Luggage

[MadDuck]

Not sure if this has been done before or if it the right forum ...but am sure you lot tell me soon enuff....cos you good at that

Was thinking about up coming trip to Tokannau (yeah whatever) and my South Island trip. I dont want to put a pack rack thingy of any permanance on the bike and went to Motomail and they suggested some soft luggage carriers. Ohhhhh it will only cost you $370 bucks maam. Phewy!

What do you guys do if you just want to take luggage for one off rides ...bearing in mind I am not cruising but just want to take enuff gear for a trip? Sleeping bag and a few clothes without carrying a back pack.

[pete376403]

Sleeping bag bungied to the pillion seat and a tank bag for everything else.

[Holy Roller]

The last cold kiwi I used the kids paper sacks. just chucked them over the seat with a couple of bungies to hold the flaps down. All the gear was in plastic bags to keep it dry.
Nothing flash but functionable, I've seen others use the old army havorsacks slung together as paniers. Certainly helps with keeping the weight low a big bonus.

[toads]

My bike has a packrack that I can remove when not in use, but I quite like HR's idea, cos I think I'll have a bit of turbulence with a pack on the back like that, there was a set of pannier bags on trademe the other day, they were quite cheap, go and check it out.

[FROSTY:Me]

Id just bite the bullet and fit a pack rack. you can always take the top loop off when you ain't using it. If you turn the pack around backwards it doesn't affect the bike sod all. A tank bag will be the best addition with maybee a set of throwovers if you need the luggage space.
You can borrow my pack if you need one.

[Quasievil]

Go get one of those Bike purpose luggage nets for around $20 bucks ,throw all your gear in a sports bag bag pack or something and use the luggage net to tie it down.

I followed Loose bruce down to Welly at his normal huge speed and his net and gear did not move an inch, good option and Cheaper than you can get anywhere else, and safe !!

[vifferman]

You don't need to go the expensive way - just use whatever is a convenient size/shape and tie it securely to your bike. Quasi's idea of a bike net is a goodun for maximum security.
Before my last two bikes, I didn't have a packrack. On longish trips, (like several from Tauranga to Hawera and back, when I was self-employed) I'd just put an overnight bag on the back of the seat of the VF500, and bungey it on. It was a wee bit of a pain in some ways, as I had to check it every so often on bumpy roads to make sure it hasn't come adrift (they didn't have luggage nets then), but it worked well for me. If it was really wet, I'd just stick the whole thing in a big plastic bag, or else put all the clothes etc. inside plastic bags in the overnight bag.

[jrandom]

Go get one of those Bike purpose luggage nets for around $20 bucks ,throw all your gear in a sports bag bag pack or something and use the luggage net to tie it down.

Yup, that works for me. Reasonably waterproof backpack strapped to pillion seat, put non-wettables in a plastic bag inside if I'm feeling cautious. Job's a good 'un.

[AMPS]

We have some throw-overs @ $144.00.
They're square, black nylon/cordura type, good capacity and shower proof.
Call 09 300 7500.
Lou

[Ms Piggy]

I was lucky enough to buy a tank and tail bag 2nd hand (thanks matthewt). I have a pack rack but I've never fitted it b/c I've always thought about it encouraging my bike to blow around in the wind a lot more.

When I went on my ride to Hamilton I managed to take lots of clothes, 3 pairs if shoes, my hair dryer & all my neccessary toilettries!

[Hitcher]

Oxford makes a good range of tail bags. They come in a couple of sizes with a rain cover. These sit on your rear seat (or equivalent) and have built-in bungy cords. I've got one and I love it. For longer trips/more luggage, throwover panniers work really well. Get the ones with the plastic liners.

[Blakamin]

When I went on my ride to Hamilton I managed to take lots of clothes, 3 pairs if shoes, my hair dryer & all my neccessary toilettries!

Hair dryer????? were you not riding a motorcycle?? didnt you get helmet-hair anyway???

just remembered what a hair dryer does... gets stickers off!

[Paul in NZ]

There is a bunch of ways to do this!

Never underestimate the reliable black plastic rubbish sack and 6 miles of manky old bungy cords. A net to hold the whole thing flat is good too...

Panniers are great but a lot of modern bikes are nearly impossible to fit even soft ones to easily! We use cheap as chip ventura ones ($90 or something silly) and they have been happily leaking for several seasons. We use a rear sausage bag from a discontinued BMW line, $90! Choice!

Go to a good sports store and look for dry storeage bags for kayaks / yachts. Tough as hell but expensive!

If I only had limited $$ Invest in a good tank bag as it will last you a lifetime. Rubbish sack as a seat bag and way hay you go! (use 2 or 3 layers of rubbish sack, pack everything into seperate plastic bags. Not only does it keep shit dry, you can annoy the crap out of people by rustling them all night looking for your torch. Big fun!

ps Check out trade me and cash converters too. This stuff turns up!

Paul N

[Artifice]

talking about luggage...
i usually put aside only the stuff i need for a trip. then i take half of it and put it back in the drawer at home. but i found i still didnt need most of it on the two weeks i was gone. The French don't call it "le impediment" for nothing. anyways next time im only going to take 1 change of clothes and if i need more ill drop into woolies sometime. I just take a tank bag for my spare visor/maps/stuff and a tailbag for everything else.

[Motu]

I seem to have misplaced my saddle bags somewhere in my many moves - they were cardboard and vinyl pushbike ones...black with white pin stripping,I had reflectors and chrome stars on the back....they also came with a little aerial and half a dozen felt flags,Waitomo Caves,Tauranga,Taihape,stuff like that.Hope I find them soon cause I think I left a bannana in one....

These days...any bag that fits the load and every bungy I can find - don't squash the bannanas.