Purpose of Bag Rails?

pastorgumby · 05-07-2010, 09:28 PM

I'm curious about the purpose for the bag rails... is it simply for aesthetic reasons or can they be bungied or used to tie things down? ???

Netnorske · 05-07-2010, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PastorGumby

I'm curious about the purpose for the bag rails... is it simply for aesthetic reasons or can they be bungied or used to tie things down? ???

Both.....but I think mostly they are to protect the bags when people swing their legs over. As for me.....just say CHROME BABY!

**ringadingh** · 05-07-2010, 09:48 PM

You can certainly use them for tying things down, although mostly they are just more bling on the bike.

tazfl · 05-07-2010, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Netnorske

Quote:

Originally Posted by PastorGumby

I'm curious about the purpose for the bag rails... is it simply for aesthetic reasons or can they be bungied or used to tie things down? ???

Both.....but I think mostly they are to protect the bags when people swing their legs over. As for me.....just say CHROME BABY!

I have them, although I haven't yet I can see where you could actually use them to bungie something to the bike. However, i think most people buy them for looks (I did) and to give some protection to the bags when a passenger is throwing their leg across.

nomadrider · 05-07-2010, 10:07 PM

I use the rails to protect my bags and I hook my bungee net to it to hold my sleeping bag and other gear on long trips.

zoom45 · 05-07-2010, 10:11 PM

Look cool but they are a little trouble washing and waxing the bike. Looks good after you finish though.
Zoom45

hammer · 05-07-2010, 10:24 PM

+1 Protection and I have used them for my bungee net and bungee cords for my sleeping bag and a bag I use for my spare jackets on longer trips.

cyclecat · 05-07-2010, 10:28 PM

We have no room behind our handlebars for a windshield bag so I hooked a windshield bag to each of the bag rails.

cyclecat · 05-07-2010, 10:29 PM

And of course more chrome.

AlabamaNomadRider · 05-07-2010, 11:57 PM

Mostly for looks and to protect the bag. But they can be used to tie down stuff.

Bdog · 05-08-2010, 12:15 AM

Mostly for not kicking the hell out of the bags and fender but also for the bling.

ballast · 05-08-2010, 01:30 AM

follow 2 bikes. 1 with, 1 without. They just look good!

pastorgumby · 05-08-2010, 08:33 AM

Thanks everyone! Come to think of it, the first Nomad I test rode had a nice boot mark on the left bag (no rails).

Are they pretty water tight?

**ringadingh** · 05-08-2010, 09:04 AM

My bags have always been bone dry inside.

ells · 05-08-2010, 09:25 AM

My bags stay dry inside, except if too full or when I take them off to wash them and water get is in the bolt holes, dooooh

05-07-2010, 09:28 PM	#1
pastorgumby Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Spring Lake, NJ Posts: 249	Purpose of Bag Rails? I'm curious about the purpose for the bag rails... is it simply for aesthetic reasons or can they be bungied or used to tie things down? ??? __________________ "Life is a journey, not a guilt trip!" 2007 Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad 1600 2002 Honda VFR800 Interceptor Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

05-07-2010, 09:48 PM	#3
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Purpose of Bag Rails? You can certainly use them for tying things down, although mostly they are just more bling on the bike. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

05-07-2010, 10:07 PM	#5
nomadrider Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: La Porte Texas Posts: 304	Purpose of Bag Rails? I use the rails to protect my bags and I hook my bungee net to it to hold my sleeping bag and other gear on long trips. __________________ Mike"nomadrider"Sitzman La Porte ,Texas VBA #0098 VROC #21609 2006 Green/Silver Nomad Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

05-07-2010, 10:11 PM	#6
zoom45 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Terry, Mississippi Posts: 1,434	Purpose of Bag Rails? Look cool but they are a little trouble washing and waxing the bike. Looks good after you finish though. Zoom45 __________________ Bobby Risher Terry, MS Kawanow member # 124 South Central Group 2000 Nomad 1500 (carbed) 128,000 miles
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05-07-2010, 10:24 PM	#7
hammer Sr. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,329	Purpose of Bag Rails? +1 Protection and I have used them for my bungee net and bungee cords for my sleeping bag and a bag I use for my spare jackets on longer trips. __________________ Hammer aka CrocHammer KawaNow#00988, VROC#26389, VR#2202 Abbotsford, BC, Canada 2006 Black Nomad
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05-07-2010, 10:28 PM	#8
cyclecat Advanced Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Magrath, Alberta Posts: 648	Purpose of Bag Rails? We have no room behind our handlebars for a windshield bag so I hooked a windshield bag to each of the bag rails.
	0

05-07-2010, 10:29 PM	#9
cyclecat Advanced Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Magrath, Alberta Posts: 648	Purpose of Bag Rails? And of course more chrome.
	0

05-07-2010, 11:57 PM	#10
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Purpose of Bag Rails? Mostly for looks and to protect the bag. But they can be used to tie down stuff. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
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05-08-2010, 12:15 AM	#11
Bdog Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ft. Mcmurray Ab. Posts: 1,447	Purpose of Bag Rails? Mostly for not kicking the hell out of the bags and fender but also for the bling. __________________
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05-08-2010, 01:30 AM	#12
ballast Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orting, WA Posts: 1,394	Purpose of Bag Rails? follow 2 bikes. 1 with, 1 without. They just look good! __________________ Charlie "Ballast" Krogh 2005 1600 Nomad "Tangerine Dream" VBA #999 VROC #29355
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05-08-2010, 08:33 AM	#13
pastorgumby Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Spring Lake, NJ Posts: 249	Purpose of Bag Rails? Thanks everyone! Come to think of it, the first Nomad I test rode had a nice boot mark on the left bag (no rails). Are they pretty water tight? __________________ "Life is a journey, not a guilt trip!" 2007 Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad 1600 2002 Honda VFR800 Interceptor
	0

05-08-2010, 09:04 AM	#14
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Purpose of Bag Rails? My bags have always been bone dry inside. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

05-08-2010, 09:25 AM	#15
ells Sr. Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Boulder County, Colorado Posts: 2,014	Purpose of Bag Rails? My bags stay dry inside, except if too full or when I take them off to wash them and water get is in the bolt holes, dooooh
	0

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