Evaluation
EVALUATION
CYCLE WORLD
BagMan Hard/Soft luggage by Vetter
Somewhere between throw’em-on-and-ride-away soft saddlebags and bolt-’em-onforever hard luggage is an accessory niche heretofore unfilled. What now fills that best-of-both-worlds niche is the BagMan Hard/Soft luggage from Vetter.
Imagine a mounting system like that used on the standard BagMan soft saddlebags: a couple of Velcro-lined straps clip to the edges of the seat, and this harness positions the throwover saddlebags, which also have a strap that fits somewhere around the rear footpeg and holds the bags down. Squeeze a couple of quick-detach clips and the saddlebags lift off, just like that.
As far as mounting soft luggage goes, that’s standard fare. The BagMan straps take a little longer to attach and remove than those on some other systems, but the attachment is more secure.
As for the bags themselves, well, they’re hard; there isn’t anything soft about them. Only in appearance do they resemble soft luggage, and that’s only because they’re covered with the same sort of black Cordura material of which most soft bags are made. But the operative word is covered. Beneath that Cordura exterior are hard plastic shells that are just as solid as most hard luggage, and that provide form for the saddlebags. What the material does is provide a hinge for the shells, and also a zippered closing. Between the outer material and the inner shell is a thin layer of foam.
This is an odd mixture. The bags could just as easily be made with just a hard shell, but then they wouldn’t look like soft saddlebags; and the Vetter people know that there is a good market for soft bags, which is why these BagMan items look like the soft type.
With this compromise comes a different set of pluses and minuses. On the minus side, the bags aren’t easy to open; the zipper must be undone all the way around before the bags can be emptied or filled. And there are none of the various pockets and pouches that are found on so many soft saddlebags. Also, the bags themselves aren’t waterproof, since moisture can seep in past the zipper and the join line of the two hard shell-halves. That’s why easily attached waterproof covers are included. There are pull-out liners, as well, so the BagMan bags can remain attached to the bike while the rider pulls out the inner liner and carries away whatever’s in them.
On the plus side, the BagMan bags are the neatestlooking examples of soft luggage made. The Premier version has red stitching around the edges and an embroidered name. There’s a simulated front flap that adds just a hint of shape to the bags, along with the bulgedout shape of the plastic liners. For carrying odd-shaped items that wouldn’t fit in a hard saddlebag, the liners are easily removed, allowing you to have the option of an allsoft or soft-looking saddlebag. Like all soft luggage, the BagMan bags can be installed on most any bike without much difficulty. They remove quickly and don’t weigh much, about 7 pounds empty. Overall size is approximately 15 inches long, 12 inches high and 7 inches deep, yielding a volume of about three-quarters of a cubic foot per bag. Color is black. Only black.
What the BagMan luggage does best is provide durable, good-looking carrying capacity at a price below that of hard luggage. The Premier version lists at $149.95, while the standard model, without wedge shape, colored stitching and beading, costs $139.95. And for the rider who wants a more conventional soft saddlebag, Vetter still has the standard BagMan bags for $129.95.
These Hard/Soft bags are not the epitome of utility. They are well-made, however, and offer a degree of style that the more utilitarian throw-over bags can never provide. 1§1
