Cargo? Attachment Points?

[FreepZ]

Does anyone have any information about how cargo can be attached to the Empulse (or Enteria)? I know that there are side bags available for the Enertia, and I expect them to be available for the Empulse as well, but what else is available for cargo?

My current bike seats two, and has a few hooks that I can use to bungee cargo to the back seat. Another nice feature of my current bike is that there are a couple of lockable points that I can use to lock a couple of helmets to the bike when I'm parked. Would similar features be available on the Empulse?

I apologize if my questions are somewhat naïve; I've only owned a single bike, and so I don't know how common those features are.   

[Richard230]

RKA sells some nice rear seat bags that attach to the sides of the seat. I have been using these expandable rear seat bags for years on a number of my motorcycles and they have always fit and have been  secure, as well as being well made. Their latest seat bag is the "RKA STARR 1 Rear Seat Bag". It sells for $145 (RKA's products are not cheap) and looks like it would work well on the Empulse. Some other manufacturers have similar attachment methods, but I think RKA has the best design.

[1lesscar]

Does anyone have any information about how cargo can be attached to the Empulse (or Enteria)? I know that there are side bags available for the Enertia, and I expect them to be available for the Empulse as well, but what else is available for cargo?

My current bike seats two, and has a few hooks that I can use to bungee cargo to the back seat. Another nice feature of my current bike is that there are a couple of lockable points that I can use to lock a couple of helmets to the bike when I'm parked. Would similar features be available on the Empulse?

I apologize if my questions are somewhat naïve; I've only owned a single bike, and so I don't know how common those features are.   

Don't you worry. Brammo will soon fill a catalog with Empulse accessories. 

[Richard230]

I just saw an ad for Saddlemen luggage. They have a lot of different products, but I like the looks of this passenger seat luggage and I'll bet it will fit the Empulse - as long as it has a rear seat less than 12" in width (which is likely).

http://www.saddlemen.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=511_515&products_id=7428

Now all we need is an Empulse to see if it will fit.   

[Brammofan]

My guess is that the Saddlemen bag would not work for the Enertia because you would not be able to see the tail light.  When I'm sitting on the bike, my rear is against the curving portion of the seat.  Aft of that curve is about three inches of seat material, then the tail light module. 
You can see it pretty well here:


Unless someone comes up with a modification that includes an integrated tail light into a top bag, I don't think these bags will work. 

For the Empulse, you have a bit more room, but I'm reserving judgment.  You never know how the design might change between now and production:

[Richard230]

I just realized that the Empulse needs a passenger seat so that you can give your honey a ride, too. That would also give you room for a nice seat bag. Maybe while they are installing the gearbox, they can lengthen the seat, too.   

[FreepZ]

Perhaps the question that I really want answered is:

- What are you going to do with your helmet and jacket when you're not riding?

My last bike had a couple of attachment points that I could use to lock my gear to the bike. Sure, there was a risk that it could get rained on, but it worked out pretty well: I didn't have to be encumbered by all of that gear, and draping the jacket over the black seat kept it cool for when I parked it in the bright Florida sunshine. Some people leave their helmets on their mirror, but I would be too worried about someone stealing it.

The Empulse doesn't appear to have lockable attachment points, or even significant protrusions to stick a helmet on, so what are folks expected to do? What are you planning on doing?

[Brammofan]

This thread has me thinking, again.  Currently, I just bring my jacket and helmet with me.  I know someone came up with a helmet lock that they installed on their Enertia's chain guard, but that is too labor intensive for me. 

What I am considering, for my helmet anyway, is a metal piece or perhaps a cable, that will go through the D-ring and then hook to something beneath the seat.  Then, lock the seat.  You could do something like this for the jacket as well -- a cable that goes through the sleeves and then hooks underneath the seat.

[Gavin]

Actually most bikes that have a locking seat have a very simple solution. A small piece of metal protrudes up under the seat...open seat, place d-ring on metal spike, lock seat...helmet is nice and safe unless somebody cuts the chin strap...

Gavin

[Richard230]

I like to ride my motorcycles up into to the Santa Cruz Mountains and hike on various trails for several hours at a time. That requires that I leave my jacket, helmet and riding over-pants attached to my bike in the parking lot while I go hiking. There are lots of locking cables on the market, both in motorcycle accessory stores, outdoor gear stores, hardware stores, etc. I use one that has an integral combination lock, about 24" long. I run it through the sleeves of my jacket the waist of my pants and the chin guard of my helmet. I run the cable through the handlebars, where they pass between the bar mounts, and pile everything on top of the gas tank. So far, I have never had anything stolen, although I have been following this procedure for years.

By looking around you can find these cables for between $10 and $20. Some cables come coiled up and will fit in a jacket pocket. There are so many different types of cables that you are sure to find one that will be perfect for your use to secure your riding gear to your motorcycle.

[HighlanderMWC]

I like to ride my motorcycles up into to the Santa Cruz Mountains and hike on various trails for several hours at a time. That requires that I leave my jacket, helmet and riding over-pants attached to my bike in the parking lot while I go hiking. There are lots of locking cables on the market, both in motorcycle accessory stores, outdoor gear stores, hardware stores, etc. I use one that has an integral combination lock, about 24" long. I run it through the sleeves of my jacket the waist of my pants and the chin guard of my helmet. I run the cable through the handlebars, where they pass between the bar mounts, and pile everything on top of the gas tank. So far, I have never had anything stolen, although I have been following this procedure for years.

By looking around you can find these cables for between $10 and $20. Some cables come coiled up and will fit in a jacket pocket. There are so many different types of cables that you are sure to find one that will be perfect for your use to secure your riding gear to your motorcycle.

I had one of these cables cut last year and the helmet stolen. Several years ago I was using a padlock and had that cut too. Now I just carry the helment.

[Liv2xplore]

Ultimately, if someone wants to steal your stuff, there's little you can really do about it. The best we can usually do is keep the honest people honest. Stolen riding gear has been an issue for many years and we just take a certain amount of risk if we leave anything attached to the bike when we leave it parked. Much as we do with our cars in parking garages and leave anything in them. But I saw some pretty good ideas on this thread for makeshift systems that would work fairly well.

As far as cargo, there are tank bags as well that you can get that ride in front of you. They also give some cushion when you lean into it. Add on some properly made saddlebags and you have a decent setup. I'm pretty sure Brammo will come out with some sort of cargo equipment on their site. The plus would be that it is adapted to fit properly.