The refueling dance and a Marsee tankbag. ugh.

[knary]

I know this seems like an inane topic, but it's something we all deal with over and over again.

The bike: R1150GS
The tankbag: Marsee teardrop (15 or 20 liter) - not a magnetic one
The fueling dance: Unclip one of the front straps, flop bag over to the right. Fill up. Flop bag upright. Dig out fallen strap from the dark awkward space around steering stem. Fiddle forever with stupid clip trying to get the bag secured. Ride away and realize that the tail of one of the straps is no longer tucked away and is flapping madly in the breeze. Try to tuck it back in while moving. Be annoyed.

So aside from not getting the very expensive MultiVario, what am I doing wrong? Does everyone else go through this song and dance everytime they fuel up?

[YB in IN]

Try to unclip the straps that are between the seat and the tank. I undo both and then let the bag flop to the side. The extra part of the strap stays tucked underneath the seat. Do you have the little loop on the front to put the shoulder strap in? I wrap and tie the straps that would normally be around the steering head into that to keep them out of the way. Not particularly elegant, but it works with my Marsee. No digi cam or I show you what I mean. Hope this helps!

p.s. The Multivario isn't all that great of a solution. I had one on my old Airhead, and found it quite the pain to get those damn zippers to work right all the time.

[MCohen]

I usually just undo both front clips and tip the bag back onto the seat. To keep the front strap from falling into the faring, most tankbags come with a short little strap with loops at both ends. I think my Marsee came with one. I just tie together the extra long loose end above the stem to keep the strap in place. It also keeps the ends from flapping in the breeze without tucking them in.

Michael

[iRene]

One more small trick...
I got this one from my touring partner, who uses an RKA bag.
Carry one or two long thickish rubber bands, and if you need
to release either the handlebar end or seat end plastic clips and
remove the bag, use a rubber band to loop through the strap
space on the male clip and then over one clip tooth and do the
same through the other male clip end with the same band to hold
the two loose plastic clips in an accessible position looped
together. It is probably too much bother for a quick gas stop,
but really helps for overnight parking sans tankbag.

[lorazepam]

I have an Eclipse bag, and I just release the rear clip and flip it forward. It stays put against the windscreen, and just one clip to mess with.

[Scootertrash]

The bike: R1200C
The tankbag: Marsee (20 liter) - the magnetic one.
The fueling dance: Unclip the front clip, pickup the bag and set it on the saddle. Fill up with the cheapest premium gas I can find. Spread out the magnetic pad and place the bag on top of the tank. Attach the front clip. Ride away...

I see a new tank bag in someone's future...

[knary]

Originally posted by Scootertrash
The bike: R1200C
The tankbag: Marsee (20 liter) - the magnetic one.
The fueling dance: Unclip the front clip, pickup the bag and set it on the saddle. Fill up with the cheapest premium gas I can find. Spread out the magnetic pad and place the bag on top of the tank. Attach the front clip. Ride away...

I see a new tank bag in someone's future...

Nice try. :)

But...I don't like getting off the bike when fueling, and I've never been a fan of magnetic bags.

[BradfordBenn]

Love my Big Mac:clap

Unzip bag
take wallet out
swipe credit card
place in bag and rezip
flip up tank bag
unlock gas tank
fill tank
close gas cap
Flip down tank bag

Feet on ground the whole time.:p

[DarrylRi]

With the Bagster system, I pop the two rear latches and the front one on the gas pump side, then flop it over the side of the tank. After fill up, just reconnect in the opposite order. Because the mounts are integrated into a tank bra, they can't disappear under the seat or behind the steering head. Also, because the bras and bags are available separately, I have a bra on each of my R1150RS, R1100RS and R90S, and can just move the tank bag between them.

[kbasa]

I unclip the front clips, flop the bag over against my leg and fill.

I hate climbing off the bike to refuel, especially when I have a bunch of camping junk piled on the back seat. I just know there's coming to come a day when I'm not going to be able to swing my leg over the bag back there and I'm going to be trapped on my bike until someone comes along and rescues me.

:help

[sgborgstrom]

Doing away with the dreaded tankbag dance....

One more point in my on-going rationalization about why I need an F650GS in the garage

Steve

[DarrylRi]

Originally posted by KBasa
I hate climbing off the bike to refuel, especially when I have a bunch of camping junk piled on the back seat. I just know there's coming to come a day when I'm not going to be able to swing my leg over the bag back there and I'm going to be trapped on my bike until someone comes along and rescues me.

:help Geez Dave, you look a lot more flexible than I am, and I always get off the bike to refuel. It lets me stretch my legs a bit, and I don't worry about flooding myself with gasoline or slipping on some gas or oil and dropping the bike. How much stuff you carrying on the pillion seat, anyway?

[knary]

Originally posted by DarrylRi
Geez Dave, you look a lot more flexible than I am, and I always get off the bike to refuel. It lets me stretch my legs a bit, and I don't worry about flooding myself with gasoline or slipping on some gas or oil and dropping the bike. How much stuff you carrying on the pillion seat, anyway?

I'm with dave on this. When there's a mountain of camping gear back there, the legs just won't get up and over. As for the bike falling over - I always put the sidestand down.

[kbasa]

Originally posted by DarrylRi
Geez Dave, you look a lot more flexible than I am, and I always get off the bike to refuel. It lets me stretch my legs a bit, and I don't worry about flooding myself with gasoline or slipping on some gas or oil and dropping the bike. How much stuff you carrying on the pillion seat, anyway?

I've usually got the tent, the sleeping bags, the stove, lantern, bike covers, collapsible cooler, martini making apparatus and Kermit Chairs lashed on there.

Sometimes, it can be a little tough swinging that leg over....

[lorazepam]

May we have a picture of the RS with all that stuff attached? I bet it handles like a dream too:D

[knary]

Originally posted by lorazepam
May we have a picture of the RS with all that stuff attached? I bet it handles like a dream too:D

:D

It's a bit tough for spry young me to get into the saddle when the bike is loaded with a similar sized mountain of crap.

http://www.conary.org/bike/assets/trip/enough_small/IMG_1947.jpg

[lorazepam]

Here is the RS with my camping gear on for a solo trip. I have a weeks worth of clothes. my tent, stove, cook kit, folding chair, sleeping bag, lantern, fuel, bike cover, extra shield, electric vest, winter gloves, gps, mp3 player, intercom system I listen through, cd's with mp3's burned into them, Diet Mt Dew, Smokes, blah blah blah..... A upack is the ticket for 2up touring. Everything goes in it is light, and put all the heavy stuff in the cases. Gives the pillion a soft surround to lean on.

[kbasa]

Originally posted by lorazepam
May we have a picture of the RS with all that stuff attached? I bet it handles like a dream too:D

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/499933-M-1.jpg
I've liquidated enough of the S bike's parts that I was able to buy some Ohlins for that bike. They're in, so I'm picking them up tomorrow and will spend the afternoon installing them.

Look for full documentation....

[lewlei]

Interesting - - I've never had a tank bag but am shopping for one for the new GS. I think it was Sargentcycle.com that had this modular model. A tank panel that holds a small bag for daily stuff (glasses or whatever), and a larger expandable bag that attaches to it with attachable/detachable small bags outside that. They called it the Super Bag.

I like the idea of the modular system. Any opinions on this one? Would it be a headache to get to the gas cap? It's pricey and I'd hate to put out the bucks ordering on the internet and get something that solves one problem and creates a bigger one.

Lew:dunno

[DarrylRi]

Alright Dave, you got me on the luggage issue. I can't imagine climbing onto that thing with ALL THAT STUFF on the back of it. I didn't realize it took so much equipment to make martinis.

Here's my R90S with stuff I usually carry:
http://darryl.crafty-fox.com/mcpics/2002/samoa%20camping%20trip/Gave%20this%20an%20'adjustment'%20here.jpg

[DarrylRi]

Originally posted by lewlei
Interesting - - I've never had a tank bag but am shopping for one for the new GS. I think it was Sargentcycle.com that had this modular model.I bought one of those several years ago. I loved the idea, but hated the execution.

All those snaps they use are a pain to put together. You have to be able to get a finger behind them to get enough pressure to make them snap.

On my RS, I could never make the tank panel stay on tightly enough so that the bag didn't flop over to one side. It's narrow and only braced at each end, and when it warms up a bit it has a fair amount of give.

The map pouch can only be flipped left to right, not top to bottom. Ok if you only ever go east/west. The bottom part of the pouch is stitched through the vinyl; this makes a great tear off for the mounting points.

If you've never had a tankbag and aren't sure what you want, you might be happier buying a used, basic one to try out and find whether you like it and what features you really need.

I love tankbags personally. I like having a big map pouch for travelling. I like to carry a lot of conveniences up there like my camera, visor cleaning stuff, water, and more. Also, I have several travelling bikes, so I like to have one tankbag I can move easily between them.

For these reasons and more, I'm really sold on the Bagster (http://www.bagster.com/en/) tankbag/tankbra system. Very secure mounting, very good looking, very easy to refuel, no magnets to catch some dirt and put a scratch in the paint or ruin your credit card mag stripes. Built in clear rain cover so you can still see the map in the pouch.

[lewlei]

Some good points, Daryl. I did a quick check of the Bagster site, but it's hard to tell from the photos. I'll look closer at some bags that the dealers have and see what ideas I come up with.

I'll admit that the Super Bag got me for its gadget value. But, I'm looking for just what you said - - handy and convenient carrier for camera, water/snack, phone etc.

Thanks, I think you set me on the right track.

Lew

[kbasa]

My only reservation when I saw Bagsters the first time was the buckles they used. A friend of mine modified his, removing the Bagster buckles and replacing them with Fastex clips. Worked like a charm.

[crvalley]

Originally posted by knary
The fueling dance: Unclip one of the front straps, flop bag over to the right. Fill up. Flop bag upright. Dig out fallen strap from the dark awkward space around steering stem. Fiddle forever with stupid clip trying to get the bag secured. Ride away and realize that the tail of one of the straps is no longer tucked away and is flapping madly in the breeze. Try to tuck it back in while moving. Be annoyed.

Try this...

Pull bike up to gas pump. Note: pull to right of gas pump such that bike leans toward pump...

Step off bike.

Remove key from ignition. Rest key on seat.

Pull wallet out of tank bag, slide gas card into gas pump device. Replace card in wallet.

Put wallet back in tank bag and close tank bag.

Unclip rear two (or one) clip(s) of tank bag and flip tank bag forward...Repeat...Flip tank bag forward.

Unlock fuel tank and insert fuel nozzle into fuel tank...begin refueling...

When tank is full, stop refueling...

Replace fuel nozzle into gas pump device.

Close fuel tank cover...Remember...Listen for "click"...This will tell you that fuel tank is properly closed...

Roll tank bag back to proper position and reclip those pesky clasps.

Insert key back into ignition...

Get back on bike...

Start bike...

Ride away and be happy that life is so simple and care free...

[knary]

Originally posted by crvalley
Try this...

Pull bike up to gas pump. Note: pull to right of gas pump such that bike leans toward pump...

Step off bike.

Sorry, you lost me right there.
Getting off bike is a no go. I only get off when i want to stretch or eat. I got places to GO. Besides, around here, there's an attendant to deal with at the pump. Two people in that space is annoying and makes staying on the bike that much nicer.

Gotta love how such a trite thread has lived on! ;)

[DarrylRi]

Originally posted by knary
Besides, around here, there's an attendant to deal with at the pump. Two people in that space is annoying and makes staying on the bike that much nicer.I thought they stopped doing that for bikes. That was the news at the Redmond rally a couple years ago...

[knary]

Originally posted by DarrylRi
I thought they stopped doing that for bikes. That was the news at the Redmond rally a couple years ago...

Sorta. The attendants still push the buttons, swipe the cards, and hand out the nozzles.

Here's Rubber Cow doing the hand off a few weeks ago...
http://www.conary.org/bike/assets/trip/salmon_small/IMG_3669.jpg

[lorazepam]

What a PITA. If you wait for an attendant here, you had better have some food and water. I don't mind stepping off the bike, and I use the centerstand. Makes for consistant filling, and I wouldn't want to be on the bike if something happened to the pump mechanism.

[knary]

Originally posted by lorazepam
What a PITA. If you wait for an attendant here, you had better have some food and water. I don't mind stepping off the bike, and I use the centerstand. Makes for consistant filling, and I wouldn't want to be on the bike if something happened to the pump mechanism.

It is a pain, though most attendants are Very prompt and don't keep you waiting. Unlike full service in other states, it's their primary job here. When I'm driving, I like it. When I'm riding, it's annoying.