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Packing camping gear on a motorcycle requires flexibility in the thing that will hold the equipment. Often times it isn’t necessarily the weight, but instead the dimensions of camping gear that makes packing difficult on a motorcycle. Many of the popular sidebags and top cases aren’t long enough for tent poles and other long items. This leads many riders to build tubes or just strap things on to the bike.

The Giant Loop Great Basin on my Suzuki V-Strom 650 during a trip last summer.

Personally, I like most items to be stored inside where they are less likely to come loose and fall out while on the road or trail. Strapping things on, such as a sleeping bag is  ok. The fewer items that are left hanging, the more secure I feel.

Hands down, the best solution that I have found for packing camping gear on a motorcycle is the Giant Loop Great Basin Saddlebag. Those of you who have followed my product reviews for a while may remember the accolades that I gave Giant Loop for the Fandango tank bag. These guys have it going on.

Build Quality – A

The Giant Loop Great Basin is a soft bag with a tough personality. The bottom portion of the bag is made of 1050 nylon ballistic cordura, the top is made of 22-ounce vinyl coated polyester. Top-notch YKK zippers allow easy access to goods and the whole package is sewn together with military-grade thread.

If you hear “vinyl” and don’t think the Great Basin is up to the rigors of off-road and long-distance touring then you’re sorely mistaken. Giant Loop calls it a Bomb Shell material and says it is similar to a trucker’s tarp. That is a very good descriptor. If the material can hold up to hundreds of thousands of miles on a semi-trailer, then you can bet it will hold your gear securely on the bike.

The straps and heavy-duty metal clamps hold the Giant Loop Great Basin securely to any bike.

Speaking of holding it on the bike, this thing isn’t going anywhere once attached to your bike. The compression/attachment straps are made of 1-inch ballistic cordura and Nylike webbing with steel and aluminum buckles. Two similarly constructed straps secure the bottom of the bag to the bike. I’m not sure what the heck “Nylike” is, but these straps are strong.

Ease of Install – A

The straps secure the Great Basin to just about any bike in less than a minute. Racks aren’t needed, which further simplifies the installation process. Some hard bags might be easier to take on/off, but they also require timely installation of racks to hold them on.

The bag sits on the pillion portion of the seat and is then strapped on. The mass is held close to the bike all three directions of the U-shaped bag. This is perfect for adventure motorcycles and their top-heavy nature. The weight is centralized and held close to the bike.

The bag is removed from the bike quickly at the end of the day. I often put it in my tent to rest against it to read at night. Think of it as the motorcycle camper’s big-back-arm-pillow, like the one you had as a kid.

Included removeable and attached internal bags make easy packing of the Great Basin.

Bang for Your Buck – A

The Giant Loop Great Basin Saddlebag sells for $439. On the surface it seems that there are cheaper products available in plentiful supply. Other dry bag-type saddlebags from high-quality manufacturers such as the Ortlieb Dry Bag Saddlebag and Wolfman Expedition cost $187 and $214, respectively. These bags and others typically require (or at least suggest) the use of side racks to keep the bags from rubbing on the bike. Racks will set you back about $200. The Ortlieb’s 39 liter and Wolfman’s 42 liter capacities are much smaller than the Great Basin’s 50 liter capacity. That is why the Great Basin Giant Loop is a fantastic bang for your buck.

I have not found another product that compares to the Great Basin.

Complaints

A complaint that I do have is that the straps can make access to the contents of the bag more difficult during the day. Pack items that you may need near where the zipper can be opened between straps. Being mindful of where the straps are located will save time during the ride. Another complaint is that the material and zippers of the bag will keep water out, but the threaded areas won’t. Giant Loop provides seam sealer to correct this. Once applied, your gear should stay dry.

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Side by side comparison of no lights, lights.

As with most motorcycles, my bike has a small single brake light that only garners moderate attention. I want a light that Las Vegas would be proud of to get through the traffic and nail drivers behind me right in the eyes.

After watching a video for Hyper-Lite LED lights that overwhelmed the camera, I decided that these could be the ticket to a flashy hind end. Service was prompt and within a few days of contacting Hyper-Lite my new U32 LED brake lights arrived.

Hype-Lite U32 LED Lights Build Quality = A

A simple plastic housing encases the LEDs and protects them from the elements. Each light protrudes from the case. The lights include long leads, Posi-Tap, Posi-Connect and industrial grade adhesive pads to power and attach the small LED lights to a motorcycle. Everything that you need is right there in the package.

Hyperlites U32 system out of the package.

Hyper-Lite U32, Ease of Install = A

After removing the seat and assessing the rear of the brake light, installation is an absolute cinch. The lights were attached to my license plate holder and I drilled small holes to allow the wires to pass through the fender. The Hyper-Lite wires were then cut to length. The Posi-connects and Posi-taps connected the Hyper-Lite LED wires to the bike’s brake light wiring. The fender and seat were then re-installed. Easy as pie. Turning on the ignition revealed bright running lights. The running lights only use 30 percent of the available light to give you a good triangular pattern (two sets of LEDs down low and one brake light up high). Squeezing the brake lever really brought the Hyper-Lites to life. At most, these lights pull 1/3 of an amp. Technology has come a long way since motorcyclists first rode at night with candlelight.

When the brake light is applied, look out! Especially in the dark of night.

How bright are the Hyper-Lite brake lights?

In the words of George Takei (of Star Trek fame) in the Sharp TV commercials, “Whoa! Ohhhh my!” The Hyper-Lite U32 LEDs are bright enough to send an SOS to passing jets 30,000 feet  in the air. They should do just the trick to get the attention of the next Mercedes SUV driver paying too much attention to a phone call to notice the fine and narrow rear end of my Suzuki V-Strom. Hopefully, this is enough to keep drivers stopped safely behind me in traffic.

Hyper-Lite U32, Bang for Your Buck = A

The U32 system sells for $75.95 with brake light only and $93.95 with brake light and running lights. Hyper-Lites offer several options to help get your butt noticed. They range in price from $55.95 to $98.95. A small price to pay to make your vulnerable side more conspicuous.

There are cheaper LED lights on the market. The extra cost of the Hyper-Lite LED lights is justified in that they operate as advertised, are easy to install and are backed by a responsive company. I have not found another brand that offers this combination of benefits at the same cost.

I skipped on the license plate bracket ($10.50), but would recommend that you buy it. I spent too much time creating my own and it doesn’t look as nice as theirs. I’ll likely end up buying it to make the installation look better. The U32 system has two options, running/blinking brake light or running/blink-then-solid brake light. Mine blinks incessantly in order to heighten visual stimulus.

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