Motor manual

So, I took this opportunity to look into some luggage options for the dirt and dual sport type bikes out there, namely the 570, EXCs, Enduro Rs, XRs, or any other bike for that matter without the ability to use (or the owners desire for) luggage racks and traditional luggage options.

After some researching, I settled on the Giant Loop Coyote saddlebag and Coyote Dry bag for $329.00 http://www.giantloopmoto.com/products/coyote-saddlebag. With its 30 liter capacity, it could easily hold what I need for a multi-day trip or longer, especially when combined with the optional dry bag ($69.00) and the small hydration pack I typically ride with.

Construction seems top-notch with heavy duty stitching throughout and super mega-heavy duty materials like "truckers tarp." Dust-proof, water-resistant, rugged and designed to carry the load low with smartly placed compression straps to secure everything - all good things for keeping you and your crap in good working order while riding off-road.  That being said, theres one small problem. Giant Loop touts its use of "waterproof materials," only to use non-waterproof construction techniques such as the needle and thread. Instead, Giant Loop opts to pass the buck, to make the end user responsible for finishing their production. In what seems to be a major cost saving measure, they give you a tube of Seam Sealer with instructions to paint each and every seam. I did this, and Im pretty confident this wont even provide a waterproof environment for my stuff.

My solution, in addition to the Seam Sealer, was to buy 3 dry bags at REI and ditch the nice shapely (but not waterproof ones) Giant Loop includes - one for each leg and one for the middle. Its worth noting here that since the time I purchased my bag from Giant Loop a couple weeks ago, they are now offering shaped and contoured roll-top dry bags to replace the non-waterproof ones. At $100 for the set, its something to consider since getting dry bags from REI will be in that neighborhood and probably wont fit in there as nicely as the GL bits.

Out riding, the bag works quite well. I couldnt even really tell it was there. It wasnt completely loaded to the hilt with gear - not even close, but it gave me a good impression while riding everything from mellow USFS type roads to some rough, technical rocky double and single track. In terms of stability, the 3-point connection system works very well and the strategically placed compression straps hold everything down nice and tight and low. Be sure to take a minute to find the best place to mount all the straps on initial setup, and far away from any hot engine parts, in particular the exhaust. It was slightly tricky on the Berg because of the crazy routing of the exhaust but I finally found a happy place for it. Another thing to consider in placing the bag is to put the thing as far back as you can, so it doesnt impede your shifting body position fore and aft while riding. 

Something else to consider is the fact that your plastics will take a beating. If that matters to you, you could maybe put some sort of protection on the plastics somehow. After a day of riding with the bag on there, the plastic side panels were definitely scuffed up. No major damage though, and that is because of the included heat shield which keeps the panel from being pushed against your hot exhaust and melting. One note of caution, if the bag contacts your exhaust, it wont hold up. Be careful.

All in all, its a good setup, and probably the best luggage option for any dirt bike or dual sport. Besides the fact that it isnt waterproof, its well made, well designed and accomplishes its intended goal letting you carry a good amount of gear on your dual sport.