Luggage

[weekendwarrior]

Was wondering what you people thought the best type luggage is for the bike.
I'm needing to get some in the next couple of weeks for the SV.
Have a tank bag, which is great for gps, phone, wallet etc, but too small for going away.
Whats the deal with a permanent back rack?, do you have to get the shop to fit it amd how much do they cost?
Other option I guess for my bike is the Oxford tail bag??

[=cJ=]

I ride with a bloke with a Ventura setup which is pretty good, looks to have heaps of room, and doesn't seem to slow him down any.

You should be able to fit one yourself if you're marginally competent with a spanner.

I prefer tail bags as I can take them right off if I want to, I've got a small one attached to my pillion seat, so I can swap it with the streamlined cowl if I want to. Going to try a larger one with a bit of modification to the seat...

[35tickets]

I had soft ventura aeropacks for my ZZR11 for many years and found them very good, but was limited on how much luggage I could take, especially if going camping, plus if it was pouring with rain then occassionally the water got it (plastic bags can be a bikers best friend for this). A few years ago I swapped to Givi hard luggage....much more expensive but suited my riding plus being 2-up could carry more, was lockable and waterproof. In fairness to both, I never noticed any handling issues nor never slowed me down...

I looked at the Givi option as I knew I wasn't going to get rid of my bike anytime soon, so depending on how much you want to keep your SV or the dollars you want to spend might help your decision

Cheers :)

[LBD]

For weekend rides I use this rear seat bag from bags connection from Darbi Industries in NZ...fully expanded 17L...It travelled 15000km in March and is still as good as new. The tank bag from Bags connection has travelled 27000km and still brand new...on the outside. (and warranty does not cover melted licorice on the inside.)

For longer trips I use a set of throw over saddle bags as well. The setup works great for me.

I had a ventura seat bag the same size...did not last long and the seat bra that it attaches to failed.

For 1 up touring I try to keep the luggage as close behind me and as low down as possible...handles better and less noticable

[kevfromcoro]

just been through this exercise...
the top box would of been my pick.... givi are good. so i hear.....lots of room.. lockable. and waterproof..
Anyway,, my bike came with a ventura rack and bag....lots of room......doesnt affect the handling..
Now a question??...
what sort of panniers do you blokes prefer.....?
I think i will go for the soft. ones.....
do a bit of bush riding,, and i think i would smash the hard panniers off...
Dunno.........................
Thoughts??????????????/

[BiK3RChiK]

just been through this exercise...
the top box would of been my pick.... givi are good. so i hear.....lots of room.. lockable. and waterproof..
Anyway,, my bike came with a ventura rack and bag....lots of room......doesnt affect the handling..
Now a question??...
what sort of panniers do you blokes prefer.....?
I think i will go for the soft. ones.....
do a bit of bush riding,, and i think i would smash the hard panniers off...
Dunno.........................
Thoughts??????????????/

I would have thought that with bush riding the soft option would get torn easily. I'd choose hard any day of the week :innocent:

[Rosie]

just been through this exercise...
the top box would of been my pick.... givi are good. so i hear.....lots of room.. lockable. and waterproof..
Anyway,, my bike came with a ventura rack and bag....lots of room......doesnt affect the handling..
Now a question??...
what sort of panniers do you blokes prefer.....?
I think i will go for the soft. ones.....
do a bit of bush riding,, and i think i would smash the hard panniers off...
Dunno.........................
Thoughts??????????????/

Andystrapz Expedition Pannierz (http://www.andystrapz.com/productdetails.php?pid=34&BACK=51) are pretty good for adventure touring. I've dropped the bike on mine a few times and they have managed fine. They keep your luggage weight nice and low, which is an advantage in more technical situations. And they are nice and soft when they whack your leg while you are falling off (apparently hard panniers can break ankles etc in similar situations off road)

[mazz1972]

We have a plethora of luggage at home, mostly Ventura, that's been used on the various bikes we've had.

Visit their website (http://www.ventura-bike.com/)to check out their racks and range of bags. You can't order direct but pretty much any bike shop should deal with them. Can pick up second hand bags on trademe.

I have the Spada and Delta bags which zip together and they are awesome. We always put plastic bags inside them just in case they do soak through in lots of rain. Think you can buy rain covers for the bags if using separately.

Hard luggage is good too. Hubby had hard expandable BMW panniers on his Dakar and his V-Strom has suzuki branded hard luggage that come with with bike from new. The locking system on the Suzi stuff is frustrating as need the keys to open the luggage every time and to release from the bike, ie there are no separate latches to open/close or release. We always carry spare keys as I can see the keys getting shut inside the luggage one day! I dunno if other brands are like that....hopefully they know better!

Have heard good things about the Andy Strapz panniers that Rosie uses for her adv riding.

[hospitalfood]

lockable hard luggage gets my vote every time, not cheap though.

we need a localy made alloy box option at a competitive price

[TerminalAddict]

I have just about every type of ventura bag, plus some home made stuff, plus other soft luggage.

I also have a e470n topbox ($270 I think) and after breaking my ventura rack that it was bolted to, will have a givi mounting kit this afternoon ($195)