Tank bag = scratched tank?

Canadian GP

Canadian GP

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I plan on riding my 650R to work but I need to carry a few small items with me so I'm looking into getting a small tank bag. Do they do any damage to the paint on the tank?

TIA
 
Mine hasn't. Are you going to leave abrasive materials underneath, when you put the tank bag on?
 
Just make sure there is nothing stuck to the bottom of the bag where the magnets are, and pull the bag straight off without sliding it. Your tank will be fine.
 
Canadian GP said:
I plan on riding my 650R to work but I need to carry a few small items with me so I'm looking into getting a small tank bag. Do they do any damage to the paint on the tank?

TIA
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The short answer is YES.

If you are not careful, or do it for a long time, I think there is a really good chance of scratching your tank unless you take some simple precautions.

My tank bag which uses three magnets on each side has scratched my tank a bit. It doesn't bother me much to be honest. Just to give you context, my bike has almost 50K on it, and the tank bag has been on for easily 95% of that duration.

My suggestion is to find a thin cloth (like an old t-shirt?) and cut it to the footprint of your tank bag. Anytime your tank bag is on, just put the cloth between the tank and the bag. Ensure the tank bag's magnets still have a good grip and you should be good to go.

As previously mentioned, keep an eye out for any grit on the bottom of the magnets, and also don't rip off the bag so the magnets slide across the tank.

Tank bags are great.
 
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Get 3M protective film and put it over the tank if you're worried too much.

Over time the tank bag will probably scratch the tank a bit, yes.
 
If you're worried about scratching your tank, why not carry a backpack?...
 
When I first got my latest VFR I refused to use a tank bag as I didn't want to scratch the tank.

I got a nice backpack but I miss having the Tank bag to rest forward on, and after long rides the backpack tends to make my back sore.

I started using my tank bag and I immediatley got a scratch on the tank. At a closer inspection of the bag there's a little plastic buckle near the front. I promptly cut it off.

The tank bag will definitly cause small scratches and imperfections in the paint after long use.
 
koalaKid said:
The short answer is YES.

If you are not careful, or do it for a long time, I think there is a really good chance of scratching your tank unless you take some simple precautions.

My tank bag which uses three magnets on each side has scratched my tank a bit. It doesn't bother me much to be honest. Just to give you context, my bike has almost 50K on it, and the tank bag has been on for easily 95% of that duration.

My suggestion is to find a thing cloth (like an old t-shirt?) and cut it to the footprint of your tank bag. Anytime your tank bag is on, just put the cloth between the tank and the bag. Ensure the tank bag's magnets still have a good grip and you should be good to go.

As previously mentioned, keep an eye out for any grit on the bottom of the magnets, and also don't rip off the bag so the magnets slide across the tank.

Tank bags are great.
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danm i wish i did this, my tank bag almost fell off yesterday and scratched the **** out of my tank theres little white scratches where the feet on my mini givi bag are
 
slowbird said:
I got a nice backpack but I miss having the Tank bag to rest forward on, and after long rides the backpack tends to make my back sore.
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That's just it, I only use my backpack to go to work and come back which is a 15KM commute one way. I wouldn't take it on longer rides unless I absolutely have to.
 
2live&ride said:
That's just it, I only use my backpack to go to work and come back which is a 15KM commute one way. I wouldn't take it on longer rides unless I absolutely have to.
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My work is also around 15km away. The backpack doesn't bother me for such a short trip.
 
I use a rag underneath the tank bag and just tuck the excess underneath, no scratches.
 
You might want an SW-Motech Quick-lock tankbag system. It uses a special gascap ring, and the tankbag locks onto the ring. There are no magnets, and the material of the bag never touches the tank
 
Mine didn't scratch the paint but rubbed it off where these is a high point on the tank.
 
slowbird said:
When I first got my latest VFR I refused to use a tank bag as I didn't want to scratch the tank.

I got a nice backpack but I miss having the Tank bag to rest forward on, and after long rides the backpack tends to make my back sore.

I started using my tank bag and I immediatley got a scratch on the tank. At a closer inspection of the bag there's a little plastic buckle near the front. I promptly cut it off.

The tank bag will definitly cause small scratches and imperfections in the paint after long use.
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My backpack had a buckle on it and it scratched the crap out of my tank. Tankbag or backpack = scratches.
 
The spot that tends to get it the worst is just outside the footprint of the tank-bag.
 
Having a tank bag is awesome, however if you get even the tiniest amount of grit on the magnet area and attach to bike, there is a potential for a nasty scratch as I found out with my friend and his custom painted bike... Don't ever put the bag on the ground if the magnets are hanging loose! Otherr then that with careful use you should be pretty safe :)
 
as other have said, for sure keep an eye on the magnets -- especially if your tank bag has magnets only to keep it on, as they are way stronger than a bag with a strap. I made the mistake of setting my bag down on the shoulder of the road [while i tried to pick bike up after very slow speed drop] I didnt realize how much **** the magnets had picked up until it was too late. Who knew sand and gravel had that much metal !!
 
Ash said:
You might want an SW-Motech Quick-lock tankbag system. It uses a special gascap ring, and the tankbag locks onto the ring. There are no magnets, and the material of the bag never touches the tank
Click to expand...

this is the way to go in my opinion.

Easy install, a variety of bags and sizes for it, and it will never touch your tank and never ever scratch it, unless you do so dragging it across your tank for some reason.

More expensive then standard tank bags, but worth it in my opinion. I dont use tank bags much anymore, so I am debating putting on my new GSA, but had one on my GS and it was great.

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/1859/806/

ringconnect.jpg


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tankbag1.jpg
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