Hard luggage versus soft luggage

[ADVGD]

An article using a DRZ400 to compare: Hard Luggage versus Soft Luggage

It is not an exhaustive comparison that tests all types and brands of hard/soft luggage however it has some interesting general pros and cons

[Frodo]

For the sort of riding I do, I agree with your conclusions and am happy with my Givi plastic boxes and panniers. I note, however, that more extreme riders, such as Colebatch on ADVrider (current trip through Russia) swears by soft luggage. One point you didn't cover was the extra stress put on frames and mounting brackets with hard luggage.

[NordieBoy]

I note, however, that more extreme riders, such as Colebatch on ADVrider (current trip through Russia) swears by soft luggage.

He also swears by an open face helmet for his trips...

[pete376403]

He also swears by an open face helmet for his trips...

And judging by his success with meeting the ladies. I'd say it works well.

[cave weta]

made by me

[cave weta]

An article using a DRZ400 to compare: Hard Luggage versus Soft Luggage

It is not an exhaustive comparison that tests all types and brands of hard/soft luggage however it has some interesting general pros and cons

Love the twin Bazookas at the rear!

[NordieBoy]

And judging by his success with meeting the ladies. I'd say it works well.

His face isn't as scary as some...

[ADVGD]

For the sort of riding I do, I agree with your conclusions and am happy with my Givi plastic boxes and panniers. I note, however, that more extreme riders, such as Colebatch on ADVrider (current trip through Russia) swears by soft luggage.

Every rider has their preference. Soft luggage has pros and cons, hard luggage has pros and cons; if you use what you like and what works for you then great, job done, get out and ride

made by me

I've said it before and I'll say it again, nice job on those bags mate

Love the twin Bazookas at the rear!

Tailgaters beware

[clint640]

One thing I don't think you mention is the problem of stuff rattling around in hard luggage. When I've used it I've found it a pain in the arse keeping everything jammed in so it doesn't shake around on the rougher tracks. A good soft luggage setup just tightens down no matter what volume you're carrying.
My Andystrapz panniers & Ortleib roll bag have probably done around 60K km of adv touring now & they definitely work for me. I'd never put hard luggage on the 640 for the riding I do. If that makes me an 'Extreme Rider' I can live with that

Cheers
Clint

[ADVGD]

One thing I don't think you mention is the problem of stuff rattling around in hard luggage. When I've used it I've found it a pain in the arse keeping everything jammed in so it doesn't shake around on the rougher tracks. A good soft luggage setup just tightens down no matter what volume you're carrying.
My Andystrapz panniers & Ortleib roll bag have probably done around 60K km of adv touring now & they definitely work for me. I'd never put hard luggage on the 640 for the riding I do. If that makes me an 'Extreme Rider' I can live with that

Cheers
Clint

Thanks for your comment "Extreme Rider"

I don't normally have issues with this as I'm packed to the brim most of the time but I hear what you are saying, a 1/2 full hard pannier can rattle items to destruction. I had thought about this a while back when I was on a day trip and just had my tools in the boxes, I used large drybags and rolled them up with just air and stuffed them in to hold it all down. This worked well but is not a long term solution so I was thinking a simple lightweight air inflated gadget would be a good item to use to take up space and keep items snug in their place. As a short term make-shift solution, a wine casket bladder could be quite handy, it packs away very small when not inflated, weighs next to nothing and is low cost. If one should get a hole simple pass by to the nearest town, buy a casket of wine, drink the entire contents, repack the pannier with the bladder and carry on

What would be great would be a low profile highly elastic bladder that sits neatly in the top lid, when the box lid is closed a standard air valve could be used to inflate the bladder pushing/holding all the contents firm. A similar concept as the air jacks. I haven't seen anything on the market as a solution to what must be a common problem? Whatever the solution maybe, you're right; soft luggage has this issue wrapped up

[Oscar]

What he didn't mention was having your foot trapped under hard luggage and the added width.

I was riding Fishers Track on my 950 and the first thing that happened was my Givi bags hit the bank and tried to punt me over a cliff.
Then, when negotiating some ruts and mud puddles, I had my foot jammed under the bag a coupla times - fucking ouch!

I was also a close up spectator to Koko's crash, and it appeared to me that his leg bounced off his hard luggage and was nailed by the cylinder (fucking GS design fault).

[clint640]

What he didn't mention was having your foot trapped under hard luggage and the added width.
.

Er, yes he did.

Having done EXTENSIVE research on crash outcomes with a motorcycle fitted with soft luggage I have never once been lying on the deck thinking 'man I wish I had hard panniers on my bike just then' Usually it's 'thank fuck I didn't have hard boxes on because my pannier is currently on my leg, now stop laughing & come & lift my bike off me you bastards' Not a problem if you never crash of course...

Cheers
Clint

[Gremlin]

I've had some unintended sideways travels... the boxes combined with cylinder heads means the space around your legs is always free, allowing a (sometimes) graceful step off as your bike slides away... Never had the pannier try to nail me but it has got in the way sometimes.

I kicked the cylinder pretty good on a test ride coming to a stop (throw your leg forward as the bike rolls forward). Never done it again

Oh, I'd also just like to call bullshit on the cylinder heads never letting the bike lie flat.

[bart]

Soft bags are usually expandable. Shrink them when you're carting bugger all, expand when you're taking the kitchen sink. With hard luggage, you've always got a fat arse.

I would nevernevernevernevernevernevernever ever ride with hard bags unless just touring. I have serious gavity problems at times, and the bike's got enough hard bits on it already.

Cheers

[Ocean1]

Been away with a couple of BMW fetishists, god help me. One redeaming feature of both (non-adv) machines was the luggage.

Bit on the small side p'raps, but it consisted of hard inner and outer shells with a expanding soft sides, the bottom hinge and latch sorta stretched so you could scrunch the shells down on whatever size load you had inside.

Actually saw the biesties years ago, struck me then that they'd be a good compromise off road. Tad small, as I said...