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Luggage Recommendations

MADMAN69UK

MADMAN69UK

MADMAN69UK

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26 Sep 2005
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875
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Midlands
I'm thinking of having a tootle over to France/Spain this summer so was looking at some luggage options for my 2009 ER-6f.

GIVI panniers look quite good. But the cost of the cases, mounts and brackets comes to £468.88. I'm not sure I want to spend that much on something I probably won't be using very often.

Can anyone recommend any cheaper alternatives?

I'm considering just getting some of those throw over soft luggage type panniers. Maybe something like THIS, or THIS...
 
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The soft throw over stuff is serviceable, Ive got Frank Thomas sports panniers that unzip to 45l a bag, they are not fully waterproof so I put gear in bags inside in case of rain. They did come with covers but I er, blew them out on the M6 toll international raceway as air got between bag and cover and pop!
Mine secure under the rear seat/cover and bungees underneath, pretty secure and never had a problem. I like that you can slim them down or expand depending on load, I dont notice mine when on now, for the money(60 squids) well worth it. If you havnt, get a tank bag too, makes such a difference when your off and on the bike a fair bit.

Perry.
 
kippermitten said:
They did come with covers but I er, blew them out on the M6 toll international raceway as air got between bag and cover and pop!
Click to expand...

Lol :D

Thanks for the info. I'll have a lookey at those :)

I have a tent/bedroll I'll probably strap on top also, so maybe one of these 3 piece sets with a tailpack would be good idea...

I currently have a quick-lock tankbag which I use on my commute to work. Normally just has my work jeans, phone and keys in it :)
 
kippermitten said:
The soft throw over stuff is serviceable, Ive got Frank Thomas sports panniers that unzip to 45l a bag, they are not fully waterproof so I put gear in bags inside in case of rain. They did come with covers but I er, blew them out on the M6 toll international raceway as air got between bag and cover and pop!
Mine secure under the rear seat/cover and bungees underneath, pretty secure and never had a problem. I like that you can slim them down or expand depending on load, I dont notice mine when on now, for the money(60 squids) well worth it. If you havnt, get a tank bag too, makes such a difference when your off and on the bike a fair bit.

Perry.
Click to expand...

I'd agree with that, before I bought my Givi hard panniers I had some Oxford Sport throw over panniers. Had them for about 3 years and worked really well, you could expand them out to about 45 litres in each, got them 2nd hand off eBay for like £20.
 
[Olly];18741552 said:
I'd agree with that, before I bought my Givi hard panniers I had some Oxford Sport throw over panniers. Had them for about 3 years and worked really well, you could expand them out to about 45 litres in each, got them 2nd hand off eBay for like £20.
Click to expand...

Now that sounds much more cost effective :)
 
You cant really beat hard luggage to be honest.

I've toured europe (ona Versys, so similar bike) with just a givi top box, which including rack you should probably be able to get for £200.

You can fit plenty in for a weeks touring if you can pack light, and you don't have to worry about bungeeing things on and off every day......depends if you're camping or stoppong in B&B's I suppose, but its nice just climbing off the bike and unclipping the case which doubles as a small suitcase. Buying the Givi boxes from Italy is usually cheaper, or at least was when I bought mine a couple of years ago - worked out about 2/3rds of the cost than buying from a UK company.
 
I've been looking at this too. Oxford ones seem cheap though I do love the look of the BMW sports panniers!

Edit: need to update my sig!
 
Although hard case panniers would be great, I don't really want to fork out that much money for them, since I don't know how well I'll take to touring yet.

I'm going to take a punt on THESE I think. Top bag looks like it'll fit my tent etc. And all 3 bags are detachable from a central plate. 75 squids, done :)

If I do really enjoy touring and decide to make a habbit of it I'll re-evaluate the hard case option :)
 
[Olly];18741552 said:
I'd agree with that, before I bought my Givi hard panniers I had some Oxford Sport throw over panniers. Had them for about 3 years and worked really well, you could expand them out to about 45 litres in each, got them 2nd hand off eBay for like £20.
Click to expand...
They are ok, but if fitted incorrectly the can (and have) caused fatal accidents when they have slipped into the rear wheel.
 
Personally, I purchased some second hand givi boxes on ebay. I know they are waterproof and secure. I know they are not going to slip off or move around on the bike. When I stopped at service stations I knew that I could leave the bike for a cuppa and a wee without some scroat running off with them. When I stayed at cheap hotels, I knew I could secure my property with a lock and chain through the handles to stop the cleaners nabbing anything. It was easy to cart my items to my room leaving the other box secured to my bike.

Givi boxes keep there price. Buy on ebay, sell on ebay when you return.
 
I'd recommend Givi also. I did a two month tour of the USA with some.
Don't get the one with fancy chrome or plastic trim, because that's a weak spot.
You can use them as regular suitcases as well and they're easy to spot on the carousels.
 
dont know if this ahs been mentioned (i haven't read through the whole thread because its early) but why not try Ventura stuff? you mount racks to your bike and the ventura stuff is soft luggage that mounts to that. very high quality stuff as well. and great for an er-6F

http://www.ventura-bike.co.uk/
 
I think it really depends on how often you will be using the luggage. For very occasional usage it's hard to justify the cost of hard luggage, and it's a PITA to store when you are not using it. OTOH soft luggage can be folded up small when not in use, and many of the tank/tail bags have extra straps for use as a rucksack which can be very handy.
 
Ok, so I have my new handling mod installed :p

5613339789_0514b412f9_b.jpg



I can fit pretty much everything I need in there for a brief ride to Europe I think :)
 
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