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What makes a bike a "bagger?"
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LongRanger Offline
Been There

Evergreen, CO
Posts: 4,220
Joined: Aug 2015
Post: #1
What makes a bike a "bagger?"
Serious question. Anyone?

Ride more. Worry less. Tongue
‘12 BMW R1200R Classic
'15 BMW R1200RT
07-31-2017 11:11 AM
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Nortoon Offline
High Mileage

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,409
Joined: Jan 2015
Post: #2
RE: What makes a bike a "bagger?"
(07-31-2017 11:11 AM)LongRanger Wrote:  Serious question. Anyone?

Usually a cruiser or touring motorcycle with saddlebags but no trunk.
Honda's FB6 as an example.

2017 CB1100 EX
(This post was last modified: 07-31-2017 11:16 AM by Nortoon.)
07-31-2017 11:15 AM
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curlyjoe Offline
High Mileage

Massachusetts
Posts: 1,323
Joined: Jul 2014
Post: #3
RE: What makes a bike a "bagger?"
I agree with Nortoon but in my mind, no sport touring bikes qualify since the rear of motorcycle and bags are high and "swept up".

Another example other than many Harley, Victory or Indian models would be the new BMW K1600B (B is for bagger)

İmage

2013 CB1100 ABS
2008 ST1300
07-31-2017 11:30 AM
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hb9400 Offline
Running Like a Top

Marietta ga
Posts: 492
Joined: May 2014
Post: #4
RE: What makes a bike a "bagger?"
Examples would be Harley's Street Glide/Road Glide, the VStar 1300T or Deluxe, Star's VStar 950T. The trunk or top case is optional.

The ferret
07-31-2017 11:32 AM
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LongRanger Offline
Been There

Evergreen, CO
Posts: 4,220
Joined: Aug 2015
Post: #5
RE: What makes a bike a "bagger?"
Thanks guys. Not looking for examples -- most manufacturers proudly designate certain of their models as "baggers" without explaining why. I'm just trying to understand if simply having panniers qualifies a bike as a "bagger," or if there's more to it than that. If so, I suppose my two BMW's and Ferret's ST1300 are "baggers" too. If not, what am I missing?

I previously concluded that manufacturers consider any bike with a beak and ammo-can panniers to be an "adventure bike," regardless of its off-road capabilities, tires, weight, ground clearance, etc. It's just marketing, I guess.

Ride more. Worry less. Tongue
‘12 BMW R1200R Classic
'15 BMW R1200RT
07-31-2017 11:48 AM
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curlyjoe Offline
High Mileage

Massachusetts
Posts: 1,323
Joined: Jul 2014
Post: #6
RE: What makes a bike a "bagger?"
After some searching, it's not clear if the term came from the Harley community or not. I did find the terms bagger, full bagger, dressed and fully-dressed though. Perhaps any bike with bags for storage does qualify but my revised definition is only cruisers with bags are "baggers". I still lust for that K1600B though. That rear end styling speaks bagger to me.

2013 CB1100 ABS
2008 ST1300
07-31-2017 12:16 PM
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postoak Offline
Running Like a Top

The Woodlands, Texas
Posts: 451
Joined: Mar 2014
Post: #7
RE: What makes a bike a "bagger?"
To be a bagger, doesn't it have to come from the dealer with bags or panniers? Buying aftermarket bags and installing them wouldn't convert your bike to a bagger -- or any I wrong about that?

2014 Yamaha FJR1300A
Candy Red
07-31-2017 01:39 PM
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Cormanus Offline
Moderator

Queensland, Australia
Posts: 20,660
Joined: Dec 2013
Post: #8
RE: What makes a bike a "bagger?"
From Wikipedia:

Quote:Harley-Davidsons and other cruisers with extensive luggage for touring have been called, sometimes disparagingly or jocularly, baggers, or full baggers, as well as dressers, full dressers, or full dress tourers. These terms are no longer limited to cruisers, but may be used to refer to any touring motorcycle.

Alternatively, follow this link.

Finally, don't confuse a "bagger" with a "bagga".
07-31-2017 02:26 PM
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EmptySea Offline
Lives On Two Wheels

Chicagoland, USA
Posts: 7,004
Joined: Jun 2013
Post: #9
RE: What makes a bike a "bagger?"
It's a little like United States Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart's comment on hard-core pornography: "I shall not today attempt further to define [what] I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description, and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it"

(as an aside, if any of you lack Justice Stewart's ability to discern, please feel free to send me the media in question so that I may render my opinion on it. )

MTC

"If you can’t go home again, at least you can enjoy the ride” — Peter Egan


2013 CB1100 non-abs
2013 CB1100 abs
07-31-2017 02:36 PM
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LongRanger Offline
Been There

Evergreen, CO
Posts: 4,220
Joined: Aug 2015
Post: #10
RE: What makes a bike a "bagger?"
MTC, that's the best one yet!

Based on the above, I shall conclude that my F800GT and K1200RS, are, indeed, "baggers." So were my R1100S, R850R, R1200RT, K75, F800ST and Kawasaki Concours. They all had bags. Actually, with its 130 hp, I suppose my K1200RS is really a "muscle bagger," whatever that means. And when I pop on the trunk, it becomes a "full dress muscle bagger." Yikes.

Okay, I feel better now. It's nice to be part of the kool krowd, even if I don't ride a Harley, Victory or Indian. Now, where's that doo-rag?

Ride more. Worry less. Tongue
‘12 BMW R1200R Classic
'15 BMW R1200RT
07-31-2017 02:55 PM
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