TheBigCheese

It just dawned on me that you'll probably be changing your oil more frequently. Can you get in there to clean the glass?

If your hand tingles or goes numb, you might consider your off-bike ergonomics. There's a lot of similarities between wrist position on your throttle grip and mousing (if you're right handed).

Thanks, I just moved it forward as far as it will go and got an extra 1.5". Made some difference, it's more comfortable now. No interference with handlebars etc, in fact there's quite a bit of room still (especially if the rain cover pouch were removed). I'd still like it forward a couple more inches, might try to rig it later. But this way it's acceptable. We'll see after a few rides. Not much change visually, still more room to go forward.

I got a tank bag with a clear map cover: http://www.vfrdiscus...pid__791105#top Would work well if I had to stop every time, but the guards can't see the badge well enough for me to fly by. I reverted to keeping it in my left jacket pocket, and holding it between two fingers so I can still operate the clutch. Kind of tricky, I crushed a badge that way one time when I didn't get it right. I guess I'll manage. I might do something fancier when I cut down my windscreen, my "slot system" actually worked well with my old tank bag. The wind caused it to auto-retract with perfect timing as I pulled away from the gate. The new bag is too tall and now I don't have a good place to clip the badge in securely.

Now that I've had a T480 a while: Pros - It has the right volume for me, fits all my kit for everyday riding (commute) without expanding it: Gore tex, first aid, Honda tools, repair kit, bungees, toll pass, registration, etc. - The quick release mechanism works well, very fast on/off, and the bag sits fairly close to the tank (relative to the SW-MOTECH). Gassing up is a cinch now. - It fits nicely inside one of the Honda hard side cases. That solves the problem when I stop around town and want it more secure. In fact I've been leaving it in the left side case all the time, and only take it out when I need to stow something else. Cons - I'm not thrilled with the top map window. It is very stiff with only a side zipper, so it is difficult to reach in. - The little GPS pocket buckles when you stuff the bag, they provided a small block of foam about the size of the pocket - now I know what it was for. - I wish it sloped on the back edge even a little. I like to lean forward when accelerating hard off the line and I can't with this bag. - Definitely not waterproof without the cover. The top zippers look rubbery, so I thought it had a chance, but the side zippers leak. Would be OK if caught out on a ride, especially if you were moving. But after an hour of sitting in the parking lot under a heavy downpour things got wet. I might try to rig up a skirt of some sort like my old Chase and Harper bag. - The rain cover is kind of dorky, but what do you expect out of a rain cover? - I can't hear the "clack clack" they claim happens when the bag seats on the mount. I jerk it around a bit after I think it has seated to make sure. Would hate to have it pop off when riding.

I'm impressed with the encoding, I may have to pick up a GoPro soon. I played with my Sony HD cam on the bike a few years ago. It was all pre-VFR (and pre-decent-GoPro) but should apply. Up front the summary is: hard mount the camera to a frame component. You'll see a lot of good video taken from down low. I had pretty good success with a frame slider mount. Close to your knee is also surprisingly convenient to reach the camera controls. Unfortunately that puts the GoPro out into the wind, so you'll have to use an external microphone, tucked into quiet air (and also picking up your exhaust note). Decoupling microphone mount from camera mount gives you much more flexibility. Looks like GoPro does not support external microphone yet, but if you're brave you can DIY. Unfortunately these might be older models? I had to do something similar for my Sony - which uses a proprietary external hot shoe interface so I had to hack up an external microphone to make the connection. I ran stereo microphones to my AutoCom and then used its passenger output to hook into the camera. That way I could mount the mics out of the wind and near the Remus. Plus picked up the bike to bike chatter (had to warn my buddies when recording). Note the AutoCom output had to be attenuated to be compatible with the unpowered microphone input - just a simple voltage divider did the trick. Added benefit - I enjoyed listening to my engine better than my iPod - I had a microphone volume adjustment so I could mix in as much as I wanted. Ultimately, I was not satisfied with the Sony - its HD encoder was not designed for fast paced movement of the entire image. It had a funky wave effect, your GoPro looks far superior. Here's a movie FX guy's mount, no gyro and no shock mount. Forgot what movie it was used in. He said that shock mounts work until they reach their limits, but then they act like drunken sailors. He asserts that the frame (or rider) are already shock mounted, and have enough mass to dampen vibration.

I have been eyeing that exact bag. Do you have any pictures of it on the VFR? I just got one too. I was looking for big, but it sits back a bit too far for my taste. Makes laying on the tank uncomfortable, even when it is not expanded. My old Chase and Harper was much wider, and it was flatter when not expanded. It comes with a rain cover, which implies that it isn't waterproof - my old bag could sit in thunderstorms all day and not leak. It does the rest of its jobs well (quick release, sturdy, good map pocket with recess for GPS/phone, lots of pockets, big volume). I'll give it some time Not so great pics on mine:

OK, it came in. Not the bag that you were looking at, but you can see how the ring works. BF03 was the correct bike-specific adapter for a 2007 6th Gen. I had an SW-MOTECH tank bag mount on my old bike. This Givi is slightly lower profile than the SW-MOTECH, but each is ugly in its own way without the bag. Maybe the smaller bag will look better, but this bag is the size I like. I'll update once I've ridden with it a few times. I was worried when I saw the tiny screws they sent, but the OEM bolts have huge heads. All installed - The clamping ring overhangs quite a bit, it bent slightly when I tightened. This took way less than the OEM torque, judging by the feel. I don't have an allen head that small for my torque wrench. Just in case you're curious - blue locktite is my friend. Snapped in the bag, no clacking sound like the instructions say. Seems to be sturdy. That red lever pops it off, like they say less than a second going on or coming off. Bag on - I can see over it but it is pretty huge. And it goes even bigger if you want. "GPS" indent under the map window. Too bad I've got an Apple with capacitive touch screen. Although that vinyl is pretty stiff an android (or GPS with touch screen) might have problems too. Business end of the bag. rain cover - stows in an external pouch up front. Gee, my old bag never needed one until it started to fall apart - are they trying to tell me something? Now I'm going to worry about it.

I was in the market for one, just ordered the T480 which is kind of big but that's what I want for touring. Also ordered the ring Givi part BF03 Will report when it arrives and I get around to trying.

I've got a clear map pocket, thought about using it but it's painful to get things in and out. So all I really need is a new tank bag - brilliant.