G'Day Guys,

Just thought I'd do a quick write up for all touring fans on a product I just bought.

I have been using the same rear-seat mounted bag for trips away for quite a while now. It has been and still is a very practical option that stored and transported all I required easily.
But it was of soft construction and so got kind of squashed up when strapped down.
Plus I thought it looked pretty average on the bike.
(See first pic)

So I started looking around for a better option and after a fair bit of research found and purchased the Bagster Spider.
It pretty much covers all the requirements I was looking for.

Rear seat mounted to stay out of the way as much as possible. I definitely didn't want a tank bag or backpack as its tough to ride the bike spiritedly with a sizable tank-bag getting in the way of your body position or having weighty and/or uncomfortable additions hanging off your back.
Saddle bags were not an option for me as I just don't need all that room (and weight).
When installed, the Spider does not interfere with general riding or riding position at all. Even when you slide your backside pretty much all the way rearwards!

Secure, simple and quick mount and removal from the bike (very important for trips away and some other brands failed dismally in this area).
I ended up using my old Ventura seat mounting system as it has always been the most solid and easiest option for me. However with all the straps and cords supplied with the Spider, I have no doubt that all these will provide an excellent mounting system.
Speaking of which it also comes with 2 x shoulder straps so the bag can also be turned into a backpack if required.

Plenty of room. I pack very light and what you see in the below pics is easily enough space for me to get away on 2-5 day trips. Packed is all I need clothing and toiletries wise but also includes light wet weather gear and waterproof gloves, tire repair kit, small can of chain lube, good quality pen knife,etc.
You see the bag in its expanded form. It can also be condensed to approximately half of this size for stylish everyday basic storage if required.
The Spider also comes with a light wet weather cover.

A very high quality finish which of course is key, and clever design that allows for pockets and storage sections that are well positioned.

Lastly, I believe the Spider has a level of style that befits a bike like the ZX-14 and enhances the luggage/bag look considerably compared to the competitors options.
The Spider can also be purchased with different trim color options. Obviously I chose the blue.

Overall a very nice piece of kit and I'm extremely please with the purchase.

Link for further information if required.
Bagster Spider

Old bag I used in the past.

New Bagster Spider

* Last updated by: yannih on 10/15/2019 @ 1:12 PM *

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Great info and write up yannih!! I think I need to add one to my collection :-)

Nice informative video, looks like it carries enough beer for a pretty good time.

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Heading out on a two day ride with the boys tomorrow.

New bike.
New Bagster.

These things are great!

* Last updated by: yannih on 5/25/2015 @ 6:20 AM *

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yannih, your bike is STUNNINGLY GORGEOUS! Thanks for the review of the tail bag, this may be my next purchase.

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Does anyone know of anyone in the US selling these bags ? Link to the seller ?

I agree, that bike is lookin' bad to the bone.

* Last updated by: extrapolator on 6/1/2015 @ 9:15 PM *

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Yannih your bike looks really bad ass, good job man.

So does know about the sell in the US?

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Per google:

http://www.real-rider.com/bagster/?sort=featured&page=2

* Last updated by: kixxit on 6/14/2015 @ 11:57 AM *

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Ordered through REAL RIDER..... On back order till OCTOBER :(

Dammit Yannih! Now I'm looking at this bag!

... and wondering if I can fit both it AND my new top case on the bike together

I haven't even toured with my new top case yet, but plan to in Sept, but realize I prob need more storage than just the top case alone. I have a very nice backpack, and I've had no problems at all riding with a backpack so far, but it's never been really loaded. I also have a magnetic tank bag from my previous bike, but of course with the front half of the ZX's tank being plastic, the magnetic pouches that are supposed to secure the front of the tank bag haven't nothing to stick to & so flap around; not gonna ride that way; could use a couple straps to secure those, but this rear seat bag seems like a better option.

Here's my new top case ... so ... will the rear seat bag fit with it??

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Bagster is a French outfit and they make very high-quality stuff, but their sales network is pretty thin in the US. They make factory accessory seats for KHI, but I'm not aware of any dealers in their other accessories here. At one time, their website had a virtual "build-you-own-seat" feature whereby you could pick out multiple colors and shapes and design the seat you wanted them to build.

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Just realized ... I prob wouldn't be able to open the top case lid if the Bagster was sitting right in front of it. Meh ... prob not that bad.

* Last updated by: extrapolator on 7/8/2015 @ 7:35 PM *

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This Bagster Spider is going to be my next purchase to carry my Nikon camera and lenses, in addition to my other stuff!

* Last updated by: KoflaOlivieri on 12/21/2017 @ 12:32 AM *

yannih...Old topic/hope you're still around. I'd like to do some light touring (2-4 days) and like the idea of just a tail bag. This one looks great.
Do you still use it? Your pic's show how easy it is to mount. I have some questions, please.
Do the elastic straps/cords feel like they'll keep their strength? Do you think they'll stretch and not work as well over time?
Have you ever weighed the bag with all the stuff you like to carry?
Did it move at all with that protective towel you put on the seat?
Did the straps interfere at all with re-mounting the seat?
Do the straps cause any scuffs on the paint?
How fast have you ridden the bike without any issue caused by the bag?
I appreciate any help. Now I just hope it's still available.

* Last updated by: KAK on 10/14/2019 @ 11:18 PM *

G'Day KAK,
Yep I'm still about.

Do you still use it?

Sure do. It has had many touring trips since my initial review and is still in as new condition. Great quality. One of the best buys for the buck I have made for my bike.

Do the elastic straps/cords feel like they'll keep their strength? Do you think they'll stretch and not work as well over time?

Apart from one end of one cord breaking off and separating from the clip, I have had no issues and this is after I have stretched them out many times with a fair load placed on them every time I go away. I do however carry a couple of spares with me whenever I tour just incase (I think I may have ordered some extra's when I broke the one original cord).

Have you ever weighed the bag with all the stuff you like to carry?

No, but I have found that the whole setup will handle what ever I can fit in it and has never let me down. And the bag has been filled well to capacity on 6-8 day trips!

Did it move at all with that protective towel you put on the seat?

Slightly but nothing too major. I tend to tension the whole setup to the rear so it doesn't slide into my back when I'm riding aggressively.

Did the straps interfere at all with re-mounting the seat?

Not sure if you read in my initial post but I did advise
"I ended up using my old Ventura seat mounting system as it has always been the most solid and easiest option for me. However with all the straps and cords supplied with the Spider, I have no doubt that all these will provide an excellent mounting system."
So with the setup I use there is no issue with re-attaching the seat at all once the mounting straps are in place.

Do the straps cause any scuffs on the paint?

A good question. The straps don't but the bag itself could. Something that doesn't show in the pics of my two bikes is I have black gaffer tape neatly applied to the rear top paintwork to protect it where the back of the bag overhangs onto. When the bag is off the bike, the rear seat cover I re-attach then covers the tape so you can't see it. It's also why I add a small towel under the bag to protect the seat.
It's all not that necessary but I'm pedantic about all aspects of my 14R and if I can protect against scuffing anything I will.

How fast have you ridden the bike without any issue caused by the bag?

Another good question. When I was back in Australia we had some amazing country roads with amazing surface conditions and that were rarely used. I had the bike opened up to just over 300km/h indicated with zero affect from or on the bag. Probably partly because it was protected behind my 6'3" frame!

I appreciate any help.

It's a pleasure and hope this information helps.
My initial post was over 4 years ago and I have given this bag a really solid workout with countless tours on my bike in that period. I stand by my original positive comments regarding this bag. Even more so now because it has proven to stand the test of time with flying colours. I also just grabbed the bag off the shelf and took a couple of pics for you to show it's condition.
Not bad huh?
I have also added a pic from out on the road where the bag was only partially filled.

Now I just hope it's still available.

Can't answer that one for you but I'd be surprised if it's no longer available.

Really good luck if you decide to go with this option.
I believe you won't be disappointed...

* Last updated by: yannih on 10/15/2019 @ 1:11 PM *

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yannih, thanks for answering my questions. Please excuse me but I need to ask a couple more.
I understand you use a "Ventura seat mounting system". I don't know how it mounts. I just saw a pic of it and it looks like a "sissy bar" with a bracket to place a bag on. Your last pic just shows the Bagster with the straps going under the seat. My question was do the Bagster straps that go under your seat cause any issue with "snapping" the seat down? The straps I see ARE part of the Bagster?

You said the end of one cord broke off, so you bought some spares. I plan to order this bag and I want to order some spares too. What part are you talking about? Can you show a pic? I just want to be sure.

Last, the bag is still selling. I looked it up and the first stores to show the bag are in Europe (Motocard and FC Moto.de). Prices are only $86-89(surprised), not including shipping of course. Then I noticed it selling on Amazon but it was $240 there. Where did you buy from?
Thanks for taking the time to help. Sorry about having to ask about the mounting straps again. I have a thick skull sometimes.

* Last updated by: KAK on 10/15/2019 @ 7:06 PM *

Just a couple of cautions that apply to almost ANY bag or box that sits on top of the rear seat:

1. It does make it a lot harder to swing your leg over the bike to get onto the bike, if you, like me, are in your late 60s.

2. It puts your luggage weight up HIGH, which is not great on a bike that is already top-heavy. Hurts handling and slow speed turn stability.

3. It puts your luggage weight high and REARWARD, which makes a wheelie prone bike like the ZX-14 even MORE wheelie prone.

4. It is NOT lighter weight than soft saddle bags, but rather heavier. (Both measured when empty)

Jim G

Jim, I can see your first point, about being older and swinging a leg over. You just have to approach it differently.
Instead of having your feet pointing toward the bike as you swing your leg over, your feet need to be pointing a little more to the front of the bike. Then you just step over the seat like you're stepping over a short picket fence to sneak over to your girlfriends window.
As for bags or hard cases, I'm giving up on them. Too much negative stuff can happen with the soft bags and I don't want to bother with cutting pieces out of my bike to make room for brackets or put my stock rear fender abortion back on. I also think even the cleanest looking bags clash with the 14's style.
If you need lots of room and go on longer trips then I can see how they're necessary, but I only plan to go on over-nights to maybe 4 days at the most. A good sized tail bag will hold all I need. It'll be a big relief after using a backpack.

... and I don't want to bother with cutting pieces out of my bike to make room for brackets

KAK - I felt the exact same way, reeeeally really hesitant to hack up my shiny perfect bike, but found out the cut-out required is a very small rectangle under the rear sides. Even if I removed the side cases brackets I'm not sure anybody would notice the cut-outs unless they were really looking at the bike to buy it, and even then they might miss 'em. They're pretty insignificant. I thought if/when I ever sell it I might fill the holes with a piece of black plastic or rubber.

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I respect JimGnitecki's points of view and feedback but I have been riding with this setup for over 4 years and have experienced none of his concerns.

Perhaps JimGnitecki has valid points.
Perhaps my experience stands for something.

KAK, it's important you do your research as best you can to find out whats right for you.

All the best with your decision...

* Last updated by: yannih on 10/17/2019 @ 3:45 AM *

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I'll also say that 98% of the time I ride with only my hard top case on, with some 'stuff' in it, sometimes a lot sometimes a little, and I have never felt the bike was top heavy. Perhaps Jim loads his more than I do. And there could certainly be other factors in play, but that's my experience. As I've stated on this forum before, I notice no handing or feel difference when the top case is on or off. My 2 cents and YMMV

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yannih, could you check out my previous post on 10/15? I had a couple more questions if you don't mind.

* Last updated by: KAK on 10/17/2019 @ 10:56 PM *