Originally Posted by drewski1325

I have no experience "building things from fiberglass" but I have done fiberglass body repair to Corvettes if that counts. I also don't know much about surgery but if I see a video of a doctor doing surgery on someone's kitchen table using a utility knife and a pair of pliers, I believe I could form an opinion about that too. Seriously dude, did you watch the video? It is obvious this is a low budget venture. For 8 minutes basically all you see is the inside of the form while the resin rises to the top. When the camera does pan out you see the form is set on portable fender stands that a body shop would use, vise grips are used to keep the form together at the top. Vise grips are also used to shut the flow of resin off after the worker kinks the plastic hoses which are stuck in a small white plastic mop bucket. It's very low tech. That's okay, it works. They may make a very good quality bag. I don't know. They may be just getting into making bags and wanna see how it goes before they dedicate shop space, quick release fasteners and on/off valves to the process. Or maybe they wanna keep overhead down. But the video did not convince me they have a top notch operation. That's why I say I'll be interested if those of you who ordered them are satisfied. From the pics I saw it appears the inside of the bag is rough fiberglass. Not very good looking thus the need for a liner. Go to Ness, Fatbaggers, Bagger Nation, Milwaukee Bagger they all tout the inside is as smooth as the outside. A very good looking bag, no carpet needed. Looks factory. I guess the group buy price isn't bad $700 (?) but on their website on one page MSRP for the Top Shop bags is $1000 but on sale for $849 w/o carpet, then another page has MSRP of $1100 on sale for $759.99, again w/o carpet, wha? The Ness bags are so much nicer but the MSRP is about the same, at least on the 2nd page of Top Shop's website. I also find computer controlled machinery lends for better fitments of parts, ie direct bolt on where hand built, most of the time from my experience customizing is needed to get it to fit . If you've ever built a bike from scratch you know what I mean. Where I live we have 3 plastic injection molding plants. I've been in all of em. All computerized very modern, high tech, nothing touched by humans till a parts inspection, no vise grips or mop buckets. So I guess I do have something to compare the process with, eh? I hope every one that ordered these bags are happy with em. You guys post and put your stamp of approval on them when you get them. Till then I'm not impressed, my opinion that's it.

Originally Posted by drewski1325

I am not a VIP aficionado however I do understand the process. It is a technique that uses vacuum pressure to drive resin into a laminate. The material is laid dry into a mold. A vacuum is applied to the mold. When a total vacuum is achieved, resin is drawn into the laminate thru the tubing connected to the mold. I am sure you are also aware of some of the problems with VIP. The most deadly being an air leak during the process. Results can be resin pooling, under saturation including a resin stoppage ruining the part. As you know the flow rate of the resin in very important to maintain consistant results. Thus the reason I was uneasy seeing the mold being secured by vise grips instead of actual fasteners for the top of the mold. The seal on the process in your video was dependant on the experience of the worker to include the adjustment of the vise grips' pressure exerted onto the mold and placement of the vise grips. It's good to hear your process has changed. I am sorry if you took offense to my comments about your video but honestly it is not flattering to your operation. If it is 3 years old and not the process you use anymore, take it off the site. Remember you are attempting to sell me something over the internet. I can't come to your shop and evaluate your operation or even do a hands on with the bags to check em out. You have to convience me your bags are high end and the bag to buy. Reshoot a video showing the complete process right up to the point of removing the bag from the mold. Commentary about the process and why you do what you do instead of just playing music. Get some really good close up pics to include the inside of the bags. I buy based on information because everybody claims to have a quality product. As I said before I hope all the guys that bought your bags are happy with them. There's a lot of good guys here that work hard for their cash, they will give an honest evaluation. If they say it's quality I'll believe em.

Originally Posted by GliderXXX

I'm one of those guys that should have a set of bags on my doorstep today when I get home, so let me say to the poster; good suggestions to Top Shop from a marketing perspective, fair and polite exchange versus new vendor bashing and lastly, I hope the product is all I expected it to be also. I will be honest in my and my painters assessment and Justin at Top Shop knows that. A lot of folks are watching for the results, and have done business with Top Shop almost exclusively because they were the only company that were flexible in terms of the size of the bags etc. Great folks to work with so far...now the product is out and hopefully all will offer a fair and honest evaluation.

Originally Posted by GliderXXX

I'm one of those guys that should have a set of bags on my doorstep today when I get home, so let me say to the poster; good suggestions to Top Shop from a marketing perspective, fair and polite exchange versus new vendor bashing and lastly, I hope the product is all I expected it to be also. I will be honest in my and my painters assessment and Justin at Top Shop knows that. A lot of folks are watching for the results, and have done business with Top Shop almost exclusively because they were the only company that were flexible in terms of the size of the bags etc. Great folks to work with so far...now the product is out and hopefully all will offer a fair and honest evaluation.