With regards to the
Wolfman Expedition Dry Panniers and
Wolfman Teton Panniers here's the latest information and updates I have.
Although I generally only post as an individual on here, I also own
Winding Roads and I've had a lot of emails about these bags, with quite a few generated from this thread, so thought I'd post and tell you the latest of what I know -
I have had an initial small quantity of the bags arrive yesterday, and this is the first time I've seen the finished product since I saw the prototypes in Milan last November. Eric has modified them a couple of times since then as he has refined the concept. The only photo's I have of them on any bike at the moment are the one's on my sites, showing the bags on Eric's own DRZ -
The Expedition Bags are made in a 22oz heavy duty tarpaulin / pvc material (34oz base), and the Teton Bags made in a regular ballistic Cordura type material. The size, shape and fittings are the same for both types. The Expedition bags though are RF welded with no stitching to seep water and a roll top closure on both types mean no zips to seep water either. Wolfman have a repuation for making tough bags, and these look to be more of the same. You'll notice a number of extra D rings and loops on the strap fixes and these are designed for strapping water / fuel bottles or whatever to the bags.
Wolfman are intending to develop a range of side frames to carry the bags, at present only the DRZ has been done. Next will be the Suzuki DR 650 and Kawsaki KLR 650, which are popular in the US, but not so here. Then they will move onto the BMW GS range and KTM 950 /990 Adv and the 690 Enduro. My guess is that will all take quite some time as Wolfman are quite a small company and Eric does all the R&D himself as well as running the company day to day.
Whether the frames will be too expensive in the UK will depend on the exchange rate and the shipping costs, as they are quite substantial and pretty heavy. So we'll see.
The bags have been designed with three alternative fixings - the usual throw over type, fixing to Wolfman's own side racks (as they become available) and fixing to other proprietary pannier frames (i.e. Givi, H & B, SW-Motech, etc). As they only arrived yesterday afternoon, we've not yet had chance to do any trial fits, get any better photo's or much else really.
Looking over the bags the fixing arrangement for other types of pannier frames looks simple and easy, allowing quick removal and fitting of the bags as well as a stable mount, but we'll be able to tell better once we can get them onto a bike.
Once I know a bit more, I'll post it up along with any pictures, and reply again to anyone that has already emailed me. If anyone has any specific questions please post up and I'll do my best to answer, or you can email me at - wolfman @ windingroads.co.uk
Cheers,
Joe