-produkte/t-bag-gts/lackschutzfolie/

They recommend that protection especially for matte paints: "For all non-matte finishes, even after more than 6 years of T-BAG customer feedback:
no abrasion marks or shiny spots on the normal GTS paints have been reported to us or noticed by us ourselves."
(Quote from link above)

I've used the Kuryakyn Torke duffel bag on my last two tours. This tour, I'm just using a regular backpack with a rain fly and some ROK straps.

This particular backpack is the Patagonia Cragsmith, which lets you zip off the back panel to get easy access to the whole compartment. That's a huge improvement over the frustrating waterproof zipper on the Kuryakyn.

The added convenience of easy access is a big deal, and I'm not convinced the moto-specific strap system of the Kuryakyn is any better. In fact, I suspect one of the straps failed causing me to wipe out in a corner in the rainy mountains of southern Italy. (The strap was broken post-crash, and it doesn't make sense for the bike to have landed on the bag if the crash caused the strap to break.)

In short, moto-specific gear isn't always an improvement over just strapping something generic down.

I haven't used saddlebags, so I can't help you there. Good luck with your search!

To echo cdwise, running the straps under the seat (vs over the seat) is more functional. My biggest gripe with soft cases on a GTS is the straps getting in the way when refueling...second to wind drag affecting top speed with larger volume bags.

I would suggest smaller panniers and a dry bag on the pillion seat secured with Rok straps or something similar.

Do you have a bivvy you're using already or are you still planning?

Thank you for all of the suggestion thus far. Good to know about the gas cdwise. I was planning on carrying spare fuel, but did not think about closed stations on Sundays.

I spent the last few years stripping the bike of a lot of it's storage functionality (removed the rear rack, the grab rails, and put on a solo seat). I've never owned a top box and before I reinstall everything, the soft bags seemed like a good place to start. I was also thinking I could utilize them with my new dual sport. I was wondering about the impact of wind. Liked the idea of moving the weight forward. I do not yet have a bivvy, but my REI dividend will cover the cost of the one I'm looking at. I am 100% in the planning phase.

I'm doing my own version of the Cannonball, 1800 mile trip across TX and OK in May. I mounted a Rotopax on my top box and added a front rack with a Cortech bag to distribute the weight. Rain gear and assorted other stuff in the Cortech. My tent and air mattress fits in the pet carrier and an old BMW soft bag fits in the top box with clothes. So far no need for a seat bag or panniers. But a friend has offered a pair of soft panniers if necessary.

Brook Dain is a very experienced Vespa rider and has used Giant Loop Saddlebags quite well on a Vespa.

So you might give this product a good look. Pricey, but top notch.

https://www.giantloopmoto.com/giant-loop-great-basin-saddlebag-on-a-vespa/

Seven hundo! Yike$!

I looks like a great bag and a really good use of the folding rack.

I was not familiar with Brook Dain. Thank you for sharing. Lots of good content to check out.

Brook Dain is ADVRider on the cannonball forum.

Several brands of two wheel rear seat area touring bags. I've had two, one is RoadGear and looks like a gymbag but purpose built for motorcycles. Has spots for bungees and very durable in weather-carry in your stuff each night.
It's got many thousands of miles on it. The other bag got stolen in Houston, TX motel while eating. I use a hard case on my rear carrier, the soft bag and have a front carrier too. I would not use Vespa bags that hang on the engine cowl as the design I have is best.

I've tried saddlebags on a Vespa, and they affected the speed and handling more than just about anything except eight gallons of gas on the rear rack.
If you make it so nothing is wider than the legshield, you will have a much better handling experience.
One of the things I've learned about Vespas and scooters in general is that any time I have a great idea that seems completely obvious, like saddlebags, the reason nobody does it becomes apparent as soon as you try. Piaggio offered saddlebags on a couple of scooters briefly. Since then, not a peep.

..and that, dear friends, is all I needed. Eight days of poor handing is not my idea of a good time.

Much appreciation to everyone who commented.

I will still consider some of the soft case options, but they will begrudgingly work with the back of the seat and rear folding rack that I will begrudgingly reinstall.

Consider it a temporary thing. That's one reason to use a front rack that hangs on not screws in the front cowl.

I always use a bag on the floorboards , it keeps the centre of gravity low and it's position between the wheels does'nt affect the balance .

Another way ...

Saw this use of a backpack on insta