Soft Luggage: Cortech Sport Saddle Bags vs Hein-Gericke Bags

Cortech Sport Saddle Bags and Tail Bag (http://www.motodepot.com)
Sarah: I’ve had these bags for several years and have really put them to good use. The tail bag can be disconnected from the saddle bag and used alone. It is also expandable which can hold a large amount of clothing and gear. I really like these bags- they’re easy to take on and off (snap clips) and although cumbersome to carry when you have a full load you can unsnap the bags from the bike and carry the entire luggage system by the tail bag handle. They are also held tightly to the bike – no slipping or lopsided luggage while riding.

These are definitely cheaper than installing brackets and giant plastic saddle bags on the bike – and can be transferred to any bike. I’ve used these on a Kawasaki Z750S, Yamaha FZ6, and Suzuki SV650- and the bags have fit nicely on all of the bikes.

These bags have worked perfectly fine on many long trips and in every type of weather. The only downside is they cannot be locked to the bike or sealed from thieves. And the original rain bags that came with the luggage blew off after several uses. But I solved that by packing my gear in waterproof compression bags.

Hein-Gericke Sport Luggage
Sarah: We bought these bags from a Hein-Gericke motorcycle shop in Kaiserslautern, Germany. We hooked the Held back separately as a tail bag and used them on Christopher’s SV650 to Corsica (It could also be used as a tank bag). The saddle bags were pretty inexpensive and we should have spent a little bit more money and got another set of Cortech bags. The Hein-Gericke saddle bags seemed to never stay straight on the bike and became more and more lop-sided as we rode. Plus, they were very cumbersome to carry and cannot be secured to the bike from theives.

Flat Tire Time Update

Turns out the flat repair didn’t work. Thankfully we found that out before the bike left the shop. We got a call from the bike shop and they said that the tire was still leaking air from the “repaired” spot. The service manager and I were sitting there scratching our heads (not each other’s) because the plug repair looked fine. I find it really hard to believe that the $8 repair from the local (very local) tire shop didn’t work…

So in the end I ended up buying a new tire. I’ve definitely got to say thanks to Brian at BMW of Santa Cruz for the wonderful service. I’m not going to waste my time, the bike shop’s time, or Paco (that’s what his nametag said!) the local tire shop guy’s time if I ever get a flat again. And I’ll save my eight bucks….

Flat Tire Time

Christopher: Does everyone know Murphy and his law? I’m very close pals with him. He made the law just for me. And Karma? She was my babysitter growing up. Now she just visits every so often to remind me of funny things I used to do.

Okay, I don’t really know about the validity of Murphy’s law and/or karma, but I do know one thing: Getting a brand new tire on Friday, then having it go flat while riding in the middle of nowhere on the following Monday really, really sucks. Number of trips on the new tires: two. Total number of miles ridden on the tire: less than 100. The look on my face when I got off the bike to see a completely flat rear tire: priceless.

Sarah and I were just puttin’ along (more like moving briskly) in the Santa Cruz Mountains and I get this odd squishy feeling as I’m going up a steep, windy grade (Alba Road to Empire Grade). I’m thinking my steering technique is messed up. Then the handling gets worse and I find that the bike isn’t responding to my inputs at the handlebars. As a matter of fact, it didn’t feel like “push right, lean right” (thanks for the terminology MSF course!), it felt like push right, go right…right into the hillside on the LEFT!! There wasn’t any leaning with that flat tire. I’m glad Ifigured that out because the road is very tight, and the cars coming down the road like to ride both lanes.

I made it to the top of the road and pulled over. As soon as we were both safely pulled over, I hear, “Ummm, honey…your tire.” I look down, and what a wonderful surprise! A flat rear tire. I mean really flat. Kind of reminded me of that Dali painting with the melting clocks. Anyways, Sarah, in all her graciousness, offered to head back home to get the flat-fix canister so we can try to remedy the problem. Fortunately, out in the middle of nowhere was only 13 miles away from our house. But it is a windy 13 miles on Empire Grade to Santa Cruz. I couldn’t have driven the BMW home, not without some other problem happening.

While waiting, I met a really nice old lady that stopped in the middle of road to talk to me about fires being intentionally lit, and her hectic work schedule. When I say stopped in the middle of the road, she really did stop in the middle of the road, and talk to me for a few minutes from out of her window. Why is this noteworthy? I had NO IDEA who this person was. None. She just stopped and started talking. Luckily, I had helmet in hand when I started to get creeped out, so I put it on for protection in case she was cukoo. No, I didn’t really put it on. I was very nice to her, and helped her get going from that well chosen parking spot in the middle of the road.

Back to the flat tire…Sarah gets back to me and we use the canister. Air fills the tire, enough at least to get home, and some of the foamy stuff starts to ooze out of the hole in the tire. After a few minutes, I mount up and ride home with Sarah protecting my rear by following with the car.

The great guys from BMW Santa Cruz were nice enough to come by the house, pick up the bike and check out the tire at the shop. Turns out that there isn’t any damage to the belts in the tire, it’s nowhere near the sidewall, and the puncture was small enough to be repaired. That’s if I wanted to repair it. I read up on tire punctures and repairs on the internet, and found that lots of people say one should just buy a new tire after a flat and that I shouldn’t take chances. Others say that plugs work just fine as permanent fixes, as they have ridden on them for thousands of miles. Since Sarah and I about to take a trip to Yosemite National Park, I’m going to make it even more adventurous and go with the plug! Okay, I’m going with the plug because I actually believe that the tire will be fine, at least for the trip. And I’m a cheap bastard. Actually, I’m not…I just don’t have the money!! Those folks who say to replace the tire can give me some money, and I will.

Update to follow…

Mt. Hamilton/Calveras Road 210 mi round trip

Mount Hamilton / Sunday, June 8, 2008

Sarah: We began by taking Hwy 9 from Santa Cruz to Saratoga (we avoid the 17 at all costs… as of yet, we haven’t ridden the motorcycles on it – Why would you when there are so many beautiful roads through the mountains?) We stopped in Saratoga for some oil for Chris’s bike which was strangely empty! Luckily he caught it and filled up before our ride.

We wanted to save time so we briefly took the I-280/680, exiting Alum Rock Road then headed towards Mt. Hamilton on the 130.

Initially, the 130 was incredibly bumpy and on-coming traffic was backed-up for miles. The turns were tight as oncoming traffic consisted of cars, school buses, SUVs, and huge trucks that couldn’t keep in their own lane. But, eventually the road became very secluded and very windy (and HOT!). Heading counter clockwise in this loop avoided tons of traffic.

We took a lunch break at the Junction Cafe near Del Puerto Canyon and Mines Rd. Here tons of bike stop for a break before they hit the windy road again. This cafe is the only thing on this road (other than the observatory) and you definitely need to refuel before getting on the 130 loop.

After the cafe, the roads were a little less windy towards Livermore and we didn’t see other vehicles in our direction (plenty of bikes going in the opposite direction though). Although a long and hot trip, it was tons of fun and good to practice your throttle control and tight switchbacks.

On the drive back we took an extra side road off the 9 towards Bonny Doon which is one of our favorite places to ride. It was almost dark and the forest was refreshingly cool compared to inland.

Christopher:  We actually scouted this out last year in a car, and just now got around to riding it on the motos.  It was good fun.  Some parts reminded me of the tight switchbacks in Switzerland near the Alps.  The main difference was the heat.  It was really hot that day at Mt. Hamilton.  I really like my BMW City Pants, but they can get warm, as they are textile.  I need some mesh pants.  If I complain enough, maybe Sarah will let me buy a pair…or maybe I’ll just find the City pants with a bunch of holes punched through them the next time I go riding…Sarah is really creative like that.

Mileage: 210 mi round trip – about 6 hours 31 mins: June 8, 08

Luzerne, Switzerland 490 mi rt

Sarah: Chris, our friend Dan, and I took a motorcycle trip from Kaiserslautern in an attempt to show off some excellent roads to Dan through the Black Forest. Dan was visiting from Bamberg and we were excited to have him along on a long trip. The map shows an approximation of our route… An approximation because the trip became a little side tracked after an accident outside of Steinen (I will leave that amusing story for Christopher’s post:)) The trip was 4 days with a stop in Baden Baden, Bad Bellingen, Luzerne, and lastly, in a small town near the Bodensee.

The weather was up and down; lots of pouring rain with occasional dry spells. The ride home was probably one of the longest I can remember (even though it was only a few hours). Chris and I had to ride home 2-up on my motorcycle as his was no longer drivable and was on it’s way to the Suzuki shop (thanks ADAC). Plus, during the ride home, it poured like I’d never seen Germany pour before and became absolutely freezing! But we made it back in one piece!

Oh and Dan… thanks for the sushi and sake

Christopher: Ah yes, the trip through the Black Forest with Dan.  That was quite a memorable experience.  We had orginally planned to head to the Alps, but we got a little side tracked after day one.  You’ll see what I mean in a bit. 

Dan met us at our house from his place in Bamberg, which is about 4 hours away from Kaiserslautern.  We took off the next morning to Bad Bellingen, passing through Baden Baden, where we got caught in a severe rain storm.  Perhaps some foreshadowing going on?  Well, we try to wait it out, but it kept going, so we pressed on.  As we travelled south, the rain let up a bit, and we decided to stay the night in Bad Bellingen.  Nice, quaint town (aren’t they all in Germany?).  So day one was complete and we were exhausted, even though it wasn’t a very long ride at all, well, distance wise.  Day two was a little overcast, but dry.  Headed south on all backroads, as usual, and everyone was riding at a brisk clip throught the windy roads of the forest.  Great fun and awesome scenery, albeit kind of blurry, tee hee. 

Anyways, the trees start to dissipate as we begin exiting the forest, and we are now heading towards a T intersection.  We need to turn right, and I was lead rider.  Approaching the intersection, I slow down, checking for cars coming from the left.  Now comes the fun part.  A car is coming from the left, but as lead rider, I can carry the right turn with no risk, as there isn’t a stop sign.  I know, however, that the rider behind me (Dan) won’t make that right turn in time, unless he gets on the throttle.  I also know that the third rider (Sarah) won’t make it, even with a lot of throttle, due to the timing of the car coming from the left.  

I begin to slowly come to a stop, as to not separate the group.  Well, the next thing I know, I hear a delicious crunch from the rear of my bike, and I am airborne.  I get blasted off my seat to an altitude high enough for me to actually straddle my windshield with my legs (imagine the old game of leap frog).  Due to my ninja reflexes, I land on my feet, but stumble a bit forward (I’m not really a ninja).  Remember that car coming from the left?  I did, too, and immediately jumped backwards into the grassy shoulder of the road onto my back so I wouldn’t become the hood ornament of that Seat (pronounced see-aht it’s a Euro brand of car).   The Seat honks and drives by.  Nice guy. 

I get up and look at my bike and realize that Dan had just rear ended me.  His front tire hit my rear tire square in the center.  Amazing aim.  The 2004 SV650S had a smashed rear end, and Dan’s 2004 Bandit had a equally smashed front end.  Both of the bikes were laying on the ground.  I should’ve done chalk outlines for effect…

Sarah pulls up and we have a big laugh about the whole thing and go about our way.  Man that would’ve been nice.  We actually look at Dan and politely ask him, “What the &%#!!”

It turns out that he decided to get on the throttle because he thought that I was going keep going.  He kept his eyes on the car coming from the left to make sure he got his timing right to make the turn.  He never saw me slow down.  So all those times I told him to kiss my ass, he actually did it.

I have to add here that Dan is, in fact, one of my closest friends.  If you read in the “About Us” tab, you’ll see that Dan is the one who introduced us to motorcycling.  We’ve been buds for a looong time (went through Army training together, stationed in Germany together and deployed to Afghanistan together). The only thing that concerned me at the time was our well being.  We both walked away just fine, and bikes can always be replaced…a life can’t.  

So he’s okay, I’m okay, bikes not okay.  We ride…no, limp the bikes into the town of Steinen.  (Luckily , it was a nice, quaint town of course, so I wasn’t in such a bad mood) The yellow SV and the blue Bandit were rideable, but Dan’s brakes were shot (both for some reason).  We called up ADAC (kind of like AAA), and they came and picked up the bikes and brought them back to our respective hometowns. 

Was that the end of the trip?  Nope.  Not by a longshot.  Sarah and I went two up on her FZ6, and Dan, well, he rented a car.  The three of us continued the trip, as outlined by Sarah’s comments, and had a blast.  Switzerland is beautiful, and we enjoyed ever minute of the trip…especially since we got to dump all of the moto luggage with Dan and he paid for all the food on the trip.   The sushi and sake in Luzerne was fabulous.

Dan, you know we love you…   

Mileage: 788 km/490 mi round trip – 15 hours 27 mins: 2005

Bitche, France 92.0 mi rt

Sarah: Bitche, France is another place we motorcycled to frequently while living in Germany. Bitche is a very small town with tons of history. This map shows one of the routes we took to Bitche.

Christopher:  This was an easy day trip for us (many times).  It was really neat to cross the border and see the signs change, as well as the scenery.  Like Sarah said, a lot of history.  On this route, we’d drive by the Maginot Line (terrific idea!), and end up at this neat fortification in Bitche.  If you visit, take the audio tour…it’s actually an audio and olfactory tour.  Every room you go into is scented (some quite strongly)  to really make you feel like you’re there. 

Mileage: 148 km/92.0 mi round trip– about 3 hours: 2005-2006

Baden-Baden, Germany 147 mi rt

Sarah: Chris and I took several trips to and through Baden-Baden, Germany, but this was the only one we actually stayed and spent a day at the baths (and actually took pictures which we usually forget to do!). This map is one way we took to Baden-Baden and a few pics.

Christopher:  Riding to and through the Black Forest was great.  It was a spectacular corridor to Switzerland, and this trip we decided to actually stay in Baden-Baden, home of the Roman Baths.  The place can be touristy, but there’s no other place in Germany like it.  I loved the bathes, but they are definitely not for the modest.  No, you can’t wear your swim trunks in the bathe and just sit around watching. 

Mileage: 236 km/147 mi round trip – about 4 hours 43 mins: 2005

Germany to Corsica 1555 mi rt

Sarah: This trip took several weeks to plan. I booked hotels, ferries, planned routes, and stops while living in Germany while Chris was deployed to Afghanistan. The trip was during his 6 month R&R in late summer 2005 and we took a week and a half for the entire trip. We used “Motorcycle Journeys Through the Alps and Corsica” by John Hermann as a guide which helped incredibly for planning our trips around Corsica. We definitely need to return and cover the other roads we didn’t have time to travel while we were there.

Christopher: There wasn’t a better way to spend my “Rest and Relaxation” from Operation Enduring Freedom VI than to go on this spectacular trip, planned by my spectacular wife! Sarah put in a lot of work to get this together…hell, I just got off the plane and the bikes were ready to go!

Route: The first few days we took it easy since it was almost entirely on the Autobahn. We needed to get to the ferry launch in Nice, France as quickly as possible so we could enjoy the majority of our time motorcycling around Corsica.

Day 1: Drive from Kaiserslautern, Germany to Andermatt, Switzerland: 482 km/300 mi – 4 hours 38 mins.

Day 2: Andermatt, Switzerland to Nice, France: 495 km/307 mi – about 4 hours 59 min

Day 3: Morning ferry from Nice, France to Bastia, Corsica: 252 km/157 mi (www.corsica-ferries.de) Motorcycled around northern coast and stayed in Bastia.

Day 4: Bastia to Porto: 133 km/82.9 mi – about 2 hours 4 min

Day 5: Relax Day: We hiked through the mountains and motorcycled around the coast.

Day 6: Rented a boat from Porto Marine and spent the day on the water and beach.

Day 7: Porto to Bastia where we boarded the night ferry to Nice: 133 km/82.9 mi – about 2 hours 4 min

Day 8: Nice, France to Nyon, Switzerland: We took most roads that avoided the autobahn. Riding in the sun and pouring rain! Approx. 460 km/286 mi – about 7 hours 59 m

Day 9: Nyon, Switzerland to Kaiserslautern, Germany: 547 km/340 mi – about 5 hours 2 mins

Approximate Mileage: 2502 km/1555 mi – about 26 hours: 2005

Bamberg, Germany 381 mi rt

Sarah: Chris and I drove to Bamberg to see a friend of ours who was living there while we were in Kaiserslautern. This map shows our route (no autobahn!).

Mileage: 614 km/381 mi rount trip – about 10 hours 48 mins: 2005

Christopher: No autobahn is right. In Germany it is possible to move about the entire country without hitting much autobahn. We always avoided the autobahn as much as possible when we rode the bikes (I left that duty to the BMW car…average driving speed: 120 mph….yes 120 and totally safe, but that’s another topic). We tried to stick to the backroads at all times, however, it was double edged sword. On one hand, you get lots of twisties and scenery, but on the other, it takes a loooong time to go long distances. Well, the choice wasn’t too hard for us…keep the boring straights and superslabs, and give us the “ride a motorcycle like a real motorcycle” roads with a dash of sore ass.

Frequent Trips around Kaiserslautern, Germany

Sarah: Here is a map that shows frequent trips Christopher and I would take around Kaiserslautern. This is not, by any means, all of the routes we’ve taken! But it’s enough to show you all the great roads near us!

Christopher:  Even if you’re in a big city in Germany, you ride for less than five miles and you’ll hit some awesome roads.  We lived right in the downtown area of Kaiserslautern, and it took only five minutes before we were out in the twisties. The abundance of prime motorcycling roads is amazing.