Aluminium panniers

[matt77]

Hi,

Anyone know where, or a good dealer, where I could purchase aluminium panniers here in NZ?

Had a look at the hepco-becker site but wondered if anyone knew a distributor here in NZ or has any experience of going direct to an oversea's company?

Cheers
Matt

[oldrider]

Hi,

Anyone know where, or a good dealer, where I could purchase aluminium panniers here in NZ?

Had a look at the hepco-becker site but wondered if anyone knew a distributor here in NZ or has any experience of going direct to an oversea's company?

Cheers
Matt

Why do you specifically want aluminium boxes? John.

[Steam]

Why do you specifically want aluminium boxes? John.

So he'll look like Ewan and Charlie of course! All he needs then is a massive support crew, cameras out the ears, and he'll be ready to take on the Road o' Bones.

[Transalper]

So he'll look like Ewan and Charlie of course! All he needs then is a massive support crew, cameras out the ears, and he'll be ready to take on the Road o' Bones.

or break a leg if he gets caught under them.
Actually forget i said that, it would be unusual to get tangled up with them on a road bike... assuming they be for the Duke listed in Mat77's profile

[matt77]

God yeah, so want to look like those actors!

Chaps, does it matter why I want them? Just asked if anyone knew where I could acquire some.

They are indeed for my duke, which, even if i took the wheels off, has more potential for going off-road then a bloody transalp would ever hope to have.

Cheers

[Transalper]

lol, would like to see that, please post pictures.
Sorry, you've proberbly guessed by now i for one have no idea where you'd get them.
But i have heard the potential for personal injury is very real if you put a foot down to save yourself off road and get caught by them.
When hitting my own luggage with my leg in this way in a sticky situation i was thankful i didn't have solid corners on the panniars.

[clint640]

They are indeed for my duke, which, even if i took the wheels off, has more potential for going off-road then a bloody transalp would ever hope to have.

Cheers

Ooooh them's fightin' words if ever I heard 'em! Careful, or the Trannie squad might come & give you a jolly good handbaggin'

Seriously though, at the $US prices I've seen alu luggage going for, I'd look at getting a local sheetmetal shop to quote on making a set before ordering something in from overseas.

Cheers
Clint

[XP@]

Built mine for the F650, bloody good bricks they were awsome.
The rental places use Alu boxes on their bikes, you could try them...

Desparatly resisting taking a swing... instead looks at profile pic and remembers how well she performed when the going got really hard.

[warewolf]

They are indeed for my duke, which, even if i took the wheels off, has more UNREALISED potential for going off-road then a bloody transalp would ever hope to have.

Fixed!

[oldrider]

God yeah, so want to look like those actors!

Chaps, does it matter why I want them? Just asked if anyone knew where I could acquire some.

They are indeed for my duke, which, even if i took the wheels off, has more potential for going off-road then a bloody transalp would ever hope to have.

Cheers

What on earth brought that on! I only wanted to know why you specifically wanted metal boxes.
Was it in preference to anything else because of some practical knowledge or experience you may have had etc, etc etc.
We are in the position to swap and share info and experiences here, I just wanted to know for christ's sake, I didn't say anything about your "bike" so pull your bloody head in.
I only asked a question. I was interested in your opinion. Shheeeesh. John.

PS: I have had a GIVI 45ltr box for about 20yrs and it's been through the mill a bit, still looks new!
Rental people told me they were almost indestructible.

[Wolf]

I've heard aluminium boxen are a PITA as they dent and bend out of shape. There's a guy on Advrider making up mounting frames for a variety of bikes to fit Pelican cases - waterproof, bloody-near indestructable and you can buy the damned things locally for SFA.

The Pelican cases the bloke on ADVrider sells have been modified to have a key lock (rather than using the padlock holes) and use the same key to remove from the mounting frame.

He ships worldwide or you can get a couple of 1520 Pelican cases (or whatever size you prefer), make your own mounts and go from there.

I'd take Pelican cases over more expensive "purpose made" hard panniers any day - Givi etc are dear, aluminium is not rugged enough. You could drill holes and mount a single lock (and seal it) or you can just whack a couple of padlocks through the holes.

[Wolf]

Pelican case and mounting system: Caribou

Pelican cases

A NZ Pelican case supplier and price list.

You can drive over them with a 4x4 and they won't break, bend or lose their waterproofing - your bike, however, will be fucked...

[Bartman10]

I was weighing up cases for the new DR's

Looks like I've hit the right thread.

Should I buy

1. Soft luggage (Rips on impact, zips are unreliable, not water proof etc, advantage - resizeable.)
2. Plastic hard luggage, eg the Caribou stuff (expensive)
3. Aluminium hard luggage (Cheap, if you make it yourself, possible to repair on the road if you find a farmer with a tig welder etc. Disadvantage, stress fractures, metal fatige, difficult to water proof etc.)

I don't want it to fail. All comments gratefully accepted.


Cheers,

Bartman.

[oldrider]

I was weighing up cases for the new DR's

Looks like I've hit the right thread.

Should I buy

1. Soft luggage (Rips on impact, zips are unreliable, not water proof etc, advantage - resizeable.)
2. Plastic hard luggage, eg the Caribou stuff (expensive)
3. Aluminium hard luggage (Cheap, if you make it yourself, possible to repair on the road if you find a farmer with a tig welder etc. Disadvantage, stress fractures, metal fatige, difficult to water proof etc.)

I don't want it to fail. All comments gratefully accepted.


Cheers,

Bartman.

We had Chris and Tania, two Germans traveling around the world staying with us and they had custom made aluminium luggage boxes and racks on their bike (an Africa twin) and I was impressed with the way they had set their gear up.

If you don't want to do something like that, I personally have found favour in the GIVI wing rack system.

My main reason is that once you have the wing racks in place you can fit any size or combination of boxes according to your needs or your purse.

The plastic GIVI boxes are bloody tough and seem to be almost indestructible, tidy and secure. Cheers John.

[Wolf]

Bartman10, if you are able to make up aluminium boxes and mounting brackets to put them on the bike, you could just make up the brackets and buy a couple of Pelican cases of the size you want - no need to go whole-hog and buy the Caribou system.

Make up whatever mounting system you like to affix the cases to the brackets, drill holes in the cases and bolt on the mounting fixtures with silicone sealant and large washers, put a retaining wire from the body of the case to the lid so it only will open to 90 degrees (stops your gear spilling onto the ground) and clip to the brackets you've mounted on the bike. As I said, it's up to you whether you fit a keyed lock for the lid or just use padlocks.

If your budget will stretch, you could buy a range of Pelican cases and set up your brackets akin to Givi's wing system - all your Pelican cases could have identical mounting gear and you decide which boxes to clip on...

The Pelican cases have sturdy clasps and carry handles.

I'm vacillating between Pelican cases and soft cases for my XT - tending more towards soft cases.

Because I'm "frugal" and not keen to part with the kind of money I've seen saddlebags advertised for (Ventura, Oxford and Givi), I was thinking of modifying a couple of cheap but sturdy cabin/gear/gym bags with clips and adjusters to make my own saddlebags. I've seen suitable bags for around $30 each.