Tag Archives: SW-Motech

SW-Motech Legend Gear LC2 Side Bags Review | Gear

SW-Motech Legend Gear LC2 Side Bags

When I first got my 2004 Harley‑Davidson Heritage Softail Classic, I felt like I was cheating a little when opening and closing my saddlebags. I didn’t bother using the traditional leather straps with metal buckles, instead relying on the hidden quick‑detach plastic clips that were so much easier to secure. Unfortunately, the clips started breaking, which isn’t bad considering they’re 20 years old, but without the clips, the buckles wouldn’t work on their own.

SW-Motech Legend Gear LC2 Side Bags

My first stop for a replacement set was H‑D’s website, but there is only one choice of saddlebags for my bike, offering a little over 22 liters of total storage (compared to the approximate 34 liters of my stock bags).

SW-Motech Legend Gear LC2 Side Bags

SW‑Motech, on the other hand, offers a wide range of motorcycle luggage for pretty much any motorcycle. The company’s website makes it easy to search by make and model, but they also have several options that aren’t model specific. Capacity is important, but I was also ready to try something functionally different, so I decided on the SW‑Motech Legend Gear LC2 side bags, which have a total capacity of 27 liters.

SW-Motech Legend Gear LC2 Side Bags

I really like the LC2’s vintage design: a combination of Napalon synthetic leather and waxed canvas, the latter of which contributes to water protection – along with the hook‑and‑loop roll‑top closure and included waterproof inner bag. They’re smaller than my stock bags, but as I often ride for my work, I was pleased to discover I could still fit my laptop stored upright with room to spare. And if I want to carry a little extra, there are numerous loops on the exterior for attaching Legend Gear LA1 (0.8L, $24) or LA2 (1.2L, $48) accessory bags.

However, what really attracted me to the SW-Motech Legend Gear LC2 side bags was the quick‑release feature. I don’t always need luggage, and I like the clean look of my bike without the windshield and bags when I’m just cruising around town.

SW-Motech Legend Gear LC2 Side Bags

The quick‑release attachment of the LC2 is made of fiberglass‑reinforced polyamide and enables removal in just a couple of seconds, and when the bags are off, the black tubular steel side‑carrier bracket is barely visible. I also appreciate that when I use the bags for a trip, I can easily detach them at my destination and carry them with me, either by grabbing the top strap or using the accessory LA4 shoulder strap ($36). 

See all of Rider‘s luggage reviews here.

Installation of the SLC side‑carrier mounting system was straightforward and took less than 15 minutes. It’s sold separately for $128 (model‑specific pricing may vary). The SW‑Motech Legend Gear LC2 side bags come in either Black or Black/Brown for $207 per side.

The post SW-Motech Legend Gear LC2 Side Bags Review | Gear appeared first on Rider Magazine.

Source: RiderMagazine.com

Harley-Davidson Pan America Engine Guard from SW-Motech | Gear Review 

Harley-Davidson Pan America Engine Guard SW-Motech
Harley-Davidson Pan America Engine Guard from SW-Motech (Photo courtesy SW-Motech; other photos by the author)

The popularity of adventure-touring motorcycles surged in the 2000s as more riders discovered their inherent versatility. So-called ADV bikes can not only eat up hundreds of miles each day but can also explore areas not frequented by most streetbikes. After a while, what many buyers of ADVs found was that there is potential danger to bouncing around the wilderness over rocks and logs, fording streams, and plowing through sand. One of those dangers is a punctured engine case many miles from help.   

The Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250, a fully featured and capable ADV powered by a 150-hp V-Twin, was launched in 2021. It was an immediate success, and soon Pan Americas were finding their way into some very challenging terrain in deserts, mountains, and canyons, including single-track trails more suitable for smaller displacement dual-sport motorcycles.  

Related: 2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special | First Ride Review

The stock Harley Pan Am is a very capable motorcycle. However, from the factory, the undercarriage is woefully exposed to damage from rocks, logs, and other hard objects that can be kicked up when riding off-road. Harley-Davidson offers a robust accessory skid plate to replace the thin aluminum protector in front of the battery.

SW-Motech Engine Guard for Harley-Davidson Pan America
Harley-Davidson accessory skid plate (left) and SW-Motech Engine Guard (right).

The upgraded Harley skid plate is handsome, made from heavy duty aluminum and painted black. Using six bolts, it seemed to provide the level of underside armor needed for trails like Moab’s White Rim Trail and some of the Sierra Nevada trails that have sharp-edged rocks just waiting to end a ride should they puncture the nether regions of the engine.   

SW-Motech Engine Guard for Harley-Davidson Pan America
SW-Motech Engine Guard for Harley-Davidson Pan America

While the Harley skid plate provides protection – and the weight of it is held down low – it bolts right to the bottom of the engine rather than providing some sort of suspension to distribute the energy from a boulder or log hit.   

See all of Rider’s Parts & Accessories reviews here. 

Enter the Pan America Engine Guard from SW-Motech, which offers two key benefits over Harley-Davidson’s accessory skid plate. One is you can get it in either silver or black. Two, more functional and psychological support comes from the mounting system, which holds the engine guard off the bottom of the Pan Am’s 1250cc engine by about 0.5 inch with brackets that match up with the Pan Am’s original skid plate mounting holes. These mounts are able to provide a little more “give” should the engine guard be subjected to a heavy blow.  

SW-Motech Engine Guard for Harley-Davidson Pan America
SW-Motech Engine Guard for Harley-Davidson Pan America

The bottom of the SW-Motech engine guard is smooth and will help slide over logs and boulders. There are ample cooling holes to help with airflow around the bottom of the engine while also providing an escape path for mud and water that might collect during a water crossing.  

SW-Motech Engine Guard for Harley-Davidson Pan America
SW-Motech Engine Guard for Harley-Davidson Pan America

Installation took about 30 minutes. One mixed benefit to the SW-Motech engine guard is that it weighs less than the Harley skid plate. The SW-Motech engine guard weighs in at 7.4 lb, while the Harley skid plate weighs in at 10.7 lb. Although the overall weight reduction is good news, the Harley skid plate’s weight was at the very bottom of the engine and helped keep the center of gravity low. A few pounds doesn’t seem like much, but the change in weight distribution with the SW-Motech engine guard does shift the center of gravity up a little bit.  

The Pan America Engine Guard from SW-Motech retails for $446.95.  

The post Harley-Davidson Pan America Engine Guard from SW-Motech | Gear Review  appeared first on Rider Magazine.

Source: RiderMagazine.com

New Gear: SW-Motech Motorcycle Crash Bars for Kawasaki KLR650

SW-Motech Kawasaki KLR650 Motorcycle Crash Bars

SW-Motech’s Motorcycle Crash Bars for the 2022-23 Kawasaki KLR650 provides extra protection for the tank, fairing, and other components.

Related: 2022 Kawasaki KLR650 Adventure | Road Test Review

The crash bar is made of steel pipe with a 27mm diameter and has a weather- and corrosion-resistant black powdercoating. Designed specifically for the KLR650, it fits seamlessly with the lines of the bike and doesn’t restrict cornering clearance.

The bars come with model-specific mounting systems and screw onto factory mounting points on the frame.

See Rider’s Parts & Accessories reviews here.

SW-Motech Kawasaki KLR650 Motorcycle Crash Bars

Two motorcycle crash bars, instructions, and mounting hardware are included, and the set is available for $280.

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Source: RiderMagazine.com

SW-Motech Pro and Blaze Sportbike Luggage | Gear Review

SW-Motech sportbike luggage Ninja 400

Whether commuting to work, picking something up from the store, or bringing essentials on a trip, there are plenty of good reasons for having sportbike luggage. SW-Motech offers tankbags and saddlebags that can fit almost any motorcycle, including my Kawasaki Ninja 400. 

Related: 2018 Kawasaki Ninja 400 ABS | First Ride Review

The Pro City tankbag ($299.95) is made of 1680-denier ballistic nylon with a water-resistant interior coating. The molded, laminated EVA top includes a MOLLE attachment panel, which can be used to secure an optional smartphone drybag ($31.95).

A model-specific Pro tank ring ($37.95), which replaces the OEM ring around the fuel filler, is required. As a novice mechanic, I thought installing the ring was straightforward, requiring about 45 minutes. The tankbag snaps onto the tank ring effortlessly, and a pull-latch releases it (an optional anti-theft lock is $24.95).

SW-Motech sportbike luggage pro tank rings
Pro tank ring parts

The tankbag’s zippers open and close smoothly, and the pull tabs have a thick, rubbery feel. The outside pockets are convenient for holding small items like keys and a wallet. The tankbag is deep and holds a great deal, and it is expandable from 11 to 14 liters.

SW-Motech sportbike luggage Pro City tankbag

While the Pro City tankbag is high-quality luggage that fits cleanly and securely thanks to the Pro tank ring, it is a little too tall and long for my Ninja 400’s riding position, pressing into my chest when I lean over the tank to reach the grips. The smaller Pro Micro tankbag (3-5 liters, $184.95) is a better option for the Ninja, while the Pro City is ideal for the more upright seating position of my Kawasaki Versys-X 300. 

Related: Kentucky Motorcycle Ride: Exploring Mammoth Cave and Bowling Green

SW-Motech’s Blaze saddlebags ($499.95) solve the problem of saggy luggage on sportbikes. They use an innovative mounting system with easily detachable support arms that slide into pockets on the soft saddlebags. The saddlebags are clipped in with a buckle on a nylon strap and then fastened together over the pillion seat using a heavy-duty strap secured by Velcro.

SW-Motech sportbike luggage Blaze saddlebags

It took about 45 minutes to install the mounts, and the bags are easy to put on. SW-Motech recommends installing the bags while empty and ensuring that the Velcro strap is in place before attaching the bags to the mounting arms to avoid bending or breaking the arms.

The semi-rigid saddlebags are made of 1680-denier ballistic nylon and include waterproof inner bags. They open lengthwise on the top, are easy to fill, and have the same luxurious zippers as the tankbag. Each bag is expandable to hold 15-20 liters and has a zippered outer pocket.

SW-Motech sportbike luggage Ninja 400

Overall, I was impressed with the quality of both the Pro City tankbag and the Blaze saddlebags. From the innovative design to the sturdy materials, zippers, and seams, these bags seem like they will last a lifetime. They add useful carrying capacity to a sportbike in a way that doesn’t clash with the styling. Now my bike carries nicer bags than I do!

See all of Rider‘s luggage reviews here.

The post SW-Motech Pro and Blaze Sportbike Luggage | Gear Review appeared first on Rider Magazine.

Source: RiderMagazine.com

New Gear: SW-Motech Bar Back Variable Handlebar Risers

SW-Motech bar back variable handlebar risers

Since comfort becomes a priority when traveling over long distances, ergonomics play a huge role in a motorcyclist’s enjoyment, and SW-Motech adds comfort to your longer trips with its Bar Back Variable handlebar risers.

See all of Rider‘s Parts & Accessories reviews here.

CNC-milled from high-quality aluminum alloy and featuring corrosion protection, the Bar Back Variables allow you to adjust your handlebar for a more upright and relaxed riding position.

Depending on the handlebar diameter and bike, they raise the bar from 25-30mm and include six different positions in increments of 5mm for plenty of adjustment options.

SW-Motech bar back variable handlebar risers
SW-Motech bar back variable handlebar risers in Silver

The SW-Motech Bar Back Variable handlebar risers are available in Black, Silver, or Anthracite for handlebar diameters of 22/28/32mm for $217.95 on the SW-Motech website.

The post New Gear: SW-Motech Bar Back Variable Handlebar Risers first appeared on Rider Magazine.
Source: RiderMagazine.com

SW-Motech Motorcycle Luggage: Street-Rack, PRO Side Carrier, SysBag WP | Gear Review

SW-Motech Motorcycle Luggage

Unlike taking a roadtrip in a car, where you can pack everything but the kitchen sink, traveling by motorcycle requires you to be more selective about what you bring. And whatever is on your “can’t leave home without it” list, you need a way to carry it on the bike. SW-Motech offers a bewildering array of motorcycle luggage in various styles and sizes, along with carriers, racks, and adapters.

These offerings allow for a customizable, modular approach to kitting out your motorcycle, all designed and manufactured with the quality and attention to detail so often attributed to German engineering. SW-Motech also makes all kinds of cool accessories for safety, protection, navigation, and power supply (beware: sitting down with your favorite refreshing beverage and perusing their website will lead to temptation).

Related: New Gear: SW-Motech’s Centerstands

Our 2022 Honda CB500X long-term test bike is an affordable, efficient, light-duty adventure bike that’s perfect for solo touring, but in stock form, it has neither luggage nor a luggage rack. We surfed over to SW-Motech’s U.S. website, entered the year, make, and model into the “My Bike” filter, and clicked the “Luggage” product category.

First, we wanted a way to carry luggage, so we ordered the Street-Rack ($252.95), a small rear rack with multiple tie-down points that’s made of black PU-coated 5mm aluminum. We only planned to use the Street-Rack as a lashing point and carrier for a tailbag, but SW-Motech also offers a rack extension, tank ring adapters for mounting a PRO tankbag, and a wide range of adapters for various styles and brands of top cases.

SW-Motech Motorcycle Luggage Street-Rack

Next, we ordered the PRO Side Carrier ($350.95), which is made of black powdercoated 2.5mm steel. Not only is the side carrier compatible with SW-Motech’s own luggage, but adapter kits are also available for use with Givi/Kappa, Hepco & Becker, Krauser, and Shad luggage.

SW-Motech Motorcycle Luggage PRO Side Carrier

For luggage, we ordered a SysBag WP M (Waterproof, Medium; $249.95) to use as a tailbag and two SysBag WP L (Large; $399.95 each) saddlebags with adapter plates that allow them to be quickly mounted to or removed from the PRO Side Carrier. The SysBag WP L has lashing straps, so if you didn’t want the quick-release adapter plate, the bag alone is $319.95. However, the straps must be threaded through slots in the carrier’s metal plates, so loaded bags would likely move around, especially during off-road riding, which may wear on the straps over time. Given the convenience and added security of the adapter plates, they’re worth the extra money.

Because I was halfway around the world testing the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 in India (see my Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 First Ride review here), our esteemed former EIC and go-to mechanical guru Mark Tuttle was kind enough to tackle the installation in my absence. From his installation notes: “Overall a nice, heavy-duty system that was fairly easy to install with a minimum of fiddling. Took me about two hours, largely because each hanger on the adapter plates must be secured with four @#$%& screws and nuts, or 32 pairs total. SWM should preinstall these. IMHO installing the system is probably best left to the (at least somewhat) mechanically inclined, though the instructions are clear, and it uses high-quality hardware.”

SW-Motech Motorcycle Luggage SysBag WP Saddlebag

Installation of either the Street-Rack or the PRO Side Carrier requires removing the CB500X’s passenger grab handles, but the side carrier arms can serve as secure handholds for a passenger. Although the instructions call for drilling the rear fender to secure the rear horizontal support arm, Tuttle said it wasn’t necessary; it aligned easily enough with the license plate bracket holes.

A nifty feature of the PRO Side Carrier are Quick-Lock fasteners that allow the carrier to be removed with a quarter turn, leaving behind only minimal attachment points for a clean look. Since the fasteners are immediately behind the loop part of the carrier, securing them with a flathead screwdriver is tricky. However, SW-Motech sells a stainless steel Multitool Key Chain ($11.95) that includes not only a fastener tool for PRO and EVO side carriers but hex keys in five sizes and a bottle opener. If you’re concerned about theft, a Screw Set ($11.95) is available to replace the Quick-Lock fasteners. 

SW-Motech Motorcycle Luggage

Once the PRO Side Carrier and adapter plates are installed, it’s literally a snap to mount the two SysBag WP Ls to each side – just line up the hangers on the pins, lift the release lever, and pop them right on. The SysBag WP M was laid flat on the passenger seat and Street-Rack, and its straps were used to secure it in place as a tailbag.

The SysBags are made of TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) with rubber-like EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) components and thermally welded seams, and they have roll tops made of 210 Ripstop TPU to keep water and dust out. They have reinforced handles, MOLLE patches for attaching accessories, eyelets for cable locks, Velcro fasteners for bundling excess strap lengths, and removable inner pockets. An outer flap covers the roll tops and secures with quick-release buckles, and inside the flap is a zippered pocket. The M bag’s volume is expandable from 17-23 liters, and the L bag’s volume is expandable from 27-40 liters. The L bag also has inner dividers and an easily accessible exterior compartment for stashing raingear, a thermal layer, or other items.

SW-Motech Motorcycle Luggage

Overall, this is an impressive, high-quality setup that adds up to 103 liters of storage on the Honda CB500X or other motorcycle. One thing to keep in mind, however, is the added weight. The Street-Rack adds 6.2 lb; the SysBag WP L adds 6.4 lb per bag and 3.0 lb per adapter plate, for a total of 18.8 lb; and the SysBag WP M adds 4.2 lb. All in, that’s 29.2 lb before adding any gear.

The total cost of this setup is $1,677.65. Given the quality and versatility, it’s a good investment in a luggage system that will last for years. The only question is, where will you go first? A good place to start is the SW-Motech website.

See all of Rider‘s luggage reviews here.

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Source: RiderMagazine.com