Aluminium panniers

[clint640]

Pelican cases - waterproof, bloody-near indestructable and you can buy the damned things locally for SFA.

I'd hardly call NZ$389+GST per side SFA though they are a good unit.

You can get similar plastic cases from RS & Farnells for around $160 but they are nowhere near as tough as the pelicans.

Cheers
Clint

[warewolf]

I'd hardly call NZ$389+GST per side SFA though they are a good unit.

Which would put them into the same price point as Givi, right? That'd make it a tough call.

[Paul in NZ]

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

This is quite true....

Nearly every Ducati I've come across seems to spend ages off-road... Usually waiting for a tow or spare parts..... (P/T)

[Wolf]

I'd hardly call NZ$389+GST per side SFA though they are a good unit.

I was actually looking at the prices of the smaller cases more suitable to the physical dimensions of my l'il XT225 when I formulated the opinion on price.

Sorry.

[matt77]

Nearly every Ducati I've come across ..... (P/T)

Dude thats sick. Standing by the side of the road with your cock out wanking over a real motorcycle....

Don't let me ever catch you doing that to mine!

[matt77]

Banter aside...

I've settled for the Hepco & Becker Gobi Enduro cases. A few mates who road through South America rated these highly.

Found these on http://www.twistedthrottle.com

Cheers

[Paul in NZ]

Dude thats sick. Standing by the side of the road with your cock out wanking over a real motorcycle....

Don't let me ever catch you doing that to mine!

Boom tish.... (I walked into that) Good one...

[Wolf]

Banter aside...

I've settled for the Hepco & Becker Gobi Enduro cases. A few mates who road through South America rated these highly.

Found these on http://www.twistedthrottle.com

Cheers

So you've gone for plastic. I'd go for that over aluminium, too. Now make them look really crappy so that Paul in NZ will be less inclined to wank over your bike...

[Transalper]

They look like they'd be quite good, please do post pictures when you get them.
Thanks.

[XP@]

Here are pics of my old F650 with and without home made boxes. Somewhere I have more detailed pictures of them, at home... will try and pick them out.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...591#post587591

The cases can hold up a bike, be ridden over, are key lockable and waterproof. But also VERY heavy!

If you are making them yourself remember silicone is sticky but also your friend. and every gram counts. Also build your rack first, attach the back plate of your boxes to the rack and then build the boxes. If you bolt on the panniers, then use a standard size spanner.

Also with Aluminium, you need to put a liner in, otherwise the friction on the aluminium turns EVERYTHING black. I used a sleeping mat cut to shape and backed with a 3mm rubber sheet.

[Paul in NZ]

So you've gone for plastic. I'd go for that over aluminium, too. Now make them look really crappy so that Paul in NZ will be less inclined to wank over your bike...

I'm a Guzzi owner - I like it rough

[Ruralman]

Dude thats sick. Standing by the side of the road with your cock out wanking over a real motorcycle....

Don't let me ever catch you doing that to mine!

Good reply - but when you get time weld a couple of eyelets under the front duckbill - so the transalp riders can tow you home or up the tricky bits

[oldrider]

Banter aside...

I've settled for the Hepco & Becker Gobi Enduro cases. A few mates who road through South America rated these highly.

Found these on http://www.twistedthrottle.com

Cheers

Hey thanks matt77, I found that site interesting and useful. Cheers John.

[RedKLR650]

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.

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.

IF YOU DON"T MIND THEM BEING BRIGHT YELLOW< Kingchrome ( yes, the spanner people ) make pelican clone cases for about 1/2 the price of Pelicans. Available at all good engineering supply shops :-)

Cheers, Stu

[Airhead]

I bought H&P for my R80GS which I rode through Africa and Europe. They are tough(ish), but expensive. I mounted a 10l fuelcan on top of each one, however, this created stress fractures due to bumps - I should have dispersed the load to the sides. The advantage of these panniers is they are lockable and look secure (which is most important). I did get my leg caught under one and twisted my ankle a little whilst riding in deep sand and paddling. I think this can be offset by the fact that the panniers (and pots) create a gap where you can slip out when you drop the bike. I also clipped a landrover at speed with one of the panniers - big dent in landrover, pannier unhurt.

Another Kiwi I met had made his own - smaller. Basically took 2 of those 12 pack beer can boxes and used that for his dimensions for each one. He had heaps of room.

Other than that, if you have a decent tank bag which you carry whenever you walk away from the bike, it doesn't matter how you carry your gear. You will have you docs and important gear with you.

www.motobins.co.uk and www.motorworks.co.uk will send to NZ, so check thier websites, or make your own. Also check out the www.horizonsunlimited.com website.