ST1300 Tie down points

[tx_northstar]

Hello,
I am currently planning a May Big Bend trip. We will be camping for 6 nights weaving our way from Denton, TX to BB and back through Austin & the Tx hill country. I did an overnight to Talamena, OK (490 miles RT) as a gear shakedown and to get a feel for the loaded bike. I loaded in the same manner as I used to load my 05 DL1000 Strom. One large waterproof duffel over the seat & saddle bags then the tent, bedroll and sleeping pad lashed to the bag. Once on the road I noticed one major problem, my mirrors were worthless. Yjr look back across the bags, so anything more than a few inches wider than the seat blocks them.

Is this something to have to live with? I tried mounting everything along the seat but other than the passenger foot pegs, I cannot identify any forward mounting points. I only ride one up so gear on the passenger seat is just a backrest.

Any advice would be great.

Thanks, Glenn

[G wizz]

Hello,
I am currently planning a May Big Bend trip. We will be camping for 6 nights weaving our way from Denton, TX to BB and back through Austin & the Tx hill country. I did an overnight to Talamena, OK (490 miles RT) as a gear shakedown and to get a feel for the loaded bike. I loaded in the same manner as I used to load my 05 DL1000 Strom. One large waterproof duffel over the seat & saddle bags then the tent, bedroll and sleeping pad lashed to the bag. Once on the road I noticed one major problem, my mirrors were worthless. Yjr look back across the bags, so anything more than a few inches wider than the seat blocks them.

Is this something to have to live with? I tried mounting everything along the seat but other than the passenger foot pegs, I cannot identify any forward mounting points. I only ride one up so gear on the passenger seat is just a backrest.


Any advice would be great.

Thanks, Glenn

They make mirror extentions ... have you considered those?

[bigTom]

Not for the 1300, the mirrors are integrated.

I tie mine on the long way, and tend to go high rather than wide. Is why they call me 'uncle Jed' when I show up....

[ImRubicon]

a few use add-ons to the windshield like these
or learn to look more and move the mirrors out a bit . Either way once you start packing stuff you rear view does get limited. heck Im a big guy and my arse and shoulders block some view, but you are right the ST1300 starts as soon as you set one bag sideways.
Always thought the mirrors could have been a couple inches higher
also maybe small spot mirrors ,the little round ones in truck stops or wally world
http://www.saeng.com/category.php?category=61

[tx_northstar]

I like the idea of spot mirrors, maybe some sort of clip on. I am not above rigging, like I mentioned, I used to own a V-strom:)

Big Tom, when you tie down the long way, what do you anchor the front of the bag to? I am experimenting with the pass foot pegs. The grab bar on the ST is so far back that to get close to center the straps are just inches apart and my duffle hangs off the back and partially obstructs the beke light.

Any pics would be helpful. I saw a few in the "Loaded" thread but no close ups of anchoring.

Thanks!

[Bender]

What I've done in the past... just run a strap under the seat, then around your bag. Your sitting on the seat, so very slim chance the seats going to blow off. :rolleyes:

[tx_northstar]

Great idea with the strap under the seat! I am what could be called "big boned" and I am sure the weight could keep the strap secure.

[bigTom]

I built an auxiliary rack, but the real deal is circle straps. Like I use to tie the handlebars down on the lift of the trailer. I wrapped the back, top frame with 2 pair, and put the open ends out on the seat. Perfect for lashing....

I haven't seen them lately, but I got two pair at Walmart a couple years ago, about $4 per pair. I got another 2 pair from a google search on the internet for $2 per pair and $2 shipping. They are really good ones and are RED:)

I now have a set up to make straps, I haven't made a current set for the ST. I'll post the results here, when I do...

Edit: In my Picasa Albums, Jerome and Mingus Mountain see Jerome Landmark. In 666 SToc 999 see From the Jed Clampett... and Uncle Jed helped me... Check the bungee lash points carefully, you'll see the straps...

[ImRubicon]

under the seat is a couple of hooks and I use rok straps there they keep the front stuff down

[Papa Ritch]

I had the GOOD wife make some short strap about 8" long to hook to helmet hook under the seat,I leave them on of to time, then I uses 2 ROK adjustable strap [I cross them over the bags.] to the back hand hold. It work for me. Ritch :tent7:

[bobalou]

I'd go over to ST-Owners website, same name only with a .com, I recon. Great group of fine folks.

Then I'd link up with Bamarider of the same site. He also has a personal site, only bamarider.com. The dude rides all over with his stuff tied down to his ST. He offers great insight and is one heck of a good person.

I figure the best is Helen two wheels stuff. I think she sold out or is linked to another site. Just Google "Helen Two wheels". Then you have a host of other nifty gagetry. I just use long velcro strips to the frame grab rails (other kind of ride) and short lengths of rope for this poor kid. Keeping it short is the key in my opinion. By the way, never, ever , ever use elastic, rubber straps.

[tx_northstar]

The ROK and circle straps look like a must have. And of rope, I was experimenting and made a few loops from some 500lb anchor line to loop through the passenger pegs so I could run a strap through or just attach a strap hook to the looped rope.

Great ideas and thanks for the photos! I think I will try a mock loading this weekend and try to put everyone's advise to practice.

Glenn

[Alan]

under the seat is a couple of hooks and I use rok straps there they keep the front stuff down

I use the underseat helmet locking hooks for my straps also. Out back I have a custom rack that provided easy tie down spots.

[tx_northstar]

Does anyone here have experience with the motofizz large camper seat bag (trunk) sold through Aerostich riders warehouse? I have seen a few reviews, mostly complaining about it not being water tight, something I can live with in Texas. It looks to have good universal mounting as well as several sets of anchor points and “D” rings for lashing gear to the bag. That would seem to solve some of my tie down & anchoring issues. However, at $177 plus shipping it seems like a high price to pay.

http://www.aerostich.com/packing-it-in/seat-bags-and-tail-bags/seat-and-rack-bags/motofizz-camping-seat-bags-large.html

[bigTom]

quote by tx_northstar
However, at $177 plus shipping it seems like a high price to pay.

Now there is the precise reason I will never have a review:) It looks really good in the catalog, doesn't it??

[Mr. Guy]

Have you taken a look at Rev-Pack's gear?

http://revpack.com/motorcycle/main.html

I don't own any of their gear, but I have read good reviews of it. And reasonably priced.

Guy

[dannyk]

I use a couple of lenths of 3/16 nylon cord, about 18 inches long, tie the end off and make a loop around the helmet locks under the rear seat. I tie a couple of more knots in the cord to give me 3 differnt loops on each cord. This allows me to use the rok straps at the rear grab handles and one of the rope loops to tie down the sleeping bag in the cabellas waterproof duffle. On top of that goes my cortech tail bag with my dual fuel stove, coffee pot, coffee, and other essentails, the straps that come with the cortech bag use another of the rope loops in front and fit in the slots on the rear grab rail. This leaves one more empty loop that can be used for a bungie net front tie down or another set of rok or bungie cords for what ever else needs anchor points.

[tx_northstar]

I have solved the tie down challenges thanks to all of the replies, kudos to everyone! I have worked through several bag options, even considered destroying a Jansport internal frame pack by cutting the belt off of the pack, but have found nothing I like. I went to bass pro & cabelas looking at the large dry bags and found very little with external anchor points. So, I ordered the Large MotoFizz (gulp) from Aerostich. Look for a review in the gear forum following the trip. I will also post pics in the "loaded" forum. THANKS!

[tx_northstar]

Hello,
I'm back from Big Bend. I use that loosely since we never quite made it South of Alpine, so really it is back from Alpine :)

The Motofizz worked pretty well. Since I still have the stock seat I was able to secure the front loop straps to the sub frame and feed them out through the "gap" between the front and rear seat halves. I tried the helmet hooks through & between the seat halves, but I chose the frame in the end. I have to say that this thing, although extended it blocked the mirrors was pretty easy to live with. Being waterproof would have been nice but we were rained on a little and the bag did not leak. It comes with a light cover but i would not use it while riding. Here it is mounted before we left. It stayed put really well and it was probably overloaded. However, in the end looped Rok straps and a duffle would produce similar results. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QCbw1_cItH8/S_MD6ZLakyI/AAAAAAAAAJM/GyLlVqAWF6M/s1600/ST+loaded.jpg