Wolfman E-12 Enduro Saddle Bags
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Decidedly Average.
Purchased the bags under the pretense that I needed to be able to carry more luggage on my little bike (Honda CBR250R) and had no mounting rack to do so. The universal mounting harness system that they going is pretty much exactly that- There's enough straps, clips, and buckles coming off of the bags to secure it to pretty much any bike in one fashion or another. Mounting it the first time took some doing (About twenty to thirty minutes of doing), but once I got everything in place, the result was more or less satisfactory. I fastened the 'overhead' straps under the back seat and tied the rearward harness in a nice little bow just beneath the tail light. Also, taking the pack off the bike is the same process as putting it on (At least for me, because it involves untying knots ), so the bags typically stay on the bike.
My main issue with the bags (At least at this point, and it's sort of a non-issue) is the shape. They are shaped pretty much exactly as they are in the pictures. Like triangles. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as each bag can hold a large assortment of small objects (Or a one half-gallon of milk plus several soup cans), but if you need to hold, say, a rectangular box, the bags will often have the width but not the height, or vice versa. Moreover, the Cordura (or whatever sort of nylon the bags are made out of) doesn't seem like it would perform too well in the rain. I haven't had the opportunity to get them wet yet, so I can't say for certain, but the material doesn't seem dense enough to do much good. Nothing a few plastic bags can't solve, though.
The saddlebags, overall, do their job. Though it's too early to say if the price matches the quality (As there are quite a few bags of different brands with similar price with more features and carrying capacity), they make my life a little easier without the need of a mounting rack, so there's that.
May 20, 2013
Short term review; pleased with this product..
I purchased these bags for my 2013 KTM 500 EXC. The main reason was that no mounting frame is required. I'm not sure I should, or want to, place too much weight on this bike anyway. After all, I went with the KTM for high end performance and agility/ability, not to be a cargo bike! Anyway I mounted the E-12s a few days ago, they went on easy and fit well with only the stock equipment supplied---so far, so good. I have them loaded up with approx. 25-28 lbs. of tools, rain gear, extra gloves, rope, etc. I took them out on a highway ride in a cold down-pouring rain storm the other night........WARNING: they are not very water resistant. This issue, from what I see at this point, is the main area that needs to be improved. How many of us are not going to ride through water & mud on trails, and/or in rain storms? Perhaps treating with Scotch-Guard will help?
I do plan to use my lower sub-frame bolt to mount a strap ring so that I can get the exhaust side strap completely away from the hot pipe (see picture on Wolfman website---they show a picture of this method for the E-12s on a KTM 525 EXC ). This strap is now very close to my KTMs pipe, but, seems to be okay--just a little concerned that it may prematurely fail if left that way.
Over all I am pleased, the E-12s appear to be well designed, constructed, and of good quality materials. I can recommend them; just keep in mind the water issue.
December 6, 2012