Kawasaki GPz and RKA SuperSport 33 Soft Saddlebags
In our recent Power Tourers Comparison, we pitted Kawasaki's excellent GPz1100 against Suzuki's new bad-boy Bandit 1200 in a test of open-class sport touring prowess. Needless to say, soft luggage would be required for our testing venues.
When we went to pick up our GPz 1100, we were surprised to find Kawasaki had outfitted the bike with a set of its optional designed-for-the-GPz hard-cover soft saddlebags. Cool. One bike down, but what to do with el Bandito?
A quick look around the MO offices revealed nothing but old torn and tattered luggage that had already seen too many miles. Not the stuff you want showing up in test bike photos. So we placed a call to Richard Battles at RK Accessories in Santa Rosa, California, and he offered up RKA's new-for-'97 SuperSport 33-liter premium saddlebags for our test. While he was at it, he threw in a matching 16-liter SuperSport expandable magnetic tankbag. Now we were ready for some real sport touring.
They lose points with their complicated mounting system that requires opening the bags to release two dzus fasteners that hold the bags to their frame. If the bags were full, it means rummaging through your gear to do so. The RKA bags, on the other hand, are a model of simplicity.
Constructed of rugged 1000 denier cordura combined with 200 denier nylon (raincover stuff) and 3/8 inch foam for the inside lining, the SuperSport 33 liter saddlebags are designed to fit almost any motorcycle. Their over-the-seat mounting system means the bags can be removed in a matter of seconds without disturbing the bags' contents. Each bag also comes with heavy-duty webbed cam-buckle straps front and rear for securing each bag to the passenger footpeg brackets and rear turnsignal stalks. This system keeps the bags stable in heavy acceleration and braking situations.
The RKA luggage also has a Velcro-closed flap over its YKK zippers, but, unlike the Kawasaki bags, it's a single, large flap that's easy to open and seal. The bags are reinforced with an internal support system of .060 ABS inserts, and have a Sherpa fleece facing to protect the motorcycle's painted bodywork. An internal support strap insures the bags will not sag into the tire or onto the exhaust pipes.
According to RKA, the SuperSport 33 saddlebags were designed for modern sportbikes that often come with a solo seat cowl over the passenger area, or simply just have a solo seat. The bags' tapering, airfoil design provides for clearance over today's large, high-mounted exhaust canisters found on most sportbikes.
Despite the glitches, there are some nice features to Kawasaki's bags as well. Once installed, they don't move around, staying firmly secured at any speed. Off the bike, there's a built-in cordura carrying handle for transporting the bags to your hotel room. And the GPz's saddlebags expand a considerable amount as you pack in gear.
Maybe Kawasaki should have fitted the excellent bags used on their own Concours instead.
The Kawasaki system is available as an option to the GPz1100 from your local Kawasaki dealer. The RKA SuperSport system is available from RKA at (800) 349-1-RKA, fax (707) 579-5046, or visit their web site at http://www.rka-luggage.com.
More by Tom Fortune, Managing Editor
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