Which luggage?
 

I'm planning a 12 day tour around Norway. I've not got any hard luggage. I've got a tank bag, but wondered what i should do for main luggage.

I was thinking just a cargo/duffle bag on the rear.

I need to carry camping kit as well as gear for the 12 days.

Any advice greatly received.

Tell us which bike and if any rack already fitted would help but if you are not going to use it regularly I would say soft luggage would fit the bill and be a lot cheaper.

Yep, need more info. At the basic end of the scale get a big cheap roll bag, strap it on and away you go. Waterproof, big and cheap.

For any other kind of advice... What bike, pillion, solo, how much are you planning to bring other than the tent and most importantly what's the budget? You could spend anywhere from 50e to 2500!

Sorry should have been more specific.

Its a suzuki gsx650f with no racking for luggage. It will be a solo trip. Budget will be anything around 100GBP.

I was thinking a large dry bag to fit everthing in, but which one i was looking at touratech or oxford.

I'll be taking tent and associated camping gear. Bike tools, laptop. Other than that just a couple of changes of clothes for the evening.

If you don't want to pay out on expensive racks, bags or boxes then don't.

They make life easier but are NO WAY essential. Don't get sucked into the marketing.

I would avoid a very large duffel bag bag because your rear seat isn't very large and it will sag over the sides.

Two medium bags will work well at around the 50 litre capacity. One for camping/spares/tools and one for your clothes. How you strap them down is more critical than the actual bags. Use very high quality 'Cam buckle' straps. The more rigid they are the better.


Tank bag will be great for your valuables, paperwork and electronics.


If your budget can stretch it, a back-box isn't too expensive. But not essential. Check Ebay.

I think a roll bag is your only real option, I've got an 80l one I got for about 40e which does the job nicely. Doesn't really matter which brand you get, as long as it's the thick durable type not the thin "bag liner" type. Consider general sporting and maritime shops, cheaper than bike shops.

... and avoid bungees to secure your bags to the bike.

Do yourself a favour and get Rok Straps. The ones with the loops: safe and you will never lose any luggage with those. Also no risk of a plastic or metal hook flying and hitting your face when taking them off!

Lap top's don't travel very well in strapped down soft luggage. They can easily be damaged. If you don't mind wearing a small back pack, this is sometimes a good option for delicate stuff as it doesn't bounce around as much as the rear of a bike. Keep any back pack as light as you can though, longer journeys can be ruinous on your spine. If you are going to be using a large duffel type strapped on the seat, be very careful about keeping it well away from the rear wheel and not sagging off the saddle. It doesn't take much for a bag to slide on a tight corner and get tangled up between the swing arm and the tyre, which is why you should never ever use elasticated bungee straps to hold down luggage. They always stretch no matter how tight you think they are.

What time of year are you thinking of going? Good luck and enjoy. Fab place.

Also check out Lidl and Aldi who sometimes do perfectly good quality dry bags for a fraction of the price.

If you have a laptop, usually you can buy rigid cases. My net book was wrapped in thin foam and went in a flip lock lunch box from Asda. Waterproof, Shockproof and survived being battered all over Africa.

_____________________________________________
Find me on Facebook: MotoTed & MotoRevive.

Hi all and thanks for your messages.

I quite like the the look of the touratech Dry bag Adventure Rack-Pack but not really sure what size i'd need.

I'm also toying with the idea of getting some soft panniers too.

The trip will be over 12 days and heading up to the artic circle and lofoten. Camping and staying in hytters.

Paul.

How about one of these? Used it on the back of a Gladius riding around Norway - no racks required, just some care with the straps.

Alternatively, this is the drybag I am using right now - fits my tent, mat, sleeping bag, and still has room left over for utensils and a fleece. The backpack harness detaches completely. Pair it with these, and you'll have a waterproof luggage set within your budget.

Generally this is true, but a modern laptop with an SSD, in a foam/neoprene sleeve of some kind, should do fine on a brief tour.

I wonder? I think the Enduristan Monsoon would strap to your bike. That would give you two times 30 Liters "panniers". Then a roll bag on top. Plenty of space. Also look in to Kriega Drybags Combos. Perfect for your type of bike.

Just make yourself your own Motonaut setup. It's pretty easy with some 1" webbing and buckles and sliders.

http://motonaut.com/web/

You've got pillion pegs to keep everything out of the rear wheel.

Then just strap whatever you have onto them. If you can pick up some cheap drybags even better.