PANNIERS

[Tim Gaskell]

Probably an ongoing query.

Next year I am on a RTW trip and obviously current BMW panniers will not stand the inevitable dropping of the bike. Having spent some time on the net it would seem that there is a huge difference in price from what appear to be expensive Metal Mule to cheap Trax panniers.

Any advice, particularly from long distance off road bikers would be very welcome.

 

[Mutley]

The 'Search' function is your friend!

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70720

 

[redcap]

panniers

personally i would go for ARD Cases !But then i would wouldn't i !!!

 

[STUBBS]

alpos panniers cheap and cheerful and can be knocked back into shape with a rock when you come off

 

[Fanum]

I'd go for Vern's worldbeaters, then if his weren't available, Civil's Caja Sahels.

Both made by GSers for GSers
Vern's are incredible strong, beautifully made, cavernous and made to size order.
I've done many many hard off-road miles in Morocco with mine and they've stood up to it well.

Loads of info in previous threads...do a search, pour a beer and sit back to digest...then call Vern

 

[Thunder]

Another vote for Civil's caja sahals!

 

[paul nicholls]

panniers

my vote would be for the ARD CASES! top, top kit,best by far,

 

[mad moose]

vern`s for me top bit of kit

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

Another vote for Civil's caja sahals!

Crawler... should you not be getting ripped of by some Itialian waiter instead of posting on here boyo

I'd say Civil's caja sahaaaallllls or Vern's too both are outstandingly strong but both have the disadvantage of no quick release... which if you're on you own and the bike goes down or gets stuck somewhere you need to unload the panniers to make the bike light enough to stand a chance of moving it... where something with QR will be a lot easyier... anything with QR means you have an instant seat or table for cooking too.

I have a set of civils panniers ... i would recommend the panniers for strength and looks but hate the fact they are not Quick Release... pain in the arse taking the boxes off to get the bike in my gate.... but if you can live with that (to me) big downside they are pretty good.

 

[Steptoe]

the disadvantage of no quick release..which if you're on you own and the bike goes down or gets stuck somewhere you need to unload the panniers to make the bike light enough to stand a chance of moving it.

So how do you release the pannier that the bike is laying on

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

if they were easily releasable - you'd pull a handle and lift the bike up - pannier stays on the ground

 

[sparkplug]

Tim - before this gets into a 'my pannier choice is the best' fest... [size=-2]anyway, they're all wrong Metal Mules are the best[/size]

You mention that you are planning a RTW trip.
I think your pannier choice should be heavily influenced by your travelling ethos.

Many RTW riders have an ultra minimalist lightweight ethos which means small bikes (I know of one person planning an RTW on a 125) and soft luggage.

Others have a 'prepared for every eventuality' ethos in which case you'll want the strongest most secure luggage to protect your array of expensive gadgets, tools and spares. Weight increases significantly and so the bike gets larger to cope with it.

In many countries getting spares (even tyres) for larger bikes is something you need to either plan well ahead or be prepared to lose weeks waiting for parts to be shipped in for you.

There are arguments that soft luggage looks less likely to contain valuables and that hard luggage is going to be more of a thief magnet - but I've never had problems with either on that front.

Other RTW considerations - on road or off? If you plan to do good tarmac for the whole journey then you might compromise strength for weight. If you want to follow the 'road less travelled' you may well find that lighter but weaker panniers become a false economy.

If it were me I would be looking at the following:

Size (do you really need that much? Are you sure?)
Strength
Security
Water/Dust proofing
Repairability (and how water/dustproof after repair)
Ease of use (quick release, how many locks/keys, handles, tie down loops etc)

After you've decided what you really need a pannier to do then go and do the costings and see how much of it your budget will allow you to buy.

Remember that you will be living out of these day in and day out for the whole of your RTW trip so they need to function well for you - Not someone else.

If you haven't already seen it there's a very good website with an unimaginable amount of information for the RTW traveller www.horizonsunlimited.com

Hope that helps and let us know how you get on

 

[Tim Gaskell]

Schiannini,

Many thanks for input. RTW trip is organised and will have back up with 4 x 4's, mechanics and medics. I have now been told that when we do 'off road' we should be able to leave panniers with back up vehicles. As funds are somewhat limited and obviously costs during the trip 4 months will mount I am considering leaving the existing BMW panniers in place and hope that I will not be dropping bike on tarmac roads !!! This will certianly get over the quick release problems and also the panniers are expandable if necessary.

Regards.

Tim G

 

[Big Lad]

http://www.bikingtheglobe.webhop.org/

These guys used soft panniers, as did mondo enduro.

 

[Rushy]

I'd say Civil's caja sahaaaallllls or Vern's too both are outstandingly strong but both have the disadvantage of no quick release... which if you're on you own and the bike goes down or gets stuck somewhere you need to unload the panniers to make the bike light enough to stand a chance of moving it... where something with QR will be a lot easyier... anything with QR means you have an instant seat or table for cooking too.

I have a set of civils panniers ... i would recommend the panniers for strength and looks but hate the fact they are not Quick Release... pain in the arse taking the boxes off to get the bike in my gate.... but if you can live with that (to me) big downside they are pretty good.

My Caja's are quick release :cool

 

[The White Rabbit]

You could take a look at the Pelican based system the guy in the US sells. Sorry I cant remember the link but I was close to buying a set above all the alu ones etc, not that I am an expert.

 

[oblertone]

In that case ...

"... will have back up with 4 x 4's, mechanics and medics."

... all you need are some rather looking saddle bags for your personal grooming products, as seen on my RASPOTW (Round a small piece of the world) bike

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

My Caja's are quick release :cool

yea but on shit looking frames

 

[sniffy]

just been going through this myself........ and will be going for ARD panniers for my HP2 enduro..... look the business not too big and good quality.

Just waiting for my pannier rack from Holan...

 

[evedrake]

Which boxes to buy

I am in that same boat - will have to find a llink to these Civils and Verns you all talk about. The Pelican bags are done by Caribou systems here in the US. He is a great guy to deal with. You can buy the rack and the bags seperate. I got his racks then used ebay to buy the pelican cases and saved about $150.00. the bags have been down and other then a few scuffs are holding up well. The only issue I have is they are side loading - so to make life easier you need a liner to keep crap from falling our when you open them up. I have liner I bought cheap from a a place called JC Whittney. They fit perfect and were $20.00 each and have over 43,000 miles of uses. I am looking at TRAX or Happy Trails or you can spend a bunch of money and get the new Jesse bags -

evedrake