Hey!
New on this great forum and thought I could start with contributing with some of my experience.:-)

I´m going for a 4 week trip to Morocco within a few days, This is something I´ve been planning for the last six month together with my great friend Chris. He is running his company for adventure traveling, Explore360 and we are three persons going together for some reconnaissance.

During the summer I´ve made two independent trips to beautiful Norway to try out the bike and different equipment, plus myself. ;-)
One of my biggest concerns are to lower the weight as much as possible, familiar to you all is probably the downside of a heavy bike when the things gets going.

I started out with the original panniers in aluminum which really are adding comfort and are easy to load and use. However I found out that the two panniers together represented an empty weight of more than 10 kg´s. On top of that is the mounting construction that adds another 5 kg´s which means at least +15 kg on the bike BEFORE any load is added!!

I looked for an option and found an interesting option from the company Motonaut (motonaut.eu). The "Motonaut Adventure" was their best model for my use. (They also have alternatives for lighter bikes like enduro´s and such).

On my second Norway-excursion lasting for a week I tested that loading system, which is almost weightless in comparison with the panniers. Once you get acquainted with the strapping system I found that it as a really great option to those heavy panniers.
You get a slightly higher center of gravity but that´s compensated by far with less total weight. I´s also flexible and less fragile once you fall or drop the bike.

I´ve since had some contact with the inventer and owner of Motonaut, Kristofer and discussed some details that´s now implemented in the line of loading systems that he provide.
I found the system that convincing I´ve decided to use it on the upcoming trip to Morocco.
You will be able to follow us on:
Lisa Nordlind - på motorcykel i Afrika med Jonas och Chris

Check it out!
JJ

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Interesting concept. Not exactly sure how it works though. Keen to find out how much it wiggles.

It doesn't just deal with lowering weight, it brings it closer to the bike's centre of mass which is much more important and my biggest gripe with conventional saddle bags like steel pony, andy strapz and magadans. A high centre of mass is less stable relative to the contact patch with the ground but only depending on the angle you lean it backwards and forwards. A higher placed also has benefits like improve braking. The width is what makes it feel out of control. The impact of width is squared to the impact of weight so it's much more important. This is what tight rope walkers take advantage off with their long balance pole.

Moment of Inertia

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

I´m getting more and more convinced that this is the way to go carrying luggage on longer trips and adventures.

Thanks tmotten for your enlightenment!
If I got it right it´s better to load high than wide provided the weight is the same?
JJ

Found this video. Cool concept but a bit to fiddly for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tMc...layer_embedded


The impact of the mass would be reduced more in that scenario provided the height above the bike centre of mass doesn't exceed the width from the same centre of mass too much. Low and close is best. Right behind the rider legs/ boots in other words. Off course this is somewhat a compromise on rider space, but as expert riders (not me) know, it's always best to stay on the pegs.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

Ok, that makes sense.
I´m about to load the bike for the departure any time now, bringing this theory into practice which makes it even more fun - thanks!

As always, don´t bring too much - less is more! ;-)

Interesting. I like the fact that you can leave the mounting half on the bike so that you don't have to go through a lot of adjusting every day. If I could tweak it though it would be to make the bag straps quicker to fit, maybe have some quick release buckles in there so that the bags effectively clipped on and then only needed a quick tension.

It does make me wonder though, for a longer journey couldn't you attach fixed mounting rings directly to the bike's frame rather than having the "bikini" used here?

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Exactly right. I get the shits with stuff that doesn't come out of the bag every day and like the bag to be near empty when I've made camp. Hate spending time packing stuff everyday.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

Good luck, Jonas! Knowing how well you have prepared your bike, I am sure that you're going to have a blast on it!


Thanks!

Here's the crash course (more info can be found at www.motonaut.eu):



The two bags are held down at three points (on each side), securing them on the bike. No wiggling!


We have tried to illustrate the benefits in handling here: Motonaut Adventure - YouTube

Thanks for contributing!


Best regards,
Kristofer, Motonaut