I'm a fan of the stock hard bags. I have a set of aftermarket swappable hinges though, popular in '04 when I bought my R11, that allow swapping out two lids of the three available for these side cases (city, standard, grande). The mounting rails for the bags are not as offensive as other sport tourers when sans bags and actually offer some measure of protection as large expensive frame sliders!
The aerodynamic bags are little noticeable(as apposed to the same bags on the R1150GS), even loaded, and glide through both air and and strand-still CA traffic, with little ill effect to either after brushed contact.
LEAN AND MEAN.
FOR A WEEKEND AWAY.
FULLY LOADED TO CAMP FOR WEEKS...
MARK
S