Modern Vespa

I came up with a quick and easy way to add a bit of cargo space using just the canvas shopping bags I already use at the grocery store:
After loading the pet carrier I connected one handle from each of the two bags with a little karabiner and put them them over the bike on either side: (Photos are below in reverse order)

Then dropped the seat to keep them in place and ran a bungee through the two remaining handles to take some of the wight and keep the bags from sagging outward:

The finished product rode pretty good at about 40 mph the 2 miles home. I don't know that I want to use this for over the road trips, but getting home from the store was fine.

I might have have one more layer of fabric added to the handles for a bit more strength but I won't make it a priority unless I see them showing any wear.

great idea for the grocery! I will have to keep that in mind

Very good idea for getting groceries home, I'll have to get myself one of those karabiner thingies so I can do that and get more stuff home. Thanks for the idea.

Check the camping/outdoor section at your local department store or with the ropes at a hardware store.

And friendly to the environment, too. 8)

I'd go with two carabiners just to be on the safe side, and also because I'm an anal-retentive worry-wort.

I'm pretty sure the bag is more likely to break than the carabiner...

Thats a great idea, I'll be doing something like that for sure. you could even tie the bags together.

Thats me, taking out anything that is not absolutely vital

Thanks for sharing...if you're looking for a "bungie" like tie down...use this to secue 20lb bag of cat food to seat...check out ROK straps (combo bungee like material / nylon webbing).

If you had to do an emergency stop, would the packages likely shift quite a bit?

Awesome Idea.
I think I'll do the same and make the straps that close the bag on the same caribiner (so it nice and neat and there are no ropes/stings etc on top of the seat).
Thanks for the idea,
Dani

what a clever idea you've just tripled the carrying capacity of my scooter

Just ensure that the right bag can't hang too low so that it can touch the muffler and catch on fire. Many a motorcyclist has discovered this the hard way.

Thanks for the support and feedback!

Swinging on emergency stop: Yeah, they can rock forward a little, but I am fairly sure that I can still get my feet down. When looking down at them while I was at speed, I could not see that they were swining back in the breeze.

Using the karabiner through all 4 handles: that would work if there is little or nothing in the bags, but if the bags are filled up the outside handles are 8 or 10 inches further apart.

Bungees under the seat instead of on top: I will give that a try, I don't know that the seat will close as well. I kind of think that the high connection helps hold the outsides of the bags up and level.

Muffler heat: Way ahead of you -- I checked during the dry run and on the maiden voyage. I have a coupe bags that are longer and they might be be closer, but my green ones are well clear.

I am going to keep the clip and the cords (in addition to my normal bungee net) in the pet carrier, they take up little space and I should be able to come up with other bags in a pinch.

Looks like a great idea.
I like the looks of that cord. It appears to be adjustable. Most of what I've seen just have permanent hooks on the ends. Where can I find some like yours?

It came in a huge bucket of assorted bungees. There were 4 of these and I have used them more than any other in the assortment. Anything that you would normally tie, bind, or hithch - they are perfect, fast and adjustable. If you find them for sale by themselves I would buy more.

this!


LOVE this idea!

Great idea. With a little modification I will be adding to my carry capacity on short trips to grocery. Thanks!

I would love to see your additions/modifications.

Use asbestos bags, and have the tv dinner hot by the time you get home

Excellent idea, OnePrairiePiston, to maximize cargo capacity. You may not know them, but if you do, could you imagine two IKEA bags hanging on the sides? That would beat an SUV or anything we've seen from Vietnam

I was wondering what the wires at the top of the pet carrier go to.
Are these the IKEA bags you mean? Photo is from Google.

Those are the leads that I leave to the battery tender.

Yes, that's the one, and here is one in action, loaded with tons of groceries:

this thread. is brilliant. I was just wondering if I should get a topcase or something for groceries, but instead I will be using cloth totes and I will LOVE IT.

Hey Windbreaker - what's that saddle cushion thingy you have on the seat?

(Also, where the hell do you put your feet when you're toting that Ikea bag full of groceries?)

This is brilliant. I already have some spare carabiners laying around. Now I know what I can use them for.

Windbreaker's seat pad looks pretty comfy too!

Well done.

I'm off to Harbor Freight Tools, for their $1 Karabiners.

slick idea!

Thanks for posting that! I've been wondering what to do since I just switched out my stock seat for a new S seat & didn't realize that the new one doesn't have the handy dandy bag hook. I'll have to experiment with your idea.

This is my version. They are supermarket chiller bags. They have an insulated foil lining and zip up tops. Very stable and can hold heaps. $2.50 each

Oh the rub marks on the paint!!
My scooter is black and still new, so not for me

And Hi Pete, met you at Shoalhaven Heads on Sunday.
Dave