Luggage Setup
 

All

Any feedback on my proposed luggage system for my vstrom 650 would be appreciated.

I am a noobie overlander so i don't really know the impact that the choices i am making will have on the road hence the request for feedback. If i am making life hard for myself please don't be shy :)

I am in planning stage at the moment for an alaska - TDF trip next year

Luggage

1 Steel Pony Bags
2 Givi Top Case
3 Ortlieb Drybag strapped to the back seat.

My thinking behind this is that a) i already have the top case and the drybag b) i have the racks from the Suzuki Panniers on the bike already but i really don't like the panniers c) the top case will have my day bag in when riding and used for gear when i stop.
This setup is going to be much cheaper than getting aluminium panniers which definitely has a bearing on choices.

Cheers

J

Suggest you spend some time doing a "search" and then loads of reading........

My eyes are now bleeding from all the reading that i have been doing :thumbup1: (been really rather fun actually) and so i have tried to narrow the question down to a specific yah or nay - rather than an open ended question.

If the feedback is nay - back to the reading ....

Steel Pony looks to have good bags ,but not much info about a mounting system .
The mounting system is what "makes" a good soft bag system ,loosely fitting bags are a pain and dangerous as well .
It's what drives a lot of people to using aluminum boxes .

More reading
 

The last two or three pages of this thread is all about the pro's and cons or assorted types of soft bags. Useful information since there seems to be no perfect soft bags out there ... as yet :cool:.

RTW X-Challenge Adventurization - Page 12 - ADVrider

here is a few more pics and comments on the Steel Ponys



i got them and they do me well, I'll be doing my RTW trip with them, I recommend using a strap to wrap around the bag like the yellow strap on here http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/P1010780.jpg

ps I know Pete and Loyla who make them and they have a bit of a back log as Loyla makes them from home

Hi, I have the DL650 too & have been pursuing the luggage question myself;Aluminium panniers,best ones,opinions please. is a thread I started on the same subject. Basically I have decided after hearing lots of varied comments to follow a similar route as yourself, I plan to get Steel Pony Gascoyne bags over my Suzuki racks, I am also going to get the Steel Pony Simpson bags as tank panniers & a Wolfman Expedition Dry Duffel to go on the rear rack, I already use a very well travelled Oxford Humpback tank bag which is magnetic & fits well to the tank. I often travel two up so need enough luggage to cope.:mchappy:
Hope this helps
Andy