are soft panniers dangerous??

tonycbr · Derestricted Danger Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Karma :

helo..got a 4 day trip to france in june..i need to sort out some luggage...well...i dont fancy a tank bag...i was thinking maybe a tail pack or even better some throw over saddle bags...but i read a while ago about some fatalitys concerning bikes with throwovers??
do you think theres any truth in this? i just think tail packs stand to high...and i dont wanna use a rucksack either...help!!
ill be on a cbr600f which has a grabrail...
thanks for any advice Smile

mike_23 · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Karma :

You just have to be careful and follow the maufacturers instruction and make sure you keep it away from the exhaust and any ties that you use are tucked away safely. I have never had an issue Confused

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

Not had an issue with paniers, and I don't even put them on right (I put the straps over the seat not under) , you just have to load them evenly and keep them away from the exhaust , AND secure the bottom bit with bungees which they conviently have mount points for on the paniers well mine do anyway, as when you are REALLY hitting it ie grinding your engine casings or footpegs/toes like I was , and you hit a really long corner like they have at autoroute service stops.

The paniers if not kept strapped in fairly tight stay verticle in the corner and you can imagine what may happen due to this.
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tonycbr · Derestricted Danger Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Karma :

thanks for that...on my cbr6 it looks like any luggage hanging over the back will hit the exhaust?? how do i avoid this?

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Anything like panniers can cause a stability problem at speed. Doesn't mean they will for you, or for your bike or at the speed you are doing.

Can the straps be shortened on your panniers?

Al the best

Keith
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Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

tonycbr · Derestricted Danger Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Karma :

thanks guys..itchy your bike is identical to mine...same colour even!
im just about to read your notes from your trip...seen the pics and it looks like you had a great time...ive just put a post in workshop regrding my suspension set up...if you could read it and comment back i would be really grateful

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

That rubber webbing stuff under your panniers stops them moving about and stops them rubbing your paintwork.

You can buy it from a motorbike shop for a fiver, sold for this very purpose or you can get a bit twice as big from the pound shop for stopping your rugs sliding about on wooden floors. Same stuff.

I just throw my panniers over, don't attach them to be bike with anything other than the weight of their contents and friction. Never lost any yet.

I would highly recommend getting a type of bag called a "Dry Sack". They are made by a company called Ortleib, they are available from outdoor sports places and will bungee across the back of a bike very easily. These bags are 100% waterproof (not like bike glove 100% waterproof, as in taking your sleeping bag whitewater rafting 100% waterproof).
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/gpzload2-1.jpg
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
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Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

-Savage- · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Karma :

Never had bother with soft luggage, It helps to have a good set of Bungies though, but not necessary.

Also, I've secured burgans and rucksacks, and lids, and flowers etc to the bike with the bungies lol.
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king kong · Nearly there... Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Karma :

The Tot · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Karma :

When i moved to Scotland, here is what i had:

2x Oxford fully expanded panniers filled with clothes, 3 pairs of shoes, 2 towels, 2 blankets. 10 t-shirts, underwear, socks

Tail pack filled with tools, haynes manual, books, documents, 2 hoodies, 2 pullovers, alpinestars t-dyno jacket, spare gloves, 3 trousers, 2 jeans, 8 casual/work shirts.

Boblebee backpack filled with laptop, charger, external 3.5 HDD and charger. CD wallet full of software and music, mouse.

Tank bag filled with tools, chain lube, battery charger.

Here's wha the bike looked like

https://photos-711.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v113/10/100/500990711/n500990711_260719_851.jpg
https://photos-711.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v113/10/100/500990711/n500990711_260720_1116.jpg

tankbag and backpack not attached.

London to Edinburgh in 6 hours including stops for fuel.

No problems whatsoever. So you can figure out the pace if i did 370 miles in 6 hours.
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stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

he means the wrong way round, but he cdnt be arsed to put them the right way round, he noticed but there were other considerations

a hot exhaust is an important consideration
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EuropeanNC30R... · Gay Hairdresser Joined: 20 Jun 2002 Karma :

I found that fully loaded oxford humpback panniers and tailpack started causing a weave when trying to get my knee down at 115mph on an Italian motorway, the rear shock was on it's way out though.

Otherwise fine, just be sure anything heavy isn't going to move about inside the pannier: you will know about it if a heavy chain slides to the side as you're entering a corner.

king kong · Nearly there... Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Karma :

I've ordered some 40 litre Oxford forst time sports bike panniers. Is 40 litres big enough.
I'm going on a long weekend to Normandy on the bikes. First ever big(gish) trip and first time camping since I were a nipper.

I'm waiting for them to be delivered, but intend on taking:

Tent
Sleeping Bag
Air Bed
Skivvies and socks
Trainers
Jeans
First Aid Kit
Bathroom Bag & Towell
Food such as biscuits & Pot Noodles, bottled water (maybe)
Mug and Plate - Tea Bags.

Also have tank bag - Is 40 litres more than adequate?

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Something to boil water for the tea on and in. *
Waterproofs.

Don't cart food with you. At most take something for an emergency (eg bag of sweets and a tin of all day breakfast) but aim to buy other stuff locally.

Pack a bungee net.

If the panniers/tank bag are expandable. Aim to leave with them not expanded. This gives room to manouver and for cheap booze and fags.

Not many tents will fit inside a pannier (some will, but not many, better bungeed to the back anyway, leave pannier space for other stuff).

They are NOT waterproof, not even with the covers on (I find the covers make it wirse actually). Pack the stuff inside in black binliners at a minimum.

I'll repeat my advice about an ortleib dry bag strapped/bungeed to the back rack or seat for your sleeping bag and clothes. I do LOTS of bike touring and camping, these really are a fantastic piece of kit. If you don't have somewhere dry to sleep and dry clothes to change into, you can become very miserable, very quickly.

Remember when motorbike touring. Weight of equipment is not really that important but size is critical. eg. I take a small, cast-iron frying pan to cook in. It is heavy but takes up less space than a mess tin.

* If you are feeling adventurous, take a bottle of meths and a swiss army knife then build a stove when you get there from an empty coke can. Here's my instructable for how.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

king kong · Nearly there... Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Karma :

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

King I'd probably take enough to be self sufficient each, although its convient to travel in packs and to share the load between you stuff can happen ie somebody has to turn back , or somebody may crash and then you are stuck, should be mass duplication anyway , and 3 pans cooking probably cook faster than a big pan with everything in it.

Reminds me of a trip with one of my best mates when I was 16 we went out as best mates , we returned as mortal enemies 3 days in he walked off with my wallet and passport which put me in a world of crap.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

king kong · Nearly there... Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Karma :

Titz My Oxford first time panniers have turned up with no real decent fitting instructions. But I noticed that you have what appears to the velcro strapping across the top of your seat, with the roll bag strapped under these straps.

Also flapping ends down by your foot pegs.
What is the best way to fit these panniers, I want to get it right and am paranoid they will fall off or entangle in the chain/wheel horror scenario.