Feckin luggage....

[mistergixer]

I've never been away on my bike for longer than a week, consequently i can normally squeeze all my kit into a tankbag and rucksack.
As i'm going away for a bit longer i thought i would invest in some panniers and swap the tankbag for a tailpack (i don't like tankpacks, they get in the way when you need to tuck in).
Anyway, i'm buggered if i can get the stuff to fit well - it's oxford humpback luggage on a K5gsxr750 in case you were wondering. I've not even taken the bike out with it on yet coz it wobbles around so much. It has these stupid adjustable buckle straps that seem fecking useless - i'm tempted just to use loads of bungees instead.
I leave on Wednesday morning - any ideas??


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Space Monkey #7
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[SimonB]

Hi I just got myself a tailpack yesterday and I spent about an hour trying to fit it and coming close to giving up.

Once I had the tailpack on that was pretty secure although the panniers (oxford like yours) were still a little wobbly.

[v4forlife]

do you mean getting the tail pack to fit, or the panniers??

i have the humback tail thing, and its soooo easy to fit. velco strap it to your pillion seat, lock the pillion seat down, attach bungies to secure places on the bike ie pillion footrests and plate holder.

dont have a set of pannier, so cant help. but i heard the oxford hum ones are difficult to fit anyway.
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[mr.z]

https://img61.imageshack.us/img61/271/cnv00022sm6ut.jpg

^ Best bit of luggage i've ever brought was an army kit bag, cost me £8 (anchor army supplys in ripley+nottingham) used with an adjustable net (bungees would work too but adjustable is far better)

It has in the past fit..

2man tent
Fold out chair
Cooking gear
Roll mat
Sleeping bag

There so cheap you can buy two and stack them on eachother on the back seat..

Allthough i'd not reccomend it as a tank bag makes steering a bit tricky

I can't comment on the aerodynamic effects, never bothered me on my nekid bike though..
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[mistergixer]

Just had a word with a mate of mine who has the same panniers - he too commented on the crapness of the extra straps.
He said he used the adjustable straps to make a small loop and threaded bungees through them.
I'm gonna give that a try then head for a bit of speed testing, hopefully it should cure the wobbles.
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Space Monkey #7
Don Eladio is dead. His capos are dead. You have no one left to fight for. Fill your pockets and leave in peace. Or fight me and die!
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[EuropeanNC30R...]

I had been wondering how you're supposed to get panniers to fit properly on the miniscule seat units on newer sportsbikes. Show us how you get on

[Itchy]

[Black Knight]

And this is the reason Sports tourers are far superior!


Best thing to do mate is get what you can in, make sure the weight is fairly even on both sides and then get at least 4 real tight bungees around it to stop it moving in the slightest.
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Where does a turn end? 'Where you can do anything with the gas you want to, where you are brave again, where your attention is free from the turn, where you are sure you can do it better next time; that's the end' - Keith Code.

[Adam_P]

Doesn't even need to be a sports tourer.
Stop namby pambying around with the soft luggage!

You want this type of thing...
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[mistergixer]

Looks, errrr, nice, but i'm not sure i'm ready for middle age yet.

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Space Monkey #7
Don Eladio is dead. His capos are dead. You have no one left to fight for. Fill your pockets and leave in peace. Or fight me and die!
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[natv4]

Careful of tail packs. You wouldn't be the first person to have an ill fitting tail pack end up in the back wheel.

If you are not ready for a 3 box luggage set, then try a sports rack on the back. This would stop your rear seat luggage being able to jam in your wheel, and does not look too bad (look around, the racks in the link are not the best I have seen, for looks)

https://www.bikebitzuk.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=59

This should stop your bike looking rubbish, it also means that your panniers will fit more easily.
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[NSR Mick]

Where are you going? and how trendy do you want to look?

You could always take some cheap clothes from asda, tesco etc and throw them when your done and go and buy some more.
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[mistergixer]

Well, i'm going bright and early 2morrow morning - managed to find a half decent way of lashing it all together and it seems relatively secure - just hope it all stays on.
Got a good hour and a bit of motorways down to Dover, so if it hasn't fallen off by then, i reckon it should be ok.
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Space Monkey #7
Don Eladio is dead. His capos are dead. You have no one left to fight for. Fill your pockets and leave in peace. Or fight me and die!
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[Annabella]

Bit late.. but cable ties!


I've never had a problem with my panniers being wobbly.

When I use my tail pack I normally stick a cargo net over the top of it, that way I can always stick extras under the net at the last minute
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[Dave_ZedDragen]

My bike is a kawasaki Z1000, one of those bikes that is supposed to be unsuitable for touring

Soft luggage just takes a bit of practice to get the knack. Ive got the oxford sports luggage (last seasons) and they fit great and i only need to use two of the adjustable straps to fit the front part of the panniers to the hook behind the pillion foot rest, then use a bungee each side for securing the rear of the panniers to the fixings under the tail section.

I try only to use either the panniers OR the tailpack though as they are very difficult to fit together especially if your on your own...with all the threading through of straps etc.

Its all just trial and error, and practice until you get the knack.

I'd certainly agree with the army kit bags idea though, i'm going to try and get some for myself.

With enough bungees and patience you can fit just about anything
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Dave_ZedDragen - (2005)Z1000

https://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt306/zeddragen/zeddragensig-1.jpg

[mistergixer]

Sorry to dredge up an old thread, but i thought i'd post a pic of how it eventually went together.
I managed 2000 miles without anything falling off or catching fire, so i reckon i did alright!

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Space Monkey #7
Don Eladio is dead. His capos are dead. You have no one left to fight for. Fill your pockets and leave in peace. Or fight me and die!
Mistergixer's videos on YouTube

[Dave_ZedDragen]

where is that mistergixer?
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Dave_ZedDragen - (2005)Z1000

https://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt306/zeddragen/zeddragensig-1.jpg

[mistergixer]

France, Tarn gorge and Lot valley area.
Best roads i've ever had the pleasure of riding.

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Space Monkey #7
Don Eladio is dead. His capos are dead. You have no one left to fight for. Fill your pockets and leave in peace. Or fight me and die!
Mistergixer's videos on YouTube