Introducing Harry

[wysper]

I have both. Used the spam cans once.

All your other advice was valuable too. But this last bit speaks volumes. The only thing is, in the past I have had soft luggage, I managed to set fire to it when it slipped and rested on my exhaust. Didnt notice until a car managed to chase me down and flag me over. Road bike though.

na mate looking cool is for the latte lads i got over looking cool sold my bike and bought the XR
soft panneirs are shit easy to use and dont hurt as much if you off, plus they dont bend then break.

Yeah, was a bit tongue in cheek about the looks thing, fair comment about the bend and break thing too, will probably be the pingers as much as anything else that sends me the way of soft panniers. Still seriously considering a top box though.

[dino3310]

yeh mate the ol givi top box is soooo friggen usefull, i had one on my BIG and it was so convenient, just chuck ya crap in and go.
it kinda looked out of place but the practical benefits far out wieghed the uglyness of the thing. i wouldn't put one on the XR cause i'd break it tryin to do wheelies

[Box'a'bits]

BUT my point was regarding the use that you have for the bike.

I use hard panniers on the (road) BMW all the time. I likely will never use soft bags on that bike, given the way that that bike is used.

Similarly, the KTM will likely mostly be used with soft luggage.

The fact I have used the spam cans once is more testiment to the short comings I experienced in that application. And don't get me wrong - I had a big financial outlay in them...

Properly made racks are really needed for both applications (hard or soft luggage). I tend to strap the bags on to stop any movement.

[wysper]

@BMW - yep I hear you. A horses for courses sort of thing. I doubt very much I will be doing long road tours on the DR. So it will be more off road stuff. Maybe the top box will be enough on its own.
I travel pretty light in any circumstance anyway.

@dino - hah wheelies... that is something that I really want to learn to do. I would say I am in way more danger of breaking myself! Better look into the cost of top boxes too then.

[igor]

All your other advice was valuable too. But this last bit speaks volumes. The only thing is, in the past I have had soft luggage, I managed to set fire to it when it slipped and rested on my exhaust. 1


Yeah, was a bit tongue in cheek about the looks thing,2 fair comment about the bend and break thing too, will probably be the pingers as much as anything else that sends me the way of soft panniers. Still seriously considering a top box though 3.

1 line the outside of ya panniers with leather if near exhayst. cant catch fire

2. bullshit, ya a nancy poser boy

3. topboxs are for faggots. get a rollbag thats what real men use. http://www.touratech.com/shops/008/i...172e08394a419d

geez ya next post ya be tellin us ya need a GPS. We are only ever 160kms from the sea in this tiny counrty.

do you sit down to pee as well ssshssssh

and ya know what BMW means dont ya

[wysper]

1 line the outside of ya panniers with leather if near exhayst. cant catch fire

2. bullshit, ya a nancy poser boy

3. topboxs are for faggots. get a rollbag thats what real men use. http://www.touratech.com/shops/008/i...172e08394a419d

geez ya next post ya be tellin us ya need a GPS. We are only ever 160kms from the sea in this tiny counrty.

do you sit down to pee as well ssshssssh

and ya know what BMW means dont ya

1. or possibly my foreskin
2. well when I get out of the hairdressers I will set you straight
3. shit! how much do you pack? are you a woman or something

GPS - I'm a man, men don't need directions - or instructions for that matter.

and as for peeing - only on electric fences buddy.


not sure I want a roll up bag thingy.... can be a real pain in the arse to get things out of. Like tramping packs, the thing you want always seems to be right at the bottom.

[Woodman]

Couple of day packs. Bungie one to the back of the bike and put the other on your back. if you do it right the one on your back will rest on the one strapped to the seat and take the weight off your shoulders. Job done.

my advice is to not over think it. I did the same when I got the klr, and after a few trips realised that you really don't need that much shit. And remember the more weight the worse the bike will handle off road.

[wysper]

Part of the reason for thinking about panniers and top boxes and the like, is that the bike does dual duty as my main commuter vehicle too. So something like a top box would be really useful for things like my lunch, change of clothes for work, wet weather gear etc.

[NordieBoy]

For years an E45 Givi was on the back of the Nordie. Could get 2 fullface helmets and gloves in it. The only reason it's not on the DR is I don't have a suitable rack to mount it to.

Offroad? No. Tooo big.

[wysper]

For years an E45 Givi was on the back of the Nordie. Could get 2 fullface helmets and gloves in it. The only reason it's not on the DR is I don't have a suitable rack to mount it to.

Offroad? No. Tooo big.

So would you not recommend a top box for off road? What do you do for taking your kit when you go off road?

[clint640]

So would you not recommend a top box for off road? What do you do for taking your kit when you go off road?

I try to avoid having hard things wot could whack me on my bike. Top boxes are really handy for commuting & road riding but my usual setup is Andystrapz Expedition soft panniers that clip onto a couple of simple rails that keep them in place & off the exhaust. Mount them low & forward. If I am camping I add an Ortleib drybag on the rear rack, it opens on the long side for easy access & is held on by Andystrapz. This arrangement has done 10's of thousands of kms of sometimes pretty hardcore touring & a few crashes with no problems.

Cheers
Clint

[igor]

I try to avoid having hard things wot could whack me on my bike. Top boxes are really handy for commuting & road riding but my usual setup is Andystrapz Expedition soft panniers that clip onto a couple of simple rails that keep them in place & off the exhaust. Mount them low & forward. If I am camping I add an Ortleib drybag on the rear rack, it opens on the long side for easy access & is held on by Andystrapz. This arrangement has done 10's of thousands of kms of sometimes pretty hardcore touring & a few crashes with no problems.

Cheers
Clint

That bloody Clint is just a copy cat witheverything I have said. Next he will be telling ya to buy one of those bloody uncomfortable orange bikes. Bloody 6 x 2 be more comfy than one of those to sit on.

The only other thing I have that u don't see here much is tank panniers. i got some old 15 litre gearsack panniers and cut the throw over bit in half and then added a peice that goes over top with a hole for the fuel cap and some straps to secure. They move the weight forward and keep the wind off ya legs cause i am a big pussy. meow

[NordieBoy]

So would you not recommend a top box for off road? What do you do for taking your kit when you go off road?

Ventura packrack on the back for more stuff or usually just a dry-bag bungied to the back with tubes/tools or even just a Fox tools bumbag with nothing on the bike.

[clint640]

That bloody Clint is just a copy cat witheverything I have said. Next he will be telling ya to buy one of those bloody uncomfortable orange bikes. Bloody 6 x 2 be more comfy than one of those to sit on.

Great minds... The 640's KTM comfort seat is actually pretty good.

The only other thing I have that u don't see here much is tank panniers. i got some old 15 litre gearsack panniers and cut the throw over bit in half and then added a peice that goes over top with a hole for the fuel cap and some straps to secure. They move the weight forward and keep the wind off ya legs cause i am a big pussy. meow

Keeping the weight balanced is definitely an important consideration. I only put light stuff on the back, all the heavy stuff goes in the bottom of the panniers. I haven't needed more space yet so I haven't looked at tank panniers, I can see how they'd be good for BMW's though as the rider could keep his pipe & slippers in them & get them out easily to use while riding

Clint

[pete376403]

Oxford expanding soft bag on the rear rack, holds a lot more than would be expected, comes with an assortment of bungies to tie it on, rain cover and additional straps that convert it to either a backpack or a shoulder bag - $99!
I don't like the idea of a pack rack frame sticking up where it could possibly hit your back or neck in a crash