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Click on the photos for a larger image
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Before Photo By
Gene Abell
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From: Gene Abell
Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2008 4:54 PM
To: Richard Battles
Subject: Good Luggage
Hi Richard:
On June 19, on our way to the Oregon Chief Joseph BMW Rally, I suffered a motorcycle accident just a few miles south of John Day on Hwy. 395.
I was riding my 2005 Boxer Cup Replica.
I broke my collar bone, shoulder blade, seven ribs and collapsed my left lung.
But I have to tell you about my luggage. As you know, my travel luggage for
that bike is of course, RKA. I had on the RKA saddle bags and tank bag.
The bike went down on it's left side very hard. If it was not for the left
saddle bag, the bike would have sustained much more damage. The only damage
to the left saddle bag was a small tear in the fabric, and the rigid plastic
in the bottom of the bag was broken.
I had reconstructive surgery on my left shoulder a week and a half ago,
where they installed a plate and screws to put my collar bone back together.
I will of course, recover from this accident. As my riding companions said,
"you were banged up a lot worse than your bike."
I just wanted to tell you and Kathy how strong your luggage is. It is the
best soft luggage! I my have to order another left saddle bag.
I hope you and Kathy are doing well.
Gene Abell
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Richard,
Sorry for the delay in writing. I went cross country from the east coast of Florida to LA, California, in October using your tank bag on my BMW K1200S. I've never had a tank bag before. I used your bag on my KS in conjunction with the BMW expandable hard bags--the combination gave me plenty of room for what I needed to travel with.
Your bag worked great! I packed my bike cover and some extra clothes in the larger upper compartment, and my loose stuff (extra maps, camera, glasses, change, disk lock, etc.) in the smaller lower compartment. Extemely easy to get on and off for refueling, and great to just relax on while cruising at highway speed. Attached some photos of it on my Beemer I took while on the road. I won't be traveling without it in the future.
In summary--thanks from a happy customer.
Best regards,
Paul
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From: Bill Clements[mailto: ----- @aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 9:57 AM
To: info@rka-luggage.com
Subject: As a motorcyclist of 38 years it is a rare day when a package arrives from RKA..
Either I have changed bikes and need some new stuff or, I have just gotten bored and given up on ever wearing anything out, like the RKA fanny pack that has logged over 200,000 miles and is still perfectly functional. Boredom was my only reason for ordering a new RKA fanny pack. (I changed the color of the new fanny pack). The new tankbag fits perfectly and is just what a new bike needs, since all of my old tankbags wouldn't fit as well. RKA is all you need to remember (every 20 years or so).
William Clements
Claremont, CA
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-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Keeling [mailto: ----- @yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 5:45 PM
To: info@rka-luggage.com
Subject: good service
Richard,
The rack bag for the V-Strom arrived ahead of schedule. It fits like a glove and is of your normal high quality. Thanks also for the straps to use my saddlebags on the V-Strom.
Thanks for the excellent service,
Bill Keeling
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From: Pete Smith [mailto: ----- @sub-mission.co.uk]
Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2007 11:21 AM
To: 'richard Battles'
Subject: re some pictures for you
Hi Richard,
I Have attached a few pictures for you, who says you can’t carry luggage on a sports bike!!!!!! The bags are fantastic and actually fitted very easily to the Ducati, on;y had to add a very simple bracket to hold the bags off the tip of the exhaust.
Many thanks again…
Peter Smith
SubMission Automotive Products Ltd
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From: Robert Bentley [mailto:----- @hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 12:53 AM
To: richard@rka-luggage.com
Subject: RE: Your RKA Order
Hi Richard
I got my tankbag from the post office yesterday evening. I got the bag home and WOW - it's beautifully made, not a stitch out of place, fits my bike perfectly, and attaches in all the right places. I'm very impressed - so much so - I enclose a pic of me looking very impressed. Thanks a million - you and your wife have got a great product !
I enquired at the post office, and I was told that any item over fifty bucks (they look at the insurance value) attracts a 25 dollar fee for customs, and 17.5% tax too, which is where my 50$ charges came from. They suddently aren't important - as I'm pleased as punch with the bag.
Next time I order from you, I'll get the items shipped to a friend in NY, who will then forward the item to me, stating that they are a gift and that they cost less than the 50 bucks threshold. This way I should avoid the taxes in theory! I appreciate you cannot do this, rules are rules !
I'm a very happy customer - TANKS A MILLION !
All the best from the UK,
Rob Bentley
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Not everyone is 100% happy but ............... :-)
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From: Lee Zeis [mailto: ----- @bellsouth.net]
Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2007 4:53 PM
To: richard@rka-luggage.com
Subject: Finally - photos you requested
Hi Richard and Kathy,
I received the bags Friday a week ago. I’m sorry it has taken me so long to get you the photos. I put Green Scotchgard on the bags and let them dry. I then put clear sticky plastic on the spot where the bags will rub the paint. Finally I mounted the bags.
I was expecting the love the top bag and think the saddlebags would be OK.
My comments after using the bags are just the opposite. I love the saddlebags and the top bag is only OK.
Here is why:
1) The saddlebags are great, the install easily, they don’t slip, and the expansion is marvelous (even if hard to install).
2) The top bag needs a hard bottom – like you have installed on the pockets. For the small rear platforms such as the K1200’s, the combination of two clips and no sturdy bottom allows the bag to lean to one side of the other. It is still fully functional, it just looks silly. An alternative would be to have straps similar to the saddlebag front straps on the bottom and let the person thread them through the holes of the platform.
Anyway, I do like the bags and will continue to use them, but I do wish the bottom of the top bag was inflexible.
Many thanks for a great product.
Ride Safe,
Lee
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From: Patti Lemaire [mailto: ----- @qwest.net]
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 3:37 PM
To: richard@rka-luggage.com
Subject: RE: RKA Order
I’m not really happy with these pictures.. the best one has a “busy” background. If I can remember I will take some more.
My camera takes 10mp pix, but I trimed them down so that they will email better, but these are still pretty large. I figured I would let you change the resolution to match your web site storage requirements.
Nigel
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From: Mendell, Mark [mailto: ----- @CANNONDESIGN.COM]
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 8:50 AM
To: richard@rka-luggage.com
Subject: FW: MV pix
Richard,
Here are the photos I promised some time ago. Use them as you see fit.
Mark
Mark R. Mendell, FAIA,MRAIC
President
Cannon Design International
100 Cambridge Street, 14th Floor
Boston, MA 02114
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From: Bob Hancock [mailto: ----- @cox.net]
Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2007 6:25 AM
To: richard@rka-luggage.com
Subject: tailbag pics
Richard....a few pics of the tailbag on my R1200S.
Bob
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From: Leonard Lloyd [mailto: ----- @mac.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2007 8:15 PM
To: richard@rka-luggage.com
Subject: Re: My RKA bags arrived already!
Richard and Kathy,
Thanks for the fast delivery of the seat pack for my Buell and the new silver tank bag for my FJR!
I leave with the HSTA crew for Paso Robles on the Yamaha in the morning, so your timing was perfect, far in advance of your prediction!
I really like the new (to me) organizer in the tank bag. (I also have it on the Buell, of course, with the newer tank bag on it, but now I have it on my primary bike, the one that does the distance riding.) :^)
The seat pack works great on the Buell, far better than the oem accesory pack. Until you created your STAR series, I did not think your seat pack would fit. It does. The taper at the rear is perfect for the Buell seat.
Great work in design and execution.
Thanks so much for the early delivery. It worked out very well for me.
Leonard
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From: sspool [mailto: ----- @cableone.net]
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2007 7:05 PM
To: info@rka-luggage.com
Subject: Thanks from Roswell!
Hi Richard, I want to extend my thank you for getting the new bags to me so quickly. They arrived yesterday, a day ahead of schedule! They are great and fit the 1200GS Vario bags perfectly. Very high quality and good looking. My compliments to the seamstress. I certainly appreciate you going the extra mile to get them to me ASAP.
I am packing tonight for a long weekend trip on the GS.
Best,
Sonny Pool
Roswell, NM
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From: Mike Schuster [mailto: ----- @att.net]
Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2007 10:31 PM
To: info@rka-luggage.com
Subject: STARR bag pics
Hi Richard and Kathy,
Here are some pics of the new STARR III on my overnight trip to Hearst Castle. Loaded up with about 15 lbs of stuff, the bag worked great, I am happy with it. At 15 lbs, the bag was stable on the bike but I don't think I'd want to carry much more weight than that for safety. But to get this much on a sport bike is doing pretty good, I think. Also, thanks for including the shoulder strap, it is handy for toting. And thanks too for the STARR I, I use it always on my day rides, it is perfect for that.
Cheers,
Mike Schuster
San Simeon Creek Road:
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From: Scott Foster [mailto: ----- @waypoint.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2007 7:46 PM
To: info@rka-luggage.com
Subject: YOUR BAGS - MY BIKE!
Hi!
Sorry it took me sooooo long to get these pics to you! I love the new saddlebags, and you can see, I already have one of your tank bags! Definitely a nice fit on my Blackbird. Hope the pics are adequate. Let me know if you need anything else. Thanks again!
Scott Foster
Port Townsend, WA
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