Cheap military panniers going on silvermans.
 

Canvas motorcycle military style panniers going for silly cheap on this site..

You can waterproof canvas with ronseal or fabsil and its pretty waterproof.

GREEN MOTORCYCLE PANNIERS


I am in no way afiliated with this company but I saw them, bought some and thought anyone looking to prep on a budget could look at these. They look pretty rugged.

Ill update this thread when I get them..

Ted

They look pretty cool!

How good do you reckon is the waterproofing with ronseal or fabsil? With canvas waterproofing seems to be a bit of an issue if you don't pack all your stuff into waterproof extra bags.

I for one am very interested in what you thing once you get your hands on them.

Cheers
buebo

Well I've used Fabsil on a few tents and it's turned leaky sieves into usuable tents again.

I've not tried it on canvas but time shall tell..

I've also heard of people using RONSEAL BRICKSEAL" with fantastic results (cheaper too)....

These bags are part of the webbing kit I think. Looks like these ones might have had the straps slightly altered to make them easier to rig together and use as panniers?

I used one of these bags the year before last on a run to Italy via CzechR. I was impressed by how well the canvas seemed to stand up to light rain. I burst a chocolate trifle in the bag, and when I cleaned it out I found you can fill the bag with water and it barely leaks out even at the seams.

After this success I used two of them as panniers on my Mongolia trip last year. I had some problems with them getting thrown around, and this eventually led to one getting sucked into my back wheel and torn open. This could have been avoided if I'd had a way to use the "clip" straps at the bottom of the bags to securely attach them to the bike - Would have took a couple of minutes to weld some attachment loops to the bike had I thought this through properly before leaving. However the main thing that would stop me using them again would be the lack of total waterproofing. Plus they're a bit small.

Should also point out you can buy em much cheaper than on that website. My local army surplus was selling them for 4 or 5 quid each.

£5 !!!! AHHHHHH STOP !! LOL

well, done now ! I've just built some proper racks with hooks and hoops in all the right places so I shouldnt have your problem.

I'm going to waterproof them too !!

Do you need to waterproof the bags, being canvas when wet the fibres should swell and be virtually waterproof, canvas waterbags work this way, but the outside of them always feels damp/wet, but the water inside is always cold. Plastic bags inside the army bags has got to be the answer.

I would try to waterproof them with wax, like the one used for Fjällräven trousers or Belstaff jackets.

You probably don't want to hear this Ted but....
The 'panniers' are 58 pattern webbing 'day sacks' that were designed to be attached to a yoke and worn in conjunction with military belt kit/webbing. You can pick these up for pennies on Ebay. Great marketing idea to shift surplus stock by Silvermans! On the upside, they are bombproof and will last forever and are exceptionally waterproof too.

It will be interesting to see what you get because I have a bag that looks similar but is rubberissed on the inside.

Well, if they don't do what they were advertised as doing, then I'll send them back....

If they work, great !! £30 is still dirt cheap for good useable panniers.. If they dont, I get a refund :)

I've looked on ebay and iv seen the 58 pattern packs for about £10-£15 each so £30 a pair doesnt seem too bad if they come with all the straps etc..

Actually, they look like a pair of these:

58 Pattern Canvas Rucksack for Webbing Set on eBay (end time 31-Jan-10 14:34:06 GMT)

We shall see either way !! At least ill be able to carry them on my back when my DRZ explodes in the desert :)

Don't get me wrong they are awesome. I am going to get another and try and work out how to attach them to my dr250 or find a rack that will fit the bike. When time/pennies allow I am going to upgrade to a drz400. A former colleague/friend of mine started off on one - Gringo Enduro - Home

Keep us posted with your plans as I am planning to do an East coast trip on 4 wheels and leaving the vehicle in Kenya with friends with a view to returning when possible.

Good luck.

Nath,would that be Anchor surplus on the cattle market?I might just have a ride over there.

Yep, that's the one. It was a year a go that I last went in though, so they might not have them any more.

Well I got them today and I am VERY IMPRESSED !! Ok they stink like an old mans jockstrap and look about 20 years old but they are in fine condition.

They are PERFECT.... They have straps in all the right places, loads of adjustment, top hoops and straps to stop them moving about.

I havn't worked out the best or intended way to connect them yet but it wont take much working out.

These are WAY better than the £150 Cortech softbags I already had.

These are officially coming to Africa with me :)

http://www.touringted.com/_gallery_/...66845ee3b459ad

http://www.touringted.com/_gallery_/...66845ee3b459ad

http://www.touringted.com/_gallery_/...66845ee3b459ad

http://www.touringted.com/_gallery_/...66845ee3b459ad

http://www.touringted.com/_gallery_/...66845ee3b459ad

http://www.touringted.com/_gallery_/...66845ee3b459ad

Those look crap mate, you need some Zegas

Thought I'd seen the last of 58 webbing large packs after running around as a 16 year old squaddie in training with far too much in it-before the issue of bergens.

Hope they last you well-the assembly by the handle/flap was for attaching a spade/pick axe handle, the large straps across the pack were for securing your helmet-just for info!

I trust they are far more comfortable for the bike-than they were for my back!

Enjoy!

Ahhh, I was wondering what all the straps were for... Thanks !

What era are these from then ?? I was guessing the 60's-80's ??

:lol2::rofl:

When I was 16 I had army packs strapped to the side of my Royal Enfield Bullet , the packs eventually rotted away .
At the time it was all I could afford .
If you keep them stuffed full they might be OK ,otherwise they'll flop around and drive you nuts .
Try and incorporate some support underneath the bag so that it's not just hanging from it's straps .

I can guarantee they will always be full :)

I take it you can patch these ?? If they ever get a hole or rip bigger than thread fixing...

58-being as in 1958 design.

In reality most things military obviously take a few years to come into general service. I was certainly still wearing the webbing up until 1989 when I left-and it was phased out to be replaced by the current PLCE issue-throughout the 90s to my knowledge.
Most soldiers either bought their own packs, or dependent on which regiment/role you were in had SAS or GS bergens-which carried far more kit-they were based on a frame and made from a nylon/waterproof material.
The large packs-once you had stuffed it with the huge 58 pattern sleeping bag-had difficulty taking much more!

Is that single stitched webbing?

I'd strap that to the rack with some Andy Strapz. Those straps will secure bin liners securely enough to your rack.

Yep ,I used Copydex [ glue ] and pieces of canvas to patch them .
You cut out a piece of canvas ,paste glue all over it ,lay it over the hole on the bag and beat it with a hammer to make sure the glue permeates into the fibres .
Or if you have a big enough needle you can sew a patch on .
Mine weren't waterproof ,which was a pain in the arse .

This is how the squaddies did it in your grandad's day .

http://motorbike-search-engine.co.uk...42_bsa_m20.jpg

Note the support at the bottom and the y shaped strap around the pack .

Absolutely brilliant !!! Imagine a trip to capetown on one of those :funmeteryes:

I got a pair and cut all of the unecessary bits off as liners for my non treated panniers!:innocent:

Sacriligious !!! :eek3:

I got a pair from silvermans years ago they sell them as motorcycle panniers but they are just 2 webbing bags strapped together, I think they were £30 and that must be about 10 years ago so I guess you got a bargain.

I sent mine back at the time and got some from the local surplus for a tenner once I knew what they were.

I put a light ally back on one and carried it exhuast side and then had a home made ally box on the other side.

I think soft bags are the way to go with some kind of lockable top box.

:scooter:

Definately !!! Although iv had to swap my topbox for a fuel can on this trip and pack very light...

I thought the same, but now I reckon a lockable topbox is too much.

All I wanted to keep locked was my tools, cash, and documents. I've got one of them small ammoboxes in front of the bashplate for the tools, so all that leaves is some way to lock up documents and money.


On my trip to Mongolia I started off with a topbox made from two normal size ammo boxes welded together, but I'd started to think it was redundant after a couple of months. After it broke doing some trailriding in Tajikistan I threw the thing away and carried on with only softbags. I bet there are plenty of things to use as small lockboxes if I racked my mind, but I quite like the idea of integrating another small ammo box into a siderack - Bigger than it needs to be, but being steel they're easily welded to attach them and they're fully watertight.


In this photo you can see the offending topbox and also the rack behind it was a bit pointless as well - Any weight that far back is putting too much leverage on the suspension. Okay for camping gear, but I could really feel a difference if I tried carrying water bottles back there.

My take on minimalist, army-surplus based luggage setup. I had jerrycans on the side racks, then the webbing bags/panniers hung on the sides.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/steven....ip-ready-1.jpg

sweet rig there Nath very purposeful looking

yeah I know what you mean about the top box being too much, the solid things conected to the bike , the more chance of damage in a fall.

just gonna check out your site its definatly got my interest:scooter:

Only had a quick scan through (my eyes struggle to open at this time of the day) but it looks like a great adventure, you should write a book.:scooter:

Every great adventure needs a bit of romance:thumbup1:

i traveled with these army surplus bags for about a year, with a plastic flap and a trash bin inside each one. when i needed to squeeze through a doorway i just emptied them. i use thin, metal panniers now (homemade) but i'll probably mount military bags on my XL350 ...if i ever go home :-)

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jmPImthkHjo/TG...0/IMGP5185.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jmPImthkHjo/TG...0/IMGP8824.JPG

Yes Silvermans, is well known to ppl like me who used to be 'in the trade'
them bas where used with the old army Bikes they had tuber frame on each side of the rear wheel Like all army 58 pattern webbing a bin bag was requirement
for any part of the webbing.
Most Army surplus might have them in, or just get 2 58 pattern back packs 1 either side.

FYI I joined 1979 @ 16 & left 2003, to repair 58 pattern, them you can use any old bits of canvas or the top flaps (inside with a eyelet) we used to cut them up & make a pouch (still used now) for man's Knife folding, for the use of GP as suggested the top straps are for fart sack/green maggot (sleeping bag)

Mine in action:

http://www.touringted.com/_gallery_/...serialNumber=2

Like suggested , I sewed velcrom onto the side straps and have also put some press-studs in the corners to stop flapping.. (not in picture)

I use small waterproof bags to organise my gear which works well !

I'm happy with mine (for now).... Lets see how they cope with Africa.

Ted What bike you on?
Canx my last just read it on your site
good luck on your trip look forward to updates

That's a 2003 Suzuki DRZ400-S !!

And cheers :thumbup1:

After 3 pages in this thread...
 

Ed you decided to not even use the panniers. I reckon you should do the panniers justice and take them to africa now that you've written 3 pages on this forum about them. :P

I still may Neil ! I have a week to decide lol !

Well, as this trouble maker has said, i've decided to use my smaller Cortech Tribags. Not because the military bags aren't any good. I'm just not sure they're AS GOOD as my modern cortechs. My Cortechs are smaller which is what I want. These 58's make it too easy to bring more stuff than I really need and I promised myself I wouldnt do that (again).

Zips, waterproof covers, velcro adjusters and made especially for bikes is also hard to leave on the shelf for 1950's adapted army bags.

I do like them, and I WILL use them..But I dont think on this trip !

Hi T/Ted,
That'll be the day that Silverman's sells anything at a fair price. Sorry you got stung like that. Ouch!!
:stormy::rain:

[quote=Caminando;302184]Hi T/Ted,
That'll be the day that Silverman's sells anything at a fair price. Sorry you got stung like that. Ouch!!
:stormy::rain:[/quote

It was very much an impulse buy. I knew you could get them cheaper but I was just in one of those "payday" moods.

It's all gravy !

you earn too much!!

[quote=*Touring Ted*;302239]Hi Tour/Ted

I've got an old helmet for sale - damaged a bit. I can offer you this helmet for £890.50p. Also for sale, a non functioning battery charger, could be fixed....at a special price to you, £600. Cant say fairer than that! I know you could get them cheaper, but...........

[quote=Caminando;302565]Deal ..... Just PM me your bank account details and i'll the money with you in no time !

Unless of course you'd prefer Western Union. Free Nigerian Lottery win with every use !

:D:scooter:

[QUOTE=Caminando;302565]Is it too late to show an interest?!?!?! :stupid:

i used to buy a fair bit from silvermans, but they got a bit too big for their boots and caught that 'london shop, we can charge london prices' disease they all get.
as soon as they started charging for the catalogue i gave up on them.

look at swedish or german army surplus too, i had a massive swedish canvas+down filled long coat that buttoned up into a sleeping bag, god that thing mustve weighed 15kg! great for sitting at the river bank in though

[quote=Neil;303330]Roll up Neil!:Dhave a great time in Africa:Beach: ..................................I know that Gericke in Welling you mentioned.

[QUOTE=Caminando;303345]Yeah? Local? I've been seeing some ratty-overland with hardboxes running around the welling/eltham way this passed year but always in the opposite direction, is that you?