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| | [[Category:Luggage & Touring]] | | [[Category:Luggage & Touring]] |
| − | '''The cheapest option'''
| + | ====The cheapest option==== |
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| | Just use a duffel bag and a bungee net, but... | | Just use a duffel bag and a bungee net, but... |
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| − | ...if you have a little money you might consider an Eclipse Rumble Pack tail bag. It's 12x11x7" high (expandable to 12") and fits nicely on the rear portion of the 250 seat. It has an adjustable bungee cord attach system and the four hooks fit perfectly on the 250 bike hooks. Costs about $65. | + | ...if you have a little money, you might consider something like an [http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/eclipse-luggage/ Eclipse Rumble Pack] tail bag. It's 12x11x7" high (expandable to 12") and fits nicely on the rear portion of the 250 seat. It has an adjustable bungee cord attach system and the four hooks fit perfectly on the 250 bike hooks. |
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| − | Eclipse makes another nice one called The Fast Pack, and Tour Master, Ocelot and Lockhart make some good ones too. | + | Eclipse makes another nice one called The Fast Pack, and Nelson Rigg, Tour Master, Ocelot and Lockhart make some good ones, too. |
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| − | '''Or you can make one yourself using a soft-sided cooler'''
| + | ====Or you can make one yourself using a soft-sided cooler==== |
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| | It's an Eddie Bauer 18-can cooler from Target; regularly ~$30. Buy a $5 grommet kit at Wal-Mart (camping section) and install four grommets in the bottom four corners. Kit includes all you need; you basically punch a hole, insert top and bottom grommet pieces, and hammer them together; pretty easy. Then, use some small bungee cords (about 8 inches long and 1/4" in diameter) as follows: fold in half, stick loop through grommet (loop to the outside) and connect them in two pairs; one pair in front, one pair in rear. Hook them together with a short segment of coat hanger in the middle (if they're not quite long enough without it) and crimp so they won't come apart. | | It's an Eddie Bauer 18-can cooler from Target; regularly ~$30. Buy a $5 grommet kit at Wal-Mart (camping section) and install four grommets in the bottom four corners. Kit includes all you need; you basically punch a hole, insert top and bottom grommet pieces, and hammer them together; pretty easy. Then, use some small bungee cords (about 8 inches long and 1/4" in diameter) as follows: fold in half, stick loop through grommet (loop to the outside) and connect them in two pairs; one pair in front, one pair in rear. Hook them together with a short segment of coat hanger in the middle (if they're not quite long enough without it) and crimp so they won't come apart. |
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| − | [[Image:tailbag 1.jpg|230px]] [[Image:grommet kit.jpg|110px]] [[Image:tailbag 2.jpg|150px]] [[Image:tailbag 3.jpg|230px]] | + | [[Image:tailbag 1.jpg|230px]] |
| | + | [[Image:grommet kit.jpg|110px]] |
| | + | [[Image:tailbag 2.jpg|150px]] |
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| | + | You can also get some cord clips (these were $1.25 at REI) to prevent the cords from creeping back into the tail bag when you aren't paying attention. If you measure carefully, you should be able to place the grommets so the clips don't touch the paint on your bike. |
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| − | '''And there's always the Rubbermaid Action Packer'''
| + | [[image:cooler-2.JPG|150px]] |
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| − | Payne has inspired some members to create a lockable, waterproof trunk for occasional runs to the grocery store and for storing helmet and cycling gear when hiking, picnicing, etc. Pretty simple. Cost a total of about $25. | + | The finished product |
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| | + | [[Image:tailbag 3.jpg|230px]] |
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| | + | Of course, there are many variations on this theme. The bag below was found at Wal-Mart for about 10 bucks. It's a fishing tackle bag, brand name "Okeechobee Flats" (so don't go looking in the automotive section). It has six major storage areas, including an inside pocket (great for map storage). There is a mesh pocket on the outside that may be good for rain gear. It offers good flexibility for the price. |
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| | + | [[Image:517073869_7db0dd87e5_b-1.jpg|180px]] [[Image:517087052_2f14bbbedb_b-1.jpg|100px]] [[Image:524207864_bc1e1f65fe_b-2.jpg|130px]] |
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| | + | The bag looks to be made well and semi-waterproof. It comes in various colors. You can attach it to your bike using the same method as the soft-sided cooler (above). |
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| | + | ====And there's always the Rubbermaid Action Packer==== |
| | + | |
| | + | Payne has inspired some (quite a few, actually) members to create a lockable, waterproof trunk for occasional runs to the grocery store and for storing helmet and cycling gear when hiking, picnicking, etc. Pretty simple. |
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| | It's a 56 liter Rubbermaid clone attached to the passenger seat, with bungees mounted inside the trunk and with U-bolts holding onto the grab bar for extra security. Wrap the U-bolts with electrical tape and put cloth patches on the trunk where it contacts the grab bar to keep either the U-bolts or trunk from scratching the grab bar. | | It's a 56 liter Rubbermaid clone attached to the passenger seat, with bungees mounted inside the trunk and with U-bolts holding onto the grab bar for extra security. Wrap the U-bolts with electrical tape and put cloth patches on the trunk where it contacts the grab bar to keep either the U-bolts or trunk from scratching the grab bar. |
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| | *Wal-Mart. Not only do they have the black we all know and love, but also blue and red. They're in the auto section and sell for about $15. Using their standard pricing scheme, that would be $14.96. | | *Wal-Mart. Not only do they have the black we all know and love, but also blue and red. They're in the auto section and sell for about $15. Using their standard pricing scheme, that would be $14.96. |
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| | + | '''But wait, there's more. Much more.''' |
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| − | '''Ventura Rack Option'''
| + | This is the 24 gallon model, purchased at Canadian Tire. It fits a jacket, pants, boots, gloves, helmet, and spine protector... all of it, with room to spare. You could even fit small mammals in there if you wanted to. Our rider claims the the box is actually no wider than most shoulders with gear on, so it doesn't affect visibility. |
| − | | + | |
| − | A rack on the back can make organizing a little easier. You might want to consider the [http://www.ventura-bike.com/english/products/pack_system/index.html Ventura rack].
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| − | '''Evolution of a touring bike'''
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| − | Here are some of the possible combinations of luggage for the 250. If you are creative and pack well, you can be gone for a good, long time on your little Ninja.
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| − | 1. Bungee cords/nets are the only accessories used to hold this bag in place. Good for sleeping bag, clothes and such. Works well if not carrying many tools.
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| − | [[Image:touring-01.jpg|150px]]
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| − | 2. [http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/StoreCatalogDisplay/c-10111/s-10101 JC Whitney] trunk mounted on the grab bar. A good setup for the money. Not much can fit into the trunk alone, for touring purposes, anyway. Middle and right pictures show mounting plate and location.
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| − | [[Image:touring-02.jpg|150px]] [[Image:trunk-02.jpg|150px]] [[Image:trunk-03.jpg|150px]]
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| − | 3. Here is a more serious setup. Still the same trunk, but used in a combination with the Ventura rack. The trunk is used to carry tools/tire repair kit/air pump/oil/chain lube etc. and some items that need to be easily accessed (such as rain gear). The cooler bungeed to the trunk is used for clothes. That touring setup is very good for long trips where you'd stay in motels (or a friend's house) and don't need any camping gear.
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| − | [[Image:touring-03.jpg|150px]]
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| − | 4. Same as 3 but with a sleeping bag attached.
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| − | [[Image:touring-04.jpg|150px]]
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| − | 5. And here is a serious touring setup. Includes full camping gear and full trunk of tools ... just in case. Rubbermaid Action Packer recommended; Cheap JC Whitney seat cushion not.
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| − | Most people don't end up needing the tools/oil/patch kits, (knock on wood), but having them on board may make you less worried.
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| − | [[Image:touring-05.jpg|150px]] | + | [[image:IMG_5090-3.jpg|150px]] |
| | + | [[image:IMG_5087-2.jpg|150px]] |
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| − | 6. An even more serious setup. 2-up camping trip. Good for a couple of days with a thin passenger, as the rear seat space is somewhat decreased. No rear grab bar, but the tent takes up a bit more space. The saddle bags are from [http://www.chaseharper.com/ Chase Harper].
| + | ====Ventura Rack Option==== |
| | | | |
| − | [[Image:touring-06.jpg|150px]] [[Image:touring-06-01.jpg|150px]] | + | A rack on the back can make organizing a little easier. You might want to consider the [http://www.ventura-bike.com/content/home.aspx Ventura rack]. Here are the directions, to give you a little more information. |
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| − | 7. Another serious camping setup. TourMaster Cortech saddlebags. A $10 compression sack from a sporting-goods store with 1" strapping sewn on by a local seamstress for $10 and 1" male buckles from ACE hardware ($1 each) on each end to mate with the female buckles on the saddlebags. Compression sack holds sleeping bag, pillow, and tent. Tent polls in small bag underneath straps. Sleeping pad attached to grab bar.
| + | [[Ventura rack]] in FAQ |
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| − | [[Image:Campingsetup.jpg|150px]] | + | [[Image:ventura1.gif|150px]] |
| | + | [[Image:ventura2.gif|150px]] |
Just use a duffel bag and a bungee net, but...
Eclipse makes another nice one called The Fast Pack, and Nelson Rigg, Tour Master, Ocelot and Lockhart make some good ones, too.
It's an Eddie Bauer 18-can cooler from Target; regularly ~$30. Buy a $5 grommet kit at Wal-Mart (camping section) and install four grommets in the bottom four corners. Kit includes all you need; you basically punch a hole, insert top and bottom grommet pieces, and hammer them together; pretty easy. Then, use some small bungee cords (about 8 inches long and 1/4" in diameter) as follows: fold in half, stick loop through grommet (loop to the outside) and connect them in two pairs; one pair in front, one pair in rear. Hook them together with a short segment of coat hanger in the middle (if they're not quite long enough without it) and crimp so they won't come apart.
You can also get some cord clips (these were $1.25 at REI) to prevent the cords from creeping back into the tail bag when you aren't paying attention. If you measure carefully, you should be able to place the grommets so the clips don't touch the paint on your bike.
Of course, there are many variations on this theme. The bag below was found at Wal-Mart for about 10 bucks. It's a fishing tackle bag, brand name "Okeechobee Flats" (so don't go looking in the automotive section). It has six major storage areas, including an inside pocket (great for map storage). There is a mesh pocket on the outside that may be good for rain gear. It offers good flexibility for the price.
The bag looks to be made well and semi-waterproof. It comes in various colors. You can attach it to your bike using the same method as the soft-sided cooler (above).
Payne has inspired some (quite a few, actually) members to create a lockable, waterproof trunk for occasional runs to the grocery store and for storing helmet and cycling gear when hiking, picnicking, etc. Pretty simple.
It's a 56 liter Rubbermaid clone attached to the passenger seat, with bungees mounted inside the trunk and with U-bolts holding onto the grab bar for extra security. Wrap the U-bolts with electrical tape and put cloth patches on the trunk where it contacts the grab bar to keep either the U-bolts or trunk from scratching the grab bar.
This takes 2 minutes to put on or take off the bike. Attach the U-bolts, hook up the bungees, and away you go. It's got combination luggage locks that keep casual meth-heads out. A determined thief wouldn't have any problem just cutting into the side of the thing with a big knife.
On a test run to a distant grocery store the trunk stayed very secure, even in a downpour on the interstate. The paper grocery bags were completely dry. This thing doesn't have gaskets, so in case of a prolonged downpour, things might get a bit damp.
The Action Packer should be available in many hardware or other building/contractor supply stores. Here is a list of known suppliers, as of early Fall, 2006:
This is the 24 gallon model, purchased at Canadian Tire. It fits a jacket, pants, boots, gloves, helmet, and spine protector... all of it, with room to spare. You could even fit small mammals in there if you wanted to. Our rider claims the the box is actually no wider than most shoulders with gear on, so it doesn't affect visibility.
A rack on the back can make organizing a little easier. You might want to consider the Ventura rack. Here are the directions, to give you a little more information.
