Support & Tips:      Speedpack Cleaning        480/483 Zipper Dampener        Speedpack Directions

The Why:

When riding with your 480 or 483 series Speedpack over rough roads, you may sometimes hear the pack's zipper pulls rattle slightly. The reason we use metal YKK zipper pulls is because it allows us to source reliable and high-quality two-way hidden zippers from the USA. And, more important, because the small metal pulls (vs. rubber or cord-type pulls) lay much flatter on the pack, which means better aerodynamics.

If you want to silence your zipper pulls when riding on rough roads, every 480/483 series Speedpack comes with two optional zipper pull dampeners (inside a small ziplock bag stapled to the directions). Installing these optional dampeners is quick and easy, and you'll get a perfect fit. You'll need nothing but your Speedpack, the zipper dampeners, and some hot water.

 

Easy Installation Directions:

Take your Speedpack off your bike and empty it of all cargo items. Also remove the Speedpack's plastic insert. Then close the pack's zipper so that it is closed near the highest spot of the Speedpack body. Position the two zipper sliders so they touch one another. Take the two pieces of black tubing and slide one over each of the Speedpack's zipper pulls, so that the end of each piece of tubing is about flush with, but just covers, the end of the zipper pull.

Fill a ceramic coffee mug to the brim with very hot boiling water. You can do this by microwaving the cup and water together (using a microwave safe cup), or you can fill a mug with boiling water from a tea kettle. In either case, it is important that the mug be filled very close to the top. (WARNING: boiling water is extremely hot, so be very careful not spill it on yourself or on anyone else.)

Set the mug of hot water in a safe spot. Then take your empty Speedpack, bend it slightly near where the zipper sliders are positioned, and then hold the pack upside down so that the zipper pulls hang down at the lowest point on the upside down pack.

 

Dip only the zipper pulls (with the tubing pieces over them) in the hot water for approximately 30 seconds. Do not dip any other part of the Speedpack in the hot water, see photo  »»»

 

While you are dipping the zipper pulls in the hot water, the tubing pieces will shrink from the heat and create a form fit over the metal pulls. After 30 seconds, remove the Speedpack and let the zipper pulls cool.

After cooling, if the zipper pulls are a little stiff, just move them back and forth a few times to loosen them and position them as desired.

Replace the Speedpack's plastic insert, reinstall the pack, and the process is complete. On very rough roads, the zippers pulls may still move a little, but zipper noise will be essentially eliminated.

Enjoy your Speedpack and ride like the wind.