Small Saddle Bag- Nigel Smythe Keven's or Sackville Saddlesack XS?

[Geoff]

Okay, so it looks like the shipment of frames, including my 54
Hunqapillar, will be departing from Taiwan sometime this week...and
should arrive in 4 weeks. I'm stoked! =)

I've been thinking about ordering a small saddle bag, and like both
the tweed Nigel Smythe Keven's bag as well as the Sackville Saddlesack
XS(in green). There's some uncertainty as to when and if the tweed
bags will actually arrive, and there will be some design changes...but
I'll still consider it as one of my options.

Can anyone here who has owned either(or both) share their thoughts and
comments on these bags? The tweed Nigel Smythe Keven's costs $90 and
is made in England. The Sackville Saddlesack XS costs $55 and is made
in the USA. So, there is a cost difference. But, I'm willing to
spend the extra dough if the Nigel Smythe tweed bag is worth the
difference.

Thanks, ahead of time, for any help that you could offer. Much
appreciated!

[rw1911]

My Saddlesack XS just arrived Monday and I can tell you it's nice!

There has been a design change since the photos on the Riv site were
taken... the flap of the SS-XS no longer has the brass-twist closures.
It now has a double-ended zipper and a light loop on the flap just
like the NS. (visualize a green canvas NS with a leather flap and
reflective strip) Functionally, I think they're now pretty much
identical and suppose your choice will come down to material
preference.

[Thomas Lynn Skean]

That's cool. I like the double-ended zipper. And I like the leather
straps. And I generally like the style of the SaddleSacks.

Yours,
Thomas Lynn Skean

[Mike]

The Sackville SaddleSack XS is my favorite Riv bag. It's great. And it
holds a ton of stuff. It's fairly easy to access unless it's totally
over packed.

--mike

[Geoff]

Thanks, Everyone, for your great comments.

It sounds like the new Saddlesack XS looks very similar in design to
the NS Keven's bag. I thought that the two brass twist closures were
cool, but so is a double ended zipper and a light loop.

The tweed has a very distinctive and British look that I find
appealing, while the green canvas has a great old school look and
charm. Decisions, decisions. LOL

Thanks, guys! Any other thoughts, comments, or suggestions would be
welcome and appreciated. =)

[Mike]

I customized my Sackville SS XS to accommodate a light:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41335973@N00/5062738925/

As noted, this was Grant's idea. It works great.

--mike

[Ray Shine]

I use the V-Brand Keven's bags on my bikes and highly recommend the design. I know you are looking at the NS, but the design is very similar. It's good that the brass button thing was dumped. I found that the bags often open in the middle of the buttons, exposing the bag's contents. The zipper eliminates that problem. I got rid of all my saddlebags with those buttons and replaced with the zippers.

---

From: Geoff <moch...@hotmail.com>
To: RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 5:09 PM
Subject: [RBW] Re: Small Saddle Bag- Nigel Smythe Keven's or Sackville Saddlesack XS?

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[Geoff]

Nice mod, Mike! It looks great!

[Geoff]

My wife, who owns both a Betty and a Quickbeam, just recently got a V-
Brand grab sack and loves it.

I decided on getting the Sackville Saddlesack XS in olive(green), and
placed my order with Keven(a very nice and patient man...thanks,
Keven!).

As rw1911 kindly mentioned, there have been some design changes to the
Saddlesack XS. Riv HQ just posted up pics of the new version. It
looks great, and I love the double ended zipper. It looks much more
secure, especially if you're riding on the rougher stuff. Check it
out: http://www.rivbike.com/products/show/sackville-saddlesack-xs/20-130

Thanks again, everyone! =)

On Apr 15, 7:22 am, Ray Shine <r.sh...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> I use the V-Brand Keven's bags on my bikes and highly recommend the design. I know you are looking at the NS, but the design is very similar. It's good that the brass button thing was dumped. I found that the bags often open in the middle of the buttons, exposing the bag's contents. The zipper eliminates that problem. I got rid of all my saddlebags with those buttons and replaced with the zippers.
>
> ________________________________

> From: Geoff <mocha...@hotmail.com>

> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.

[CycloFiend]

on 4/14/11 5:09 PM, Geoff at moch...@hotmail.com wrote:

> Thanks, Everyone, for your great comments.
>
> It sounds like the new Saddlesack XS looks very similar in design to
> the NS Keven's bag. I thought that the two brass twist closures were
> cool, but so is a double ended zipper and a light loop.
>
> The tweed has a very distinctive and British look that I find
> appealing, while the green canvas has a great old school look and
> charm. Decisions, decisions. LOL

I've got one of the earlier Keven's Bags, and I'm amazed by how much stuff I
can cram into it when the need arises. I've been running it on the QB for
the most part, with two tubes, a saddle cover, tool wrap, couple o' patch
kits, mini-pump and two or three other kit items. When loaded like that,
it's nowhere near maxed.

Great little bag.

- Jim

--
Jim Edgar
Cyclo...@earthlink.net

Could you take a moment to vote for me?

I am entered in a audiobook contest which is initially determined by public
voting - if you could go here -

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register on the Bookperk site and vote for my read -
http://tinyurl.com/vote-jimedgar - I'd really appreciate it. You can vote
one time each day until early May. Vote early, vote often!

Thanks!

[Ray Shine]

Yes, so true. I have never packed the bag out. I've come close with a light windbreaker packed inside, but still had wiggle room.

I want to add that the button models were a pain. A half full bag - which mine often is -- creates a sag in the middle that created an opening between the two buttons. Good way to lose small items. Also, on a fenderless bike riding on a fire road, I'd find several tablespoons of grit and gravel in the bag at the end of the ride. That doesn't happen with the V-Brand bags that have zippered closures. It was good to have done away with the buttons, IMO.

---

From: CycloFiend <cyclo...@earthlink.net>
To: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2011 9:27 AM
Subject: Re: [RBW] Re: Small Saddle Bag- Nigel Smythe Keven's or Sackville Saddlesack XS?

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