Cargo options and ideas for 07 Attak/Apex

[steveg_nh]

Now that I am finally in the home stretch in getting my new to me sled ready for the season, I'm moving on to some of the easier topics like cargo options.

I used to use saddlebags on my Viper and they worked very well. But the saddlebag options for the Apex/Attaks seems to all have straps that go across the exhaust covers. I don't love the look plus don't want to scratch the covers all up. And I don't love a tank bag being right there in front of me.

So at this point, I have the under hood nose bag, and a windshield bag for phone and wallet and small stuff. But I am also considering the Choko clutch cover bag. I searched the site and only found someone talking about it with a Nytro. Has anyone used this with an Apex/Attak? Is the clutch cover strong enough to hold the bag and a few things in there, without flexing or bending under rough riding?

http://www.chokonewengland.com/2017 items/2017_Accessories.html

Also too, how are you guys carrying small shovels with you? Are you keeping it in a backpack, or have you found a spot to store/mount it to the sled?

Thanks

 

[Viper_Dave]

You can mount the Yamaha Sport saddle bags with 1 strap, a pop rivet and a loop of nylon. Take a pencil and trace the line of the cover directly under your taillight. Remove the cover, and lay your loop with ,a 3/16" hole in it, so the hole is under where the plastic lands. Drill and install the loop using a medium headed rivet. Reinstall your plastic. Now you can use 1 strap to go down to the loop and back up to the other side of the bags. Ran it this way on my Atakk for several years until I long tracked it.

 

[hibshman25]

I think some guys were modifying the mtx cargo racks onto the 136 tunnels. I might even have one. Will have to look.

 

[steiner]

I have the Sport Combo bag my Attak. No issues with scuffing the paint. I also use the Skinz tunnel bag once in awhile. Good for carrying non food items.
Will not go anywhere without a tank bag. This holds my extra goggles, snacks, maps and other things. Another great thing about a tank bag is that it provides a cushion and grip for your knees.
My nose bag is packed with stuff that I hope I don't need like a tow rope, wire, tools duct tape etc...
I'm sure that I carry an extra 50lbs of stuff on my sled.

 

[steveg_nh]

I think some guys were modifying the mtx cargo racks onto the 136 tunnels. I might even have one. Will have to look.

I'd be curious to see that, and how it would look.

 

[steveg_nh]

I have the Sport Combo bag my Attak. No issues with scuffing the paint. I also use the Skinz tunnel bag once in awhile. Good for carrying non food items.
Will not go anywhere without a tank bag. This holds my extra goggles, snacks, maps and other things. Another great thing about a tank bag is that it provides a cushion and grip for your knees.
My nose bag is packed with stuff that I hope I don't need like a tow rope, wire, tools duct tape etc...
I'm sure that I carry an extra 50lbs of stuff on my sled.

Thanks. I bet I carry that much too, but if I ever need it, I want it with me!

On the question at hand though, has anyone ever mounted a bad on their clutch cover? Seems like a good spot, but wouldn't want to overload it and send something pressing into the belt spinning at 8000 rpm! Yikes!

 

[yamadoo]

On my old Apex I used to carry a lot in my map /tank bag as well as the others you have.
I have yet to mount the saddle bag combo I have for the new Apex, would likely use only on a bragger trip

 

[steveg_nh]

Yeah, I have a few longer trips planned into Maine, so I'll have to figure that out. But I'm talking about the essentials I tend to carry with me all the time. Between the windshield bag, nose bag and a clutch cover bag, I think I can get it all done. But just concerned about the load on the clutch cover. Seems like a pretty rigid cover. And I'm not crazy when I ride either, 90% on trail.

 

[THKSNOW]

With saddlebags on an Attak, there is no need to run the straps over the exhaust covers. The front straps are in front of the covers. The straps on the back of the bag can be routed to the back through a U bolt mounted to the middle of the tunnel and connect to the strap on the other side. Pictures of two different bags and the U bolt I used:

 

[steveg_nh]

How cool are those light rings around the exhaust! LOL

What a great idea with the U bolt! I have a rear cooler though, so I'd have to check to see if it's in the way. But really good idea. The second picture looks like the tank bag, mounted on the rear. Is it? Regardless, which set of saddlebags do you prefer between the two you show?

 

[THKSNOW]

How cool are those light rings around the exhaust! LOL

What a great idea with the U bolt! I have a rear cooler though, so I'd have to check to see if it's in the way. But really good idea. The second picture looks like the tank bag, mounted on the rear. Is it? Regardless, which set of saddlebags do you prefer between the two you show?

There should be no issue mounting a U bolt with the rear cooler, plenty of room. Both bags pictured are Yamaha saddle bags. The smaller bag has tons of room for a couple days. I went to the larger bag for the 5 night/6 day rides. In 100's of miles I never had any problems with this set-up. All you have to get at most any hardware is the male/female connectors for the rear straps so they can be connected together.

Here's a link to all the current bags:
https://www.shopyamaha.com/accessor...tcategory_ss_facet=15&ls=yamaha-motor-company

 

[steveg_nh]

Thanks, and the first picture, the all black bags, are what you call the smaller ones right? Thanks for the link.

 

[RobX-1]

Steve, the reason the Nytro was a good candidate for the clutch cover bag was because the Nytro's clutch cover did not have the brackets to carry a spare belt. For the Nytro, the spare belt was kept in the tool bag in the nose cone. I took off the clutch cover bag when I sold the Nytro so can take some additional pictures of it if you were still interested in going that route.

 

[steveg_nh]

Steve, the reason the Nytro was a good candidate for the clutch cover bag was because the Nytro's clutch cover did not have the brackets to carry a spare belt. For the Nytro, the spare belt was kept in the tool bag in the nose cone. I took off the clutch cover bag when I sold the Nytro so can take some additional pictures of it if you were still interested in going that route.

Thanks. From what I've seen, you need to remove the belt clips on the clutch cover, mount the bag, then strap the belt around the cover, just like the Nytro. Just not sure how much flex the cover has in terms of supporting anything. I suppose I could put a few light things in there, like the siphon, and tree strap, and call it a day. Less stuff in the other bags. I'd be interested in seeing the pics Rob. Are you selling it or using it?

 

[THKSNOW]

Thanks, and the first picture, the all black bags, are what you call the smaller ones right? Thanks for the link.

Yes the black bag is about 1/2 the size of the 2-tone bag. But, it still has lots of room. Also it looks like the new version in the link may be a little bigger than the one I had.