Craven Classic Saddlebags
Craven Classic Saddlebags
EVALUATION
Ken Craven is the very model of a modern British entrepreneur: witty, sophisticated, straightforward, and every inch a gentleman. Being an inventive fellow, he developed fiberglass saddlebags, or panniers, about a quarter of a century ago when he wanted a sturdy means of carrying luggage on his motorcycles. A lot of other touring motorcyclists around the globe were interested in the same so Craven has sold thousands of sets of panniers over the years.
As frequently happens, the man behind the product finds other things to do and other people step in to continue production. While Ken Craven is no longer actively involved in the production of Craven equipment, the products still reflect the same kind of thinking.
Many other companies have since introduced saddlebags but no one has ever offered the same virtues the Craven panniers offer. Take the Craven Classic panniers, for instance. These are the latest model offered by Craven. They are larger than previous Craven bags, holding a claimed 39 liters (about 1.35 cu. ft.) in each bag. Weight is a moderate 26.5 lb., including carrier. They are side opening and disconnect from the carrier so as to be useable as luggage. Like all Craven equipment. they are made of laminated fiberglass.
Used to be that all saddlebags were made of fiberglass, but then there was a time when all saddlebags were made of leather, too. Today Craven is the only company making luggage-style saddlebags of fiberglass.
Fiberglass is a good material for saddlebags; strong, versatile, and it adapts well to small volume production. It's also moderately expensive, particularly when compared to the latest injection molded plastics. On the Classic panniers the fiberglass is ‘/s-in. thick overall with areas such as the edge where the top mates with the body of the bag made Vio in. thick so it can hold a special neoprene gasket.
Because of the construction, the Classics are enormously strong. A 150-lb. man can bound up and down on a saddlebag and not hurt it. The Craven literature says the bags will act as rear crash bars on a motorcycle, because of the strength.
No less sturdy is the steel carrier to which the panniers mount. The carrier supplied fit our long-term Yamaha XS750 Special. Main carrier tubes were 3/a-in. steel tube with 'A by 3/A in. flat steel extending forward to the passenger footpegs.
Mounting the carrier to the Yamaha only took about half an hour but it took another half hour to relocate the turn signals to the carrier. The main frame attaches to the top shock mount and the end of the motorcycle frame, with the lower assembly running to the footpegs. The top part of the carrier forms a rack behind the seat. On the carrier sent, the rack can hinge back, after loosening two wing nuts, so the hinged seat of the standard Yamaha XS750 can still be lifted, a good idea.
Like the rest of the equipment, the connections between the bags and the carrier are exceedingly straightforward. Too much so. in fact. Rubber grommets are held by U-shaped strap steel on the back of the panniers. The grommets attach onto Lshaped hooks on the carrier, when the bags are mounted. There are two sets of grommets on the back of the bags, one in front and one in the rear, both about a third of the way from the top of the bags. At the bottom of the bag. on the back, is a dzus fastener which is held by a backing plate on the bags. It fastens to a spring-clip on the lower part of the carrier.
In theory, the saddlebags mount to the carrier by slipping the two top grommets over the L-shaped hooks, then the dzus fastener twists to lock the bottom of the bags onto the carrier. The advantages of the system are that the bags can be disconnected from the outside and the mounting is sturdy. The disadvantages of the system are that the grommets do not hook over the brackets easily, the dzus fasteners don't always line up just right and two padlocks (not provided) are needed to lock the dzus fasteners closed.
If an owner chooses to add padlocks, they won’t use the same keys as the keys which operate the latches on the bags. During our testing one rider closed the saddlebags, twisted the latch closed, removed the key and handed it to another rider who hopped on the bike, took off down the road and had the cover of one of the saddlebags fly open. The fault wasn’t that the latch broke, but that it's possible to lock the bags without the latch actually hooking closed. Being more careful, we found the latches had to be twisted closed until we heard a click, then the key removed. An owner could get used to the system, but there’s a margin of error possible that shouldn't exist.
Overall the shape and style are pleasing enough. For relatively large bags, the Classics appear trim, with a molded-in edge on the outside and a wrinkle-finish band around the outside edge. They are available in gloss white or gloss black and even after one of the tops fell open and scraped the pavement for half a mile, the surface wasn't unduly marred, testimony to the sturdy construction.
Because the bags are relatively rectangular, they are easy to load, once removed from the bike. They mount relatively low and far forward, the better to not intertere with handling, and were 32.5 in. wide when mounted, about average. Unfortunately, for their size there is an important item which can’t be carried in the bags: a helmet. Without making the bags mount farther to the sides, the inside wall of the hag could be bulged out an extra two inches in the middle and room made for a helmet. We've become accustomed to stor ing helmets in saddlebags when out shop ping or using motorcycles for transporta tion and miss the convenience offered by many of the other saddlebags available.
Water sealing of the two:edged gasket was very good. After riding through half an hour of rain, we checked the bags and found them dry inside. But they're not completely waterproof. After finding the bags to remain dry under ordinary condi tions, they were soaked with a hose and some water entered the bags. Overall, seal ing is very good. A couple of weeks later. however we noticed the chromed brackets which hold the rubber handles were rust-
Like so many other British products. the Craven Classic saddlebags are totally straightforward and sturdy as houses. For the person who values strength over all other qualities. Craven bags are just the ticket. When it comes to convenience. however, a number of more recent and ingenious products outstrip the traditional Cravens and may be better value for the money.
Craven equipment is available to fit a large variety of old and new motorcycles (including many vintage British bikes) and is available in the U.S. from Tom Ander son. P.O. Box 472, Freeport, Ill. 61032. Price of a set of Classic saddlebags. includ ing appropriate carrier and attachments, is 325. Other, less expensive, saddlebags are also available from Craven.
