Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126655
roduct Evaluation Cha.. Herper Compee Weyeferer Seddlebegs It seems that every product eva- luation written about soft luggage for motorcycles contains the phrase, "We don't know how we got along without them." Well, get ready for more of the same. The items in question this time are saddlebags made by Chase Harper, a California-based company that specializes in making soft luggage for both street and dirt bikes. We chose the smallest bags they orrer, the Wayafarers, priced at $72.95. Fourteen inches long, 12 inches high and 6 inches wide at the bollom, the Wayafarers are intended for around-town use rather then sea-toshining-sea touring. Each teardropshaped bag will hold 900 cubic inches - perfeetfor the commuter who likes to carry lunch, an extra sweater, raingear and perhaps an emergency repair kit. We used the bags on an editor's Honda XL250, and the bag's "pony express" overtones complemented the dual-purpose machine nicely. The way the black Cordura nylon bags attach to a bike is simple and wellthrought out. Two wide, Velcobacked straps link the bags together and are placed ove.r the motorcycle's seat. For extra ~tability, four mounting loops are noosed around the bike's frame and contain female couplings which are then attached to male counterpartS on the bags. We overloaded the Wayafarers with tools, dothing and camera gear, then went careening around the Baja peninsula during our coverage of the SCORE Baja 500. Everything stayed in place, even when we managed to drop the Honda in a particularly rocky section. We only had one problem with the bags. Despite the warning issued in, the instruction pamphlet, one of our testers managed to mount the bags too dose to the exhaust pipes on his street bike. A few miles down the road, he was greeted by the pungent aroma of burning nylon, and upon inspection he found a good-sized hole in the bottom of one of the bags. No fault of the bags, really, just 'one of the weaknesses of soft Iuggage on a hot motorcycle, and one that is easily avoided if you pay attention to how close the saddlebags are mounted to exhaust systems. In addition, Chase Harper wiH patch an owner's bag, should he manage to singe it, at no charge, as long as the owner takes care of the mailing costs. Aside from the hole in the bottom, we've had no problems with the Wayafarers. They've been rained on (they're water resistant, not water-. proof), stuffed to the gills and even crashed on, and they keep coming back for more. We've used them on everything from enduro bikes to superbikes, and (get ready for it) we don't know how we got along without them. For more inIormation on the Wayafarers, contact your local dealer, or write to Chase Harper at P.O. Box 4098, Santa Barbara, CA 9~IO~. When Mike Faria Pours It On, He's Confident His PBI Sprockets Can Take It! - ~ /., -. " )W' :- . l~' ~~~.~-I\ ~ jlt I "''''·'i;·/·/4,/ ( , Speedway racing is fast and it's grueling. The winners compete against start positions, track conditions, and the skill and equipment of their rivals. Judging when to spring for the lead, when to hold back, and when to pour it on for the finish line is a major factor in winning. Sut in the end, each rider has to rely on his own equipment. That's why Mike Faria uses PSI Sprockets. They can take the wear of a drag start and perform smoothly for lap after lap of flat out running. PSI enables Faria to change sprockets for different events. PSI has standard and all optional sizes, 30 to 72 teeth for selection of desired ratios matched for event, weather conditions or altitude. When you know you'll need to pour it on to win, use PSI Sprockets. ASK FOR THEM BY NAME! PBI SPROCKETS Clackamas, Oregon 97015 ---~RTisiNG TltAy WORJ(S,--- O.vid Edw.rds 31