panniers, realistic weight?

[mysterious_rider]

Hello guys. Im wondering what you lot think of this.

I have my military panniers (that say on them they can carry 37kg of ammo).

My enfield, which has a few spots that I can bolt brackets to.

What weight can I put in them? I have this massive chain and lock that I was hoping to bring with me on my travels. the chain is 14kg and 2m long. Worst case I have to cut the chain in half and put half in each pannier, and get another squire lock to join them.

It sounds silly but Im taking this bike abroad and I need it safe.


ive sort of bodge painted my idea of a 3mm-4mm bracket, I'd put another at the bottom of the pannier too, and have them bolt up to the ringed bolts on the bike.

and at the rear of the pannier Id have some U bolts with rubber mounts.

I feel fairly confident the enfield frame can handle the weight, I just want other experienced users ideas about the strength of the brackets. I wouldnt want to overload and snap anything.

https://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj88/mysterious_rider/IMG_20160404_182234_zpsmxwtfvpz.jpg~original
https://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj88/mysterious_rider/IMG_20160407_174648_zpsl47tvega.jpg~original
https://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj88/mysterious_rider/IMG_20160327_133729_zpsa0hllx06.jpg~original
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KAWASAKIIIII

[R1stu]

I think the Specs for my pans luggage state 40k a side, so you should be alright.
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Carbon closet tart! https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/02r6/
Stolen bike. 2000 R1: https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/00r1/
Current bike 1991 Honda ST1100 Pan European, 1986 Honda cb350sg (Finished)

[Beehive Bedlam]

Loling @ 'military panniers' such faggotory.

[bamt]

The Pan 1300 is 20lbs (9kg) per side not 40kg, though these are plastic so that may well be the limiting factor.

For total load, as long as it is less than a pillion passenger the bike should be OK - though you'd want to make sure that the mounting points can take the weight and ideally have it evenly loaded.

[MCN]

DO what the Motorcycle Police who ride Pans do. Have a very serious speed wobble at motorway speeds.

You have to consider the same bike will have two up. So two folks 180Kg. It will still be a handful with two up.

You must be carrying a lot of bullets.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[NJD]

With such weight of the chain have you taken what cornering would be like with that + the panniers applied into consideration?

I'm not sure how much of this applies in your situation but the advice I got when I inquired about carrying any given Almax or Pragmasis chain around in soft panniers was that it would be better to keep the weight central in either a tailbag or topbox bolted directly to the subframe.

[haroman666]

If it were me, I would carry the chain in a well-strapped-down kriega (or similar) bag on the rear seat and then leave your panniers for lighter items.

Are you taking pillion?
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The mistresses: 2000 Honda CBR600f, 2000 Honda VTR1000

[J.M.]

So long as your mounts are strong enough, shouldn't really matter so long as they're balanced.

I agree with comments about keeping the chain central. Also, that'll make it more convenient to access in order to chain the bike up. Chains on the rear seat can end up quite flat if you pack it carefully, so you can easily put another bag on top too.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[mysterious_rider]

Theres a chance of pillion yes.

Thanks for the info. Im think 20kg a box should be ok even with pillion.

I would like to build a rack across both boxes, above the rear light cluster and curl it up there. That way at least its spreading the weight. If not ill place on seat with a cargo net.

Shame it cant bolt onto rear of seat.


I dont think handling applies much. Its a slow enfield. She barely sees 65mph.
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KAWASAKIIIII

[mysterious_rider]

Theres a chance of pillion yes.

Thanks for the info. Im think 20kg a box should be ok even with pillion.

I would like to build a rack across both boxes, above the rear light cluster and curl it up there. That way at least its spreading the weight. If not ill place on seat with a cargo net.

Shame it cant bolt onto rear of seat.


I dont think handling applies much. Its a slow enfield. She barely sees 65mph.
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KAWASAKIIIII

[davebike]

Loading limits from manufactures are very conservative but you need to be sensible if heavily loaded until you know how it affect handling !
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Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
davebike1@gmail.com

[Rogerborg]

Tank bag, or remove the pillion seat (if chance of pillion doesn't materialise) and bolt a square of wood + some sort of bag or box on there.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[R1stu]

[Robby]

I wouldn't worry about the bike frame taking it. It can take a 100kg rider + 100kg pillion with no trouble. Thing things to consider are the strength of the frame you build to hold the panniers, and vibration.

From the pannier frame, angle or box section is much less likely to bend than flat bar. Rubber washers and nyloc nuts to absorb and mitigate vibration.

[stinkwheel]

I've used ammo box panniers before.

The trouble with ammo boxes is that the sides tend to split so just bolting them through the sides is a no-go.

You can use repair washers on the inside but I've even had heavily loaded ones split round the periphery of the washer.

Best bet is to either put a piece of ply on the inside of the box the same size as the inner wall or make your mounting with a piece of L-section along the bottom supporting the majority of the weight.

Your bike is designed to carry a pillion who could be over 100kg and sits higher on the bike than a set of ammo boxes.

The rear sub-frame of your bike looks the exact same deal as the pre-unit bullets. RE make racks for their military model bikes to take a pair of metal boxes. The racks are very robust and will take an ammo box across the top too. Get your arse on ebay India and check them out. Be aware "high quality" is in the eye of the beholder. Expect to have to bend them about to get them to fit and to give them a coat of decent paint.

Here's my touring setup on my 350 bullet. The racks are heavy but versatile. You can put other stuff in/on them.
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/rbr/DSCN0718.png

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/DSCN0695.png

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/DSCN0694.png

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/DSCN0693.png

The wooden shelf is very useful as a table if you're camping.
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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.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[davebike]

Friends bike and pictures
This is how you do it !! Note good solid rack mostly Welded and boxes solidly mounted

https://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/davebike500/Bikes/Image11.jpg

https://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/davebike500/Bikes/Image15.jpg

Images from his trip to Cape town both Sudan I think
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Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
davebike1@gmail.com

[MCN]

[mysterious_rider]

Hm. Ill line the inside with some ply or sheet metal then. I have pannier racks but they wont fit these boxes.

Also i looked at the india ones and the boxes are quite small. As in would fit enough for a trip for two. Yours are 15cm wide whereas mine is about 21.

I will fit a rack in between both and fit another rack for the chain. Thatll spread the weight.

Thanks for the pics gents. All helpful.
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KAWASAKIIIII