Soft Luggage

rubberhedgeho... · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 17 May 2011 Karma :

Hi,

I've been looking at adding luggage to my bike for sample tours in the UK in order to get my setup perfected (as far as possible) for future long distance trips. Current bike is a '10 Honda Hornet, but my future touring bike is so far undecided

I don't want hard ally panniers due to their VERY high cost and danger in off-road environments. One dent and they may be unsealable, as well as the danger of being trapped under them.

I am aware that leaving soft panniers on a bike is doable when I am in sight of the bike, but what about if I need to use a bathroom during the day? Do they come off the back of the bike and in with me, or do I just stuff my valuables in my daysack and take that and leave any dirty underwear to a potential thief/moron to rummage through?

Is it worth to use a pacsafe or would that just attract attention where it isn't wanted.

Thanks!

pepperami · Super Spammer Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Karma :

Can only say how I did it with soft panniers.

I found that it encouraged me to think very carefully about what I really needed to take.
For example : is it valuable? do I need it? can I manage without it?
can I carry it about my person?

I took a cloth bag with me (shopping bag) in my soft panniers and when I got to my destination everything went into the cloth bag.
Nothing of any value was left on the bike for a moment.
I found that most things of high value are small and fit in jacket pockets Thumbs Up

I did leave the panniers on the bike overnight, but they were always empty.
I` have personally found that most of the time people are honest and leave your stuff alone.
I certainly found this to be the case the further away from towns and cities you get.

I`ve done two trips this year using soft panniers and not had a problem.
Let`s face it if a scrote wants your kit, do you really think hard panniers are going to stop him or will he just do more damage to get at what`s in there?

Here is my set up
https://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t87/pepperami_photos/IMG_0380.jpg
https://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t87/pepperami_photos/IMG_0331.jpg
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

rubberhedgeho... · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 17 May 2011 Karma :

Thanks for that reply,

I am thinking along the same lines - if someone wants it, they will get it.

I'm mostly just concerned about my tent which will sit in a dry bag across the back seat.. I don't have anything else of value on the bike, but if my shelter is gone then I'm screwed...

pepperami · Super Spammer Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Karma :

Many moons ago Rolling Eyes

When I was a lot poorer Sad

.

I had a light bike cover that was a bigger than it needed to be for the bike.
So I would fold that up and take it with me and it doubled as my tent.
I would put it over the bike and then crawl into the space by the wheels.

I did a couple of BMF rallies like that Smile

and it was ok for the summer Thumbs Up

One or two nights of rough sleeping like that was ok, and NOBODY was going to steal my bike Smile

____________________
I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

pepperami · Super Spammer Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Karma :

magpiemale · Traffic Copper Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Karma :

I can't have panniers on mine as its an fz1 and the ass of the bike is shaped wrong so the panniers sag,instead my set up would be my top box with either a waterproof 60ltr roll bag or monster bag attached to the passenger seat.[/u]
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NSR125 1992 (sold) kawasaki Z750S,fazer FZ1 07 now gone present bike 2012 fz1s Fazer,beowulf rad protector,heated grips,sw motech gps holder,power socket.