Somewhere on this forum, I read about Andy Strapz, so I went and checked out their website http://www.andystrapz.com. I really like their website, and I was particularly interested in their Tank Bagz and Seat Bags (the A Bagz; the AA Bagz is a little smaller).
I was wondering if anyone on the forum has used their stuff, and how you liked it. The company is in Austrailia, so there is a little (maybe?) hassle of conducting international business (converting USD to AUD). Has anyone in the US figured this out? Is that a big deal? It appears there is a favorable exchange rate.
Thanks, appreciate your feedback.
-duckdave
Anyone use Andy Bagz?
Moderator: Moderators
I have been in touch with Andy, and he's a real nice guy. He answered all my questions.
But-cha-no, you can only tell so much from pictures and videos (yeah, he's got vids online). Even with a great exchange rate a couple-o-100 bucks is still a lot-o-green, sight unseen.
Re: the USA distributor. Yes, I was able to find one. But they don't really have anything (no stock, no nothing), just a webpage. The webpage does not even work! You can't place an order, you can't even get a price.
I've about convinced myself to bite.
-duckdave
(trying to sell his K75 to join the RR club)
But-cha-no, you can only tell so much from pictures and videos (yeah, he's got vids online). Even with a great exchange rate a couple-o-100 bucks is still a lot-o-green, sight unseen.
Re: the USA distributor. Yes, I was able to find one. But they don't really have anything (no stock, no nothing), just a webpage. The webpage does not even work! You can't place an order, you can't even get a price.
I've about convinced myself to bite.
-duckdave
(trying to sell his K75 to join the RR club)
Hi - I think it was probably me banging on about Flat Strapz on another thread here. I'm in the UK, and they have some kind of local distribution arrangement with a .co.uk website that takes PayPal - it's not as amusing as the original Aussie 'satisfied customer' quotes though ... I love that.
I've not seen one of the serious bags, but the simple nylon boot bags and the stretchy straps are fantastic quality - for an overnighter/weekend I often put the next days clothes just in a boot bag and criss-cross strap them down to the rear seat. A pal at work also bought some for his new Tiger & is equally impressed I think - I rarely give a rave review, but these guys are doing a great job in their own little niche IMO.
I don't know about the US angle, but I would trust them as a company / product if you can find a good shipping method.
I've not seen one of the serious bags, but the simple nylon boot bags and the stretchy straps are fantastic quality - for an overnighter/weekend I often put the next days clothes just in a boot bag and criss-cross strap them down to the rear seat. A pal at work also bought some for his new Tiger & is equally impressed I think - I rarely give a rave review, but these guys are doing a great job in their own little niche IMO.
I don't know about the US angle, but I would trust them as a company / product if you can find a good shipping method.
Sorry about the late reply - Been riding!
Good stuff and worth the money. I had a few straps, but gave them to a mate when I fitted my R out with hard cases. Sorry I did that!
My brother has the straps and a couple of his bags, and is really happy with them. Used them on his Harley, and intends using them on his GS if he ever does a big trip.
It's good stuff, and probably easier to deal direct and have them send the stuff insured.
Good stuff and worth the money. I had a few straps, but gave them to a mate when I fitted my R out with hard cases. Sorry I did that!
My brother has the straps and a couple of his bags, and is really happy with them. Used them on his Harley, and intends using them on his GS if he ever does a big trip.
It's good stuff, and probably easier to deal direct and have them send the stuff insured.
I ride an R1150GS Adventure with sidecar. IBA #39193
OK, I took the plunge. I ordered one of Andy's "Tank Bagz" and a seat bag called the "A Bagz", along with a set of his "Piggyback Strapz". A buddy of mine ordered a set of "Flat Strapz"
First off, the conversion rate between the US and AU is about $0.85 USD to $1 AUD going through Paypal. The tank bag listed for $178 AUD ($151 USD) and the seat bag listed $172 AUD (146 USD). I sent Andy an email ([email protected]) listing what I wanted from his website (Andy Strapz). They sent me a Paypal quote. Clicking the button on the email takes you to the Paypal site. Click, click, click, it's all paid for with the USD to AUD conversion rolled in.
Can you get it FAST? I ordered on Wednesday 5/2. I got the order sometime this weekend (I was out thrashing waves and eddies on the Mulberry R, so I don't know exactly when the order arrived). I'm a little embarassed at how much that cost. I told them I wanted it by 5/11; they said "can do", I didn't ask questions, nuf said. When exploring pricing earlier, "regular" shipping seemed very reasonable.
So far, my experience is VERY favorable. I'm quite impressed you can get an order from Australia to Mid-US in 3-4 dayz.
I'm flying off pick up my new (to me) R1150R (Silver
) in NJ this Friday. Will write up a review of the products use under battle conditions when I return.
First off, the conversion rate between the US and AU is about $0.85 USD to $1 AUD going through Paypal. The tank bag listed for $178 AUD ($151 USD) and the seat bag listed $172 AUD (146 USD). I sent Andy an email ([email protected]) listing what I wanted from his website (Andy Strapz). They sent me a Paypal quote. Clicking the button on the email takes you to the Paypal site. Click, click, click, it's all paid for with the USD to AUD conversion rolled in.
Can you get it FAST? I ordered on Wednesday 5/2. I got the order sometime this weekend (I was out thrashing waves and eddies on the Mulberry R, so I don't know exactly when the order arrived). I'm a little embarassed at how much that cost. I told them I wanted it by 5/11; they said "can do", I didn't ask questions, nuf said. When exploring pricing earlier, "regular" shipping seemed very reasonable.
So far, my experience is VERY favorable. I'm quite impressed you can get an order from Australia to Mid-US in 3-4 dayz.
I'm flying off pick up my new (to me) R1150R (Silver
) in NJ this Friday. Will write up a review of the products use under battle conditions when I return.Review of Andy Bagz
I took Andyz Tank Bagz and Seat Bagz for a ride on my new (to me) R1150R from point of purchase (Millburn, NJ) to home (Little Rock, AR). Earlier, I commented on service and difficulty ordering motorcycle accessories from Australia. Summing up that experiences: service from Andy Thingz is OUTSTANDING; ordering difficulty is PRETTY EASY.
Tank Bagz The head-sized bag attaches to the tank via a rectangular frame of strapz, strapped to the tank. The retaining straps have a stainless steel piece encased in the end that you bend over to form hooks that I used to hook over the tank edges. I had to route the front 2 under the covers for the oil coolers (R and R the covers), but this was easy. The 4 retaining straps securely hold the retangular strap frame to the tank; it's further secured via a steering head strap. The tank bag attaches to said frame via velcro (opps, I mean 'hook-and-loop') securing straps and via a 3-point snap-buckle system. Undo the front snap and flip the bag back to gas up (easy). The bag itself has a main compartment with 2 zips, a clear cover (map case), and a small front compartment. The front compartment could hold a beverage container, but in my case i used it to hold a little notepad to keep track of milage and some change. A side pocket holds a rain cover (looks like a shower cap w/ a clear top). I ran one evening in the rain for a couple of hours, forgot to use the rain cover, nothing got much wet. The only improvement I can think of might be to add compression straps on the sides to allow you to snug the bag-height down if you didn't have a full load. Overall rating: EXCELLENT
Seat Bagz This is a long, skinny seat bag, called the "A Bagz" (the "AA" Bagz is a smaller version). The main compartment is about 18" wide, about 8" tall and 10" deep. It holds a boatload of stuff. There's a small side compartment on each side. The main compart. closes with a "D" shaped zip. The top closes over all with 2 snap buckles. It has a loose network of streachy cord under it to secure a rainsuit. I kept my BMW rainsuit under the top section with plenty of room; and when wearing it, the top still cinched down nicely. There are several stiffener rods sewn into the bottom and sides that kept the bag's shape even though the ends projected well past the edges of the seat. The bag attaches the bike via built in strapz which I routed through the frame in front and then crossed across the tail light in the back. Easy and quick to attach/detach; very secure. Ran for a couple of hours in a down pour, everything stayed dry except my rainsuit which I had the good sense to be wearing. Overall rating: EXCELLENT to OUTSTANDING.
I have no connections to Andy Thingz, other than to be a satisfied customer. This report is simply a rider-to-rider post describing my experience with these products.
Would I order from 'em again? YOU BETCHA! They are bloody awesome.
Tank Bagz The head-sized bag attaches to the tank via a rectangular frame of strapz, strapped to the tank. The retaining straps have a stainless steel piece encased in the end that you bend over to form hooks that I used to hook over the tank edges. I had to route the front 2 under the covers for the oil coolers (R and R the covers), but this was easy. The 4 retaining straps securely hold the retangular strap frame to the tank; it's further secured via a steering head strap. The tank bag attaches to said frame via velcro (opps, I mean 'hook-and-loop') securing straps and via a 3-point snap-buckle system. Undo the front snap and flip the bag back to gas up (easy). The bag itself has a main compartment with 2 zips, a clear cover (map case), and a small front compartment. The front compartment could hold a beverage container, but in my case i used it to hold a little notepad to keep track of milage and some change. A side pocket holds a rain cover (looks like a shower cap w/ a clear top). I ran one evening in the rain for a couple of hours, forgot to use the rain cover, nothing got much wet. The only improvement I can think of might be to add compression straps on the sides to allow you to snug the bag-height down if you didn't have a full load. Overall rating: EXCELLENT
Seat Bagz This is a long, skinny seat bag, called the "A Bagz" (the "AA" Bagz is a smaller version). The main compartment is about 18" wide, about 8" tall and 10" deep. It holds a boatload of stuff. There's a small side compartment on each side. The main compart. closes with a "D" shaped zip. The top closes over all with 2 snap buckles. It has a loose network of streachy cord under it to secure a rainsuit. I kept my BMW rainsuit under the top section with plenty of room; and when wearing it, the top still cinched down nicely. There are several stiffener rods sewn into the bottom and sides that kept the bag's shape even though the ends projected well past the edges of the seat. The bag attaches the bike via built in strapz which I routed through the frame in front and then crossed across the tail light in the back. Easy and quick to attach/detach; very secure. Ran for a couple of hours in a down pour, everything stayed dry except my rainsuit which I had the good sense to be wearing. Overall rating: EXCELLENT to OUTSTANDING.
I have no connections to Andy Thingz, other than to be a satisfied customer. This report is simply a rider-to-rider post describing my experience with these products.
Would I order from 'em again? YOU BETCHA! They are bloody awesome.
Buckster,
Thanks for the concern. It's been over 30 years since I motorcycled in NJ. Still, I did not have any troubles and my ride from Millburn west on 78 toward PA was uneventful. Beautiful country, that part of NJ, best I could tell at interstate speeds.
-duckdave
'04 R1150R, silver
Little Rock 'n Roll
Thanks for the concern. It's been over 30 years since I motorcycled in NJ. Still, I did not have any troubles and my ride from Millburn west on 78 toward PA was uneventful. Beautiful country, that part of NJ, best I could tell at interstate speeds.
-duckdave
'04 R1150R, silver
Little Rock 'n Roll