Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Technical, Bike forums > Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear?
Soft bag or panniers? Best bag system for XT 600 E ? ! Soft bag or panniers? Best bag system for XT 600 E ? !
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? Anything to do with the bikes equipment, saddlebags, etc. Questions on repairs and maintenance of the bike itself belong in the Brand Specific Tech Forums.
Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



Reply
Page 2 of 2 1 2
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #16  
Old 24 Aug 2010
lowbudget's Avatar
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Dortmund, Germany
Posts: 3
Post
I can recommend the Ortlieb saddle bags! They are absolutely waterproof, easy to mount, hold on tight to the bike and they are lightweights!

Last year I used those on a trip round the baltic sea and I think they´re good equipment. Only thing is that it takes a little fumbling to open them up. My brother used Gobi panniers, weighed 18kg´s (panniers and rack).

This year we´re both with the Ortliebs.

Prevents you from taking to much stuff on the way, too
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 31 Aug 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Posts: 142
Quote:
Originally Posted by Redboots View Post
I have never used these but the look like a neat idea...

Giant Loop™ Moto: Saddlebags for Motorcycles | Giant Loop™ Performance Motorcycle Gear

John
I bought one of these....very easy to attach, remove..and throw over your shoulder when carrying from bike to tent etc...

A few thoughts....
- I left it on the bike over night in some Cornwall rain and woke up to 2 pools of water in the basins. Perhaps it was because the tail of the bike was facing the direction the rain was coming from and this was directly into the zipper. I'd imagine that while riding the bags would not take in water.

- The tapering effect of the basins restricts the volume of goods you can pack, squared off would imo be better.

- Not sure if the inner packing bags are necessary. I packed my goods in my old Oxford soft pannier waterproof covers which would take on any shape I needed by a squeeze and a shove.

Besides that, I was impressed...makes a good back rest too. Dropped the bike once, rode through a bush ....bags were unharmed.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 1 Sep 2010
Nigel Marx's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: South Island, New Zealand
Posts: 798
I have a mate doing a dirt lap of Aussie at the moment. I've been a soft bag covert for a while now and he knew it before he left with his lovely custom made heavyweight alloy boxes. He must have hated telling me, but a month after he left that he was sick of bashing his boxes back into shape, and the boxes bashing his legs OUT of shape and now has a set of Andy Strapz bags on!

I've got Andy Strapz bags and they are good, but have worn thru in a couple of places. I'm going to get another layer sewn on to them.

Cheers

Nigel in NZ
__________________
The mouth of a perfectly contented man is filled with . -- 2200 BC Egyptian inscription
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 3 Sep 2010
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Scotland
Posts: 54
For you guys who are soft luggage convets, do you ever worry about your stuff being stolen when ur not near the bike? Or are you with ur machines most the time?

Id love soft luggage but id be paranoid that all my belongings would be stolen, and hence will prob use hard luggage. The security is the only reason i want hard panniers tho.
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 3 Sep 2010
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,656
The idea of soft luggage is that you mainly put "Soft" or non valuable things in them..

I pack mine with clothes, plate , mug , toiletries etc etc ! Stuff no one would really want to steal. And if they did steal them, their need is obviously much greater than mine .. It would hardly be a big deal if my favourite Spiderman y-fronts were stolen anyway !

For valuables, keep them in your tank bag which comes with you and any other things in a "pacsafed" roll bag.

In all the places and years iv've used soft bags, I've never even had anyone try to steal anything...
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 4 Sep 2010
Nigel Marx's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: South Island, New Zealand
Posts: 798
Ted's right, that's how I do it, except I also sometimes use a topbox and lock stuff in there. However, I have never seen a topbox that someone with intent could not open with a large screwdriver.

Cheers bloke

Nigel in The Shakey Isles......
__________________
The mouth of a perfectly contented man is filled with . -- 2200 BC Egyptian inscription
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 4 Sep 2010
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,656
Indeed, motorcycle "locked" luggage is very much a false sense of security although no doubt a deterrant to the oppurtunist..
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 8 Oct 2010
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Christchurch, NZ
Posts: 8
Here's what I use. For my upcoming Aussie trip, I've ditched the green sleeping mat on the top (replaced with a much smaller Exped downmat) and the rear rack (replaced with nothing!). I think I can keep the Wolfman luggage and dry bag secured without needing a rack.

Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 10 Oct 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: I S T
Posts: 655
Quote:
Originally Posted by lowbudget View Post
I can recommend the Ortlieb saddle bags! They are absolutely waterproof, easy to mount, hold on tight to the bike and they are lightweights!

Last year I used those on a trip round the baltic sea and I think they´re good equipment. Only thing is that it takes a little fumbling to open them up. My brother used Gobi panniers, weighed 18kg´s (panniers and rack).

This year we´re both with the Ortliebs.

Prevents you from taking to much stuff on the way, too

I've spoken to Ortlieb. They answered as they don't have side bags in Dortmund/Köln are but in Berlin.

Will try to organise at my next visit to Germany Hope I find...
__________________
"where the traveller goes, nobody knows ! "
Last edited by Samy; 11 Oct 2010 at 05:45.
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 11 Oct 2010
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 839
pannier
Here is my 2 cents.

If you a lot off road and travel 1 up ,soft luggae can do it pretty well for a while .
If you are travelling for long time mostly on hard pack and want your gears to stay safe while visiting cities then hard luggage plastic or metal are better.
when you are 2 up they are much better due to the fact that you can carry more stuff. For tough off road I love the ortlieb sof pannier

Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 26 Oct 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: RTW
Posts: 139
oxford bags
Oxford bags, the cheap ones 40quid a pair, yup there crap!!! they aint waterproof!!! BUTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!
my wife has had hers for 60,000km on our RTW, weve repaired them in Africa ,Asia, South america and they are still working.
The only reason I dont have mine is mine went up in smoke when I lost the little rubber bung that keeps the side panel off the exhaust in Tanzania last year, an interesting experiance.
They fit really well on our XT600,s
Most bags are crap, these are as bad as most but they do the job very cheaply and are easy to repair, the zips have lasted well, they just rip the seams occasionaly.
Works for us,
a bonus is when you arrive at a border you look like a tramp, our nickname is team skint and we rarely get asked for a bribe
Pete
Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 2 of 2 1 2

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Soft Panniers/luggage Wheeee Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? 11 10 Jan 2014 18:55
metal panniers v/s soft panniers zaplaje Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? 40 18 Jun 2011 15:11
DIY soft panniers pauldelft Equipment Reviews 20 2 Apr 2010 05:44
panniers / luggage system for scrambler miketwin Triumph Tech 1 18 Apr 2008 01:46
BMW System panniers question... bernardv BMW Tech 1 15 Dec 2001 13:49

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:57.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top