I really like the Wolfman Enduro stuff, enough that its all I use on my bike, I've got the enduro tank bag, tail duffel, and saddle bags. Stuff that needs to stay dry goes into waterproof stuff sacks, everything else fends for itself. but tends to not get too too wet. All up it gives me about 38 liters of storage space, plenty for my needs, and I'm always amazed at just how much you can cram into them with some organization.

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2008 Yamaha WR250R

Maybe we differ in our willingness to accept "tends not to get too wet." If you travel in areas where it rains a lot and the humidity makes it difficult to dry stuff out (e.g. much of the world), or if you spend time riding where stuff left out to dry tends to develop legs (e.g., much of the world), stuff that is "not too wet" gets moldy pretty quick, and what doesn't mold often rusts. This doesn't work for me.

Of course, I double bagged whatever I put up in my Wolfman panniers, but not only did I find this a royal pain in the butt, but each time I loaded or unloaded I felt resentful at the fact that I paid top dollar for a well-regarded product which inexplicably failed from the start--both by virtue of leaking in the first place, and by not at least incorporating a drain grommet so that when it leaked it wouldn't start filling with water which couldn't escape.

The technology exists for truly waterproof soft bags and clothing. Mountaineering gear, yachting clothing, and kayaking bags all prove this to anyone who's paying attention. Motorcycle suppliers are making deliberate choices, for whatever reason, to sell us stuff which doesn't work. I find this offensive, since I'm generally willing to pay whatever it costs in order to, say, carry my bike documents in a pocket of my $600 jacket without getting them soaked through each rainy day. Instead, I double-ziplock them, and I'm careful to pour out the standing water from my pocket if I've been riding in the rain. This is made-in-America quality? (rhetorical question)

Glad I got that off my chest once again. Onwards!

Mark

(from the world's most luxurious hostel, Foz do Iguacu, Brasil)

Fair enough, though it would be interesting to know where they were leaking. Haven't yet had issues with mold or rust with my packing methods either (probably because my bags aren't made of waterproof fabric and hence will eventually dry on their own and not fill up with water), though I've been bitten by the growing legs phenomenon.

Funny you mention clothing, part of the reason I don't use waterproof luggage is from my experience with 'waterproof' riding gear, and the concern of having the waterproofing compromised on the first crash or tree snag, hence using the dry sacks I used when I was a backpacker, ziplocs, and a small pelican box or two to keep stuff dry.

Dave
(from the dilapidated confines of my apartment's living room in exotic Towson, MD , waiting for summer break to escape from the grind to the Appalachians for a few weeks again)

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2008 Yamaha WR250R

I've been looking at these bags as an alternate to metal cases for a GS800 on Touratech frames. Are people saying that these leak, as the blurb claims waterproof and the fabric / design looks good

Iain

Hi Iain, my son has a pair of these for his XT600. You are welcome to pop over and have a look at them to see how they fit, offer them up to your bike, check out the fabric etc etc. He is home from from University for the next couple of weeks, although as he doesnt take his bike with him they'll still be here.

cheers

Austin

" Are people saying that these leak, as the blurb claims waterproof and the fabric / design looks good"

All I was saying is that mine leak copiously and are not well-designed (despite use of robust fabric and stitching). I bought them about five years ago and they were like that from the start. Maybe newer models are better, but I'm not inclined to find out.

Mark

Try looking at Enduristan luggage - it is waterproof and it is very very well built. Enduristan: Wherever you ride

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If it is good to have one foot in England, it is still better or at least as good, to have the other out of it. jake