Hard luggage... is it REALLY that much better?

[mr.z]

I find myself with a tankbag and panniers that i can't really use anymore, bit of a pain because i'd been very happy with them, the tank bag dosent fit, dosent stay on and fouls the steering, the panniers are in risk of catching the chain and being cooked my the exhaust

So i was wondering, hard luggage, its very very expensive yes? is it worth the extra cost? I don't buy the security aspect, if anything it will attract pikeys to have a look because it says "look! all my expensive stuff locked in here" its water proof, which is nice, i'd imageine it would save the bike from a little damage in the event of a spill? or would it raise the chance of a bendy subframe?

I've been looking for some tank panniers, has anyone got/tryed them? i'm figureing they would be good because they would keep the weight forward and low, theres absoloutely no way they can fall off, and they wont make it any more difficult for my girlfriend to get on the bike (its a bit of a struggle allready) they might even offer a little extra wind protection... anyone know where to get tank panniers? found some on a us site but theres all that postage to pay

Is there any piece of luggagey equipment you'd never be without?
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[mr.z]

Found these, bizzarely only 10 minutes ride away..

https://www.windingroads.co.uk/bikeimages/bpeg2.jpg
https://www.windingroads.co.uk/catalog/index.php

Flipin brilliant!.. shame they cost £150

So.. still looking
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[stinkwheel]

Ortleib do bicycle panniers that my mate managed to fit on his supermoto in the same way as that stuff in your picture. Has the added benefit that ortleib luggage is TOTALLY waterproof (like drop it in a river and your stuff stays dry waterproof).

I have homemade hard panniers on the MZ made from folded and rivetted aluminium sheet. They are great due to the low C of G, masses of space and the lack of movement (and the ability to just throw stuff in them willy-nilly). The downside is they are a pain to take on and off (which I suppose a little thought would correct), the bike doesn't fit through my gate with them on and they increase my fuel consumption by 30%.
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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.

[mr.z]

I found some "tureg" tank bag/panniers set, and guess what, they are disscontinued pants!

Home made panniers are on option, not sure i'd trust myself with folding aly.. actually the brackets would bother me most i think.. for how often they would get used i'd not be too woried about the extra bulk/fiddley removal of the homemade specials...

Bah, why does the givi stuff have to be so expensive :/
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[stinkwheel]

Nah, Givi stuff is cheap. Try checking out the Touratech (sp?) website. The racks alone for my bike are £450
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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.

[instigator]

What make of panniers and tankbag is it you can't use anymore?

On the subject, I just bought some cheapo oxford first time luggage. I don't expect much from them really but if anyones got any experience with them, let me know how they fare

[mr.z]

Touratech stuff is great, but i can't help feel its a bit overkill for anything less than rideing through paris/dakar country... still nice though..

The tank bag i had... it was a cheepo one similar to heingerickes £30 offering, and the panniers are about £40 from the same place... got them both off ebay, they have both been great.. but now the tankbag is at the wrong angle (enduro bags have a slanted base) and fouls the steering... i also want tank panniers anyway becuse they will keep the wind off my legs a bit (probably not really) and its space that is being wasted really...

I was thinking maybe i can fin somebody with pipe bending skills a plenty to make up a soft luggage rack and some crash bars while they are at it, am i likely to get it done cheeper than off the shelf?
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[daz|n00by]

if your gonna chuck the old tank bag can u chuck it in my direction plz i just got me a tuerag and i think that might fit nicley;)

[Bikay]

I had to get rid of my soft luggage (Buffalo tail bag) even though it was well made and great value for money. The reasons were:

-Could only just about get a weekend's worth of clothes in the bag.
-If I wanted to carry my laptop (which I do for work) it had to be carried in a thin fabric bag that then went in the tail bag. the outer casing is scratched heavily from it moving about.
-When totally full the bag often suddenly leant forwards or backwards even with the straps and bungees in place.
-The tail bag would take about 4 minutes to put in place and the same to remove. (This was because the seat had to be removed, bungees attached and pads put in place to protect the bodywork from the bungees). I did this at least twice a day, except on Wednesdays when I did it four times. That's almost 50 minutes a week spent putting a bag on or taking it off!!

I now have a Givi E520 and its fantastic. Can get my laptop, lunch, box file and gym stuff in there. Takes all of 15 seconds to put on and even less to take off. Got it new on Ebay with the rack for £200.
It looks okay too. Not exactly a design icon but and doesn't make the CBR look too daft.
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Check out my bikay cha'mone!

[stinkwheel]

I made racks for my MZ out of flat bar. Some simple welding and it is done. I did a freeform design by finding some convenient hard-points then bending the bar to fit in a triangular fashion. Measured nothing as the bike isn't symetrical anyway.
____________________
“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.