I have been commuting on the FTR 1200 every day that I don't need a lot of tools for the job. Luckily, that has been about 80% of the days since I bought it. I use a Miltec backpack to carry my laptop, AC adapter, wireless mouse and a few other essentials and it works great, but I still needed someplace for a lunch bag, some water bottles, and other miscellaneous items.
I have had a Nelson-Rigg tank bag on the Ducati for years and it still looks like new so I bought a CL-2016 bag for the FTR 1200. It's the largest bag Nelson-Rigg makes and fits the FTR perfectly. I can turn the bars lock to lock without hitting the bag and it stops right at the end of the "gas tank".
The instructions said to slip the straight strap through the frame by the triple clamps and then adjust it to fit. The problem on the FTR is that the airbox is where the fuel tank normally sits and there are molded rubber pieces that cover the frame near the steering stem.
Because of that, there is no access to slip the strap through. After looking at it for a while, I decided to tug on the molded rubber piece and it popped right off! There are two posts on the frame that push into holes in the intakes. Below is a picture of the frame with the intakes removed. With both sides off it was easy to feed the strap through.
Here is a photo of the rubber intake off the bike.
There are also plastic covers in front of the tank side covers. The strap fits between the frame and the cover and worked perfectly to hold the bag in place.
With the intake removed you can clearly see the air filter by looking into the gap created by removing the intake.
Here is a photo of the front straps installed. I rode up to the mountains today without the bag and the straps didn't flop around at all.
To mount the rear straps you need to remove the seat. This is a simple process and only requires removing two 6mm cap screws. Once the seat is off, loop the strap around the front seat support (sits above the fuel pump), connect the quick release buckles to the tank and adjust the length of the strap.
I like the straps to be very tight so that the bag doesn't remove around. It takes a little time to get them just right. I am still able to remove the bag with little effort and the bag doesn't move around while riding. Here is a photo of the rear straps after installation and adjustment.
I have had a Nelson-Rigg tank bag on the Ducati for years and it still looks like new so I bought a CL-2016 bag for the FTR 1200. It's the largest bag Nelson-Rigg makes and fits the FTR perfectly. I can turn the bars lock to lock without hitting the bag and it stops right at the end of the "gas tank".
Installation
The bag comes with two straps. One has a loop sewn in with two quick-release buckles. This is used at the rear of the bag. The second strap is straight with a quick release buckle on each end and is used at the front.The instructions said to slip the straight strap through the frame by the triple clamps and then adjust it to fit. The problem on the FTR is that the airbox is where the fuel tank normally sits and there are molded rubber pieces that cover the frame near the steering stem.
Because of that, there is no access to slip the strap through. After looking at it for a while, I decided to tug on the molded rubber piece and it popped right off! There are two posts on the frame that push into holes in the intakes. Below is a picture of the frame with the intakes removed. With both sides off it was easy to feed the strap through.
Here is a photo of the rubber intake off the bike.
There are also plastic covers in front of the tank side covers. The strap fits between the frame and the cover and worked perfectly to hold the bag in place.
With the intake removed you can clearly see the air filter by looking into the gap created by removing the intake.
Here is a photo of the front straps installed. I rode up to the mountains today without the bag and the straps didn't flop around at all.
To mount the rear straps you need to remove the seat. This is a simple process and only requires removing two 6mm cap screws. Once the seat is off, loop the strap around the front seat support (sits above the fuel pump), connect the quick release buckles to the tank and adjust the length of the strap.
I like the straps to be very tight so that the bag doesn't remove around. It takes a little time to get them just right. I am still able to remove the bag with little effort and the bag doesn't move around while riding. Here is a photo of the rear straps after installation and adjustment.
Charging the phone
Once the bag was mounted I ran into a problem with the USB cable's connector hitting the bag. I found a cable on Amazon called "McDodo 90° Light Cable" that has a reversible USB connector at a 90 degree angle. I use an iPhone and the lightning end is also at 90°. It was hitting the bag also. The McDodo cable solved the problem.
How It Looks Mounted
The bag is large and takes up all of the airbox cover. You do have to remove the bag to fill the tank.
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