"On bike" storage?

Guil

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Hello,

I just picked up my 2018 ES last week, and have learned a lot by following these forums for the previous few weeks. I am wondering what ideas people have for "on-bike" storage for my tire plug kit etc. All my recent bikes have had a bit of space under the seat or behind a side panel, etc. For such a huge bike the ST seems to have nothing! I haven't pulled all the side panels off yet, however at the moment I am having to use the panniers as I cannot see anything else I can use.

I have read that one can open up the under passenger seat rack platform, however I want to keep that intact for future camping gear tie-down area.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.
 

yoyo

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Re: "On bike" storage?

My old Strom had loads of room under the seat but yup there's next to nothing on the S10, I tutor and have Autocom but have to use a tank bag as there is no.room for a radio. I've used a bicycle frame bag for some storage for tyre plugging kit and air compressor.


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RCinNC

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Your best options are crash bar bags and a tool tube. Of course, with the crash bar bags, you need first have to have crash bars.

The bar bags can be the cheapest; there are all kinds of bags available that can be repurposed into crash bar bags without breaking the bank. I use a couple of gas mask carriers I bought in an army surplus store. I sewed some velcro tape on the backs of the bags so I could attach them to the tubes on the crash bars. I keep my and my passenger's rain gear in those bags, plus one bag holds a tire repair kit and the other has a set of mini jumper cables.



There are loads of tool tube designs on line; the easiest are just pieces of 4" PVC or ABS pipe. I made my own square tube, since the tube had to be big enough to hold my air compressor for the tires.

 

Checkswrecks

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I almost always have either a large or small topbox on the bike, so carry a tool box in there.
Which freed the fairing space where the OEM tools were.

If you get the Altrider rear rack, there's a storage slot in it. I've seen a number of owners put metal boxes in there.


A lot of folks don't use the rear seat, so you can put things there.

Narrow items can fit inside the fairing. For example, my USB charger is aft of the voltage regulator.


There are folks using handlebar bags and small bags which fit in the crash bars.


The good old fashioned tool tubes are still popular.
 

tomatocity

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Checkswrecks said:
I almost always have either a large or small topbox on the bike, so carry a tool box in there.
Which freed the fairing space where the OEM tools were.

If you get the Altrider rear rack, there's a storage slot in it. I've seen a number of owners put metal boxes in there.


A lot of folks don't use the rear seat, so you can put things there.

Narrow items can fit inside the fairing. For example, my USB charger is aft of the voltage regulator.


There are folks using handlebar bags and small bags which fit in the crash bars.


The good old fashioned tool tubes are still popular.
With reference to the Altrider Rear Rack: Brady at Storm Industries http://stormind.net makes a bag that fits inside the Altrider Rear Rack. I keep a MotoPumps pump and accessories (plug tool, instructions, plugs, tools, and ???) in this bag with a small amount of space leftover. I triple Ziploc (freezer bags) everything and have never had an issue with moisture.
 

EricV

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Err, you do know about the factory tool storage area, right? It's under the right side black panel. Those 4mm allen head bolts are 1/4 turn and there is a 4 mm allen wrench clipped to the bottom of the rider's seat to access this panel. The factory tool roll fits in the front of this space, in a vertical position and is retained by a rubber band with metal loops on either end that hook on built in spots to retain the bag during riding. It's not a huge space, but there is room for a few extras or upgraded items.

If you leave the OEM spacer in place under the rear seat, some people have fit mini compressors in that cubby under the factory rack. I don't recall how they retained them there.

I ride with the panniers on all the time, so this is not a problem I have. O:) One pannier is full of tools, spares, etc. The other gets the clothes bag.
 

tomatocity

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EricV said:
Err, you do know about the factory tool storage area, right? It's under the right side black panel. Those 4mm allen head bolts are 1/4 turn and there is a 4 mm allen wrench clipped to the bottom of the rider's seat to access this panel. The factory tool roll fits in the front of this space, in a vertical position and is retained by a rubber band with metal loops on either end that hook on built in spots to retain the bag during riding. It's not a huge space, but there is room for a few extras or upgraded items.

If you leave the OEM spacer in place under the rear seat, some people have fit mini compressors in that cubby under the factory rack. I don't recall how they retained them there.

I ride with the panniers on all the time, so this is not a problem I have. O:) One pannier is full of tools, spares, etc. The other gets the clothes bag.
The ES has almost no usable space under the seat.
 

EricV

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tomatocity said:
The ES has almost no usable space under the seat.
What's your point? The factory tool storage isn't under the seat.
 

tomatocity

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EricV said:
What's your point? The factory tool storage isn't under the seat.
I like the idea of the factory tool storage. Is there enough space for the Pump and other goodies?
 

EricV

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tomatocity said:
I like the idea of the factory tool storage. Is there enough space for the Pump and other goodies?
Tim, you've had at least two Super Tens. Don't you know where the factory tool bag gets stored up under the right side panel? :question:

To answer your question, I guess it depends on the size of your pump. Some are possible small enough to fit up there, but most not, especially with the tool bag in place.
 
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ballisticexchris

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Re: "On bike" storage?

rocketman said:
I carry everything in the pic below under the seat, tire repair kit with plugs, Co2 bottles, Gerber tool, gorilla tape, para cord, MSR tow strap and emergency blanket/Users
Could you please show a picture of how that fits under the seat? I can barely get my registration to fit!! LOL
 

worncog

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Re: "On bike" storage?

ballisticexchris said:
Could you please show a picture of how that fits under the seat? I can barely get my registration to fit!! LOL
Take all the plastic out from under the seat and you will be amazed what will fit under there. For the Alaska trip, I had a roll of toilet paper(in a Ziploc), two ziploc bags with rags, and several small bags tucked in around the abs unit.
 

yoyo

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Re: "On bike" storage?

I was surprised at the space under the pillion seat if you remove the plastic cover but it's a fuss to get to so not really practical to use often.

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ballisticexchris

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Re: "On bike" storage?

rocketman said:
OK, here is a pic under my seat
Right on my man!! Thank you very much. Very smart thinking.


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Guil

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Thanks for all the ideas.

As I understand it the Standard model has some underseat nooks and crannies due to the lack of ES hardware and plumbing, although I have not looked under the seat of a non-ES. Also, it looks like I could get some small items under there if I was using the high seat position, as there would be more clearance from the seat base to the under seat components, however the bike is heavy enough that I want to use the low position to be able to get my fleet flat on the ground with some knee flex.

I will pull off the other panels and see if I can divide things up to fit in some other spots. I really want to able to ride without panniers or a top box, particularly on short rides when they will be 95% empty by volume.
 
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