From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

On 09/02/2026 13:27, AndrewR wrote:

Me and Mrs R are off for a tour of Scotland in May, so I've been giving
some thought to getting a set of panniers for the bike, as I already
have the Honda Offical Colour-Coordinate Top-Box.

<SNIP> Right, to give you all closure...

1. Shall I save my time/sanity/cash and just use the soft-luggage that
I've got?

No, after actually trying my soft-luggage on the VFR I decided I wasn't
happy with it and to fork out for some of the hard stuff.

3. Why do all the Italian places seem to specify their fitting kits are
for the 2002-2011 VFR800? Mine's a 2012 one, but as far as I can tell
the model didn't change until 2014.

Never got an answer to this, but people on the VFR owners Facebook group
were kind enough to confirm that stuff listed as 2002-2011 would,
indeed, fit a 2012 bike.

I tried one of the Italian sellers, got a shipping number within a few
hours, then a couple of days went by before they messaged me to say I
needed to pay another 20 Euros. Asking why got the cryptic reply "To get things moving". I asked me just to send me the stuff I'd already paid
for and they replied with my shipping number.

Another few days went by, the courier said they still didn't have the
package, so I chased the seller, who responded with the even more
cryptic, "I urge you to ship as soon as possible."

I told them that I was waiting for them to ship and, the very next
morning, they cancelled my order, stating as the reason that I'd
requested to cancel.

Anyway, found these on special offer...

https://bikeluggage.co.uk/products/shad-sh36-panniers-d0b36200?variant=56436987855228

Ordered them on Wednesday, arrived yesterday, fitted to the bike by this morning.
> *Typically, Mrs R - who hadn't been on the back of one of my bikes
since

I had the CBR400, back at the arse-end of the 90s - waited until the
Beemer had been gone 5 minutes before deciding to give it another go.

Just got to see if Mrs R fits on the bike with the luggage fitted now,
and whether 70 litres of pannier space + the top-box + a tank bank is
going to be enough for her to pack for 5 whole days away, or if I'll be
back next month, asking about bike trailers.
--
AndrewR, D.Bot (Celeritas)
Honda VFR800-A9
BOTAFOT#2,ITJWTFO#6,UKRMRM#1/13a,MCT#1,DFV#2,SKoGA#0
BotToS#5,SBS#25,IbW#34, TEAR#3, DS#5
The speccy Geordie twat.
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

Me and Mrs R are off for a tour of Scotland in May, so I've been giving
some thought to getting a set of panniers for the bike, as I already
have the Honda Offical Colour-Coordinate Top-Box.

I don't need anything swish - I had full luggage for the GS, and the
panniers spent most of the time sitting, unused, in the garage*. It's
really just so we can leave stuff on the bike if we stop for a spot of
lunch and so Mrs R isn't sitting on the throw-over strap for 5 days
(although given the VFR has underseat exhausts, I'm not 100% convinced
that throw-overs are a great idea anyway).

I thought eBay would provide, but other than someone with 23 identical
sets of full OEM luggage, all in white (which I want), and all locked,
with no keys (which I'm not so keen on), it's just companies offering to
ship new stuff direct from Italy.

So, questions...

1. Shall I save my time/sanity/cash and just use the soft-luggage that
I've got?

2. If not, is there anywhere better than eBay to look for kit? I've no objection to 2nd hand stuff.

3. Why do all the Italian places seem to specify their fitting kits are
for the 2002-2011 VFR800? Mine's a 2012 one, but as far as I can tell
the model didn't change until 2014.

4. What's the deal with the seller with all the locked luggage, eh?

TIA and all that.


*Typically, Mrs R - who hadn't been on the back of one of my bikes since
I had the CBR400, back at the arse-end of the 90s - waited until the
Beemer had been gone 5 minutes before deciding to give it another go.
--
AndrewR, D.Bot (Celeritas)
Honda VFR800-A9
BOTAFOT#2,ITJWTFO#6,UKRMRM#1/13a,MCT#1,DFV#2,SKoGA#0
BotToS#5,SBS#25,IbW#34, TEAR#3, DS#5
The speccy Geordie twat.

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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

On 13/03/2026 09:31, AndrewR wrote:

Just got to see if Mrs R fits on the bike with the luggage fitted now,
and whether 70 litres of pannier space + the top-box + a tank bank is
going to be enough for her to pack for 5 whole days away, or if I'll be
back next month, asking about bike trailers.

For most women, that is a tiny amount. Pack only a spare pair of
underpants for yourself, and she may, just, have enough room to pack her minimal requirement of clothes and toiletries in the remaining space.

At home we have this argument every time we go away. One pair of shoes,
one pair of flip flops, pants, trousers and 3 tops is enough for a week,
along with the riding kit you have on. But my OH doesnt comprehend, she
thinks her whole wardrobe should come along 'just in case'.

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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

On 17/03/2026 17:25, Alan Lee wrote:

On 13/03/2026 09:31, AndrewR wrote:

Just got to see if Mrs R fits on the bike with the luggage fitted now,
and whether 70 litres of pannier space + the top-box + a tank bank is
going to be enough for her to pack for 5 whole days away, or if I'll
be back next month, asking about bike trailers.

For most women, that is a tiny amount. Pack only a spare pair of

You've not met my wife, have you?

3 days worth of clothes, that is all you need. Just wash stuff in the
shower.

--
Bruce Porter
"The internet is a huge and diverse community but mainly friendly" http://ytc1.blogspot.co.uk/
There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

On Tue, 17 Mar 2026 19:55:46 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:

On 17/03/2026 17:25, Alan Lee wrote:

On 13/03/2026 09:31, AndrewR wrote:

Just got to see if Mrs R fits on the bike with the luggage fitted now,
and whether 70 litres of pannier space + the top-box + a tank bank is
going to be enough for her to pack for 5 whole days away, or if I'll
be back next month, asking about bike trailers.

For most women, that is a tiny amount.

You've not met my wife, have you?

Nor mine. She can happily pack for a week inside the tiny bag allowed
on Easyjet hand luggage. On bike trips she gets one pannier, and
copes just fine
--
Champ
neal at champ dot org dot uk

I don't know, but I been told
You never slow down, you never grow old
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

On 18/03/2026 09:28, Champ wrote:

On Tue, 17 Mar 2026 19:55:46 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:

On 17/03/2026 17:25, Alan Lee wrote:

On 13/03/2026 09:31, AndrewR wrote:

Just got to see if Mrs R fits on the bike with the luggage fitted now, >>>> and whether 70 litres of pannier space + the top-box + a tank bank is
going to be enough for her to pack for 5 whole days away, or if I'll
be back next month, asking about bike trailers.

For most women, that is a tiny amount.

You've not met my wife, have you?

Nor mine. She can happily pack for a week inside the tiny bag allowed
on Easyjet hand luggage. On bike trips she gets one pannier, and
copes just fine

One!
Luxury.
--
Bruce Porter
"The internet is a huge and diverse community but mainly friendly" http://ytc1.blogspot.co.uk/
There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

On 18/03/2026 09:28, Champ wrote:

On Tue, 17 Mar 2026 19:55:46 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:

On 17/03/2026 17:25, Alan Lee wrote:

On 13/03/2026 09:31, AndrewR wrote:

Just got to see if Mrs R fits on the bike with the luggage fitted now, >>>> and whether 70 litres of pannier space + the top-box + a tank bank is
going to be enough for her to pack for 5 whole days away, or if I'll
be back next month, asking about bike trailers.

For most women, that is a tiny amount.

You've not met my wife, have you?

Nor mine. She can happily pack for a week inside the tiny bag allowed
on Easyjet hand luggage. On bike trips she gets one pannier, and
copes just fine

As does mine, although as the pannier is only 22L she shares an Oxford
roll as well.
--
Colin Irvine
R1250RS
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