I came across these on eBay...

1 PR NEW GREEN MOTORCYCLE PANNIERS HEAVY DUTY CANVAS | eBay


Anyone gone for them? or got any experience of using ex army stuff?

Thanks!

This is a design from the 1940's, issued in the 1950's, manufactured before 1995, so no zips or velcro just D-loops, clips and buckles. They were made to a price, no point spending thousands on squadies kit back then, everyone expected rubbish and if you didn't like it they shot you. They are not waterproof, the strapping swells and jams in the buckles (I've walked places wearing the stuff, when wet it weighs a ton, the blokes doing the shouting wouldn't have touched it either). If they were mistreated by the quartermasters or the sellers they may be stiff and mildewed with rusty clips and buckles.

If this frightens you avoid.

That said, because they are basically cheap and designed to be roughly squadie proof I can see they might have uses. I use a couple of the smaller pouches of the same vintage to keep tools in lashed to the engine bars. If this sort of thing is your planned use and you'll be keeping your underwear dry in a modern bag on the rack, go for it.

Andy

Yeah that's what I was thinking! Nice one, thanks.

these are 17ltrs per pannier according to the dims given

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I used these from UK to Cape-town. I also recommended these to a KIWI guy who did the same trip with the same bags. He loved them too.

Mine were Class A second hand from Silvermans

GREEN MOTORCYCLE PANNIERS

They're cheaper there too.

I think they're BRILLIANT.

They are SOOOOO strong you wouldn't believe. They are way stronger and better made than my £200 soft bags.

They took loads of crashes, drops and abuse and didn't even drop a single stitch.

They're also BIG. I reckon like 35-40L big so you can fit plenty of stuff in them or just leave them half empty.

The negatives is that they aren't waterproof so you will need inner bags (no big deal) and they are more time consuming and fiddley to open as they have buckles instead of velcro, zips or press clips. However, I liked this as it would also slow down any potential light fingered folk.

If you get them, buy some wide velcro strips and sew them on the inside flaps to stop the wind hooking them up. I also put some press studs on the corners of the main flaps for the same reason.

You could also easily repair them with some thick thread and a needle. Try that with silly heavy overpriced Aluminium boxes.

I would happily use them on a RTW. They would last longer than my bike...

Pictures:





[url=http://www.touringted.com/wpg2?g2_itemId=2415]Touring Ted

http://www.touringted.com/wpg2?g2_itemId=2419

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Thanks Ted, really useful information.

Did you have any issues with a hot exhaust so close to the panniers?

I built pannier frames. The luggage was only an inch away but not touching.

No problems at all.

They're made of thick canvas. Best pannier material IMO....

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Sorry for another question.....! What did you make the pannier frame out of? I am seriously thinking these might be the way to go.

My first rack was made from two rucksacks described by Silvermans as "SAS". Basically a frame type rucksack designed to take the 1958 type packs. The older version of this

SAS TYPE BERGEN 120L

You might also look at these:

M&G >>> Dutch Army Dutch Waterproof Sidepack

I have used these as tank panniers. They are rubber fabric including the straps which makes them weaker, but they are waterproof because the side flaps tie with a lace and if you are making a frame you can make the support straps too.

Andy

Hi all fwiw theres a thread somewhere on here that I read about a year ago where a guy makes his pannier frames from two old tubular chair legs and he shows you how it was done it looked really easy and according to all reports on that thread they were extremely strong and reliable. Maybe someone with more knowledge of navigating on here will be able to point you in the right direction? I really hope so I was in awe when I seen how simple he made making the frames look.
Keep Upright Bill

Just some old steel flat bar.

3-4mm thick. Used a £30 ARC welder, a vice and blow torch for bending it and drilled about bolted some sections together.

You only need the rails to keep the bags off the exhaust and have something to clip the bags onto.

BTW, those bags come with cool little clips already attached. Buy D-rings off ebay.

I'll sort you some pictures... PM me.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Nice one! Thanks. PM sent...

Those bags looks like the bees knees.