Tank Panniers
 

I bought a secondhand Touratech tank bag with panniers from some biker once and I like it a lot: but it does not fit my XR's Acerbis tank.

So I want decent capacity, durable tank panniers to be able to use on my XR.

They must be available in Europe.

Any suggestions?

Alternative thought: two 10 litre roll-bags as tank panniers?

Question is, how to secure them so they are no flapping around all the time, or is this just a bad idea?

Aerostich in the US (mail order, not sure if that qualifies) makes a simple and adaptable tank pannier system.

Aerostich Tank Panniers :: Tank Bags :: Packing It In :: Aerostich/RiderWearHouse Motorcycle Jackets, Suits, Clothing, & Gear

Don't know whether they're available in Europe, but I use Wolfman roll-top panniers slung across my tank and bungied to the nerf bars on my KLR. These are not little nylon tank panniers, but rather nominally full-sized bags designed for rear racks. I use a single black rubber bungie on each, having tried and discarded various other attachment methods. I've put about 40,000 miles on the bike with this configuration, in all sorts of conditions and weather.

I'm sure you could do the same with a pair of H.D. roll-top dry bags: sew some 2" straps in appropriate lengths to cross over your particular tank and crash bars, maybe including sliders for adjusting length. You might find a better solution than my bungie straps, but if you do as I did make sure to get high quality bungies; the cheap ones disintegrate in UV. And don't forget your mother's admonition, "You could put an eye out with that thing!" when stretching them tight. The metal hooks can definitely do some damage if embedded at high speed into human flesh.

FWIW, my Wolfman panniers have never been waterproof despite costing well over a hundred bucks; they collect water inside but don't let it drain out, which makes for some absurd situations when riding through rains all day. Next time I'd buy some materials and have a sailmaker sew something more suitable for me, including grommeted holes for drainage.

One more caution: big front panniers like these can hold a lot of stuff. For handling reasons, they need to be kept fairly light, so resist the temptation to load them with tools, parts, oil bottles, food, etc.

Hope that helps.

Mark

Well, the brand is right but mine are larger and differently designed. More like (if it matters): Wolfman Expedition Panniers > Expedition Range

The bodgers approach is old army webbing. Dutch/French/British gaspirator cases (the french ones have a nice strong leather bottom so will take tools), Dutch waterproof small packs or UK '56 pattern ammunition pouches and side packs have been used. You end up making your own harness out of the straps that come with the army kit and general use 1-inch nylon straps. Except the Dutch waterproof pack they have brass buckles, so watch the paintwork. Any colour you like so long as it's roughly green!

These days however, prices are daft, no more £2 packs, so the Wolfman stuff looks good.

Andy

I've been doing a bit of looking here and there.

Wolfman's look nice, but are still pretty expensive. Instead, I think I might use these:

New Shrink Bags WB.

15 litres each side should be enough for Water proofs and clothes, a camera around my waist and the food I need in a backpack.

They are supposed to be pretty tough and can be secured with the eyelets, but for extra protection in case the bike falls or spits me off, I will use some of the 4mm Neoprene rubber that I have to make some covers for the bike, also with eyelets drilled in to secure the lot.

That way I can also use them as regular "panniers" too. I expect the lot should cost about £30.