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Metal Mules prices go up AGAIN!! Metal Mules prices go up AGAIN!!
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Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 5 Jun 2008
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Have anyone tried these : RMS - Reinhard Guhr Rennsporttechnik - RMS Koffersystem KTM LC8

I've found some threads about RMS cases on a few Italian and Dutch moto forums, but didn't quite get a word of what was written.
On the pics it seems that they are incredibly well made, and I've read that the owner worked for the formula one team some time ago
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  #2  
Old 6 Jun 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Frgich View Post
Very interesting Frgich. Thanks for the link.

Looking through the site there are a series of photos of close-up detail, including joints, locks, seals, various options of edges/corners, colours (powder coating?), etc. All workmanship looks very good.

Sadly my German is NIL but for BMW F650GS (Dakar shown?) a Babel Fish translation (reinterpreted by me) is:-
The RMS - Luggage system for the small cylinder BMW fully developed and under the design criterion of the smallest overall width!
The aluminum cases are widened underneath the exhaust mufflers to get optimum of use this otherwise dead space. The volume is approx. 38.0 litres for each case, the overall width of everything amounts to 880 mm, this is narrower than the handlebars.
Each case had 4 strap-down brackets for light luggage.
The mounting frame is of machine adapted precision steel tube that with the cases are removed are not visually disturbing and actually not recognizable.
TIG welding only - since 1987.
The frames are silver plastic-coated. A cross connection of the cases and all mounting elements are provided.
For customers who bring their motorcycle we assembly free, otherwise approx. 20 €uro forwarding expenses.
Price-899 Euro.
£715 - fitted! Seems very good to me. I will be looking further into these and make a trip over there.
No mention of the guage of metal used. Security is unclear. A key/lock for the lid, but I cannot see how the case is attached (or locked) to its frame. Seeing 'Wing-nuts' attaching them to the rear frame cross-link (or each other) is worrying if that is a security mounting rather than just the bracing (the cross connection?).
Much as I liked MMs, particularly after I went to visit them last autumn and spoke with the actual fabricator, there are limits. And the recent price hikes must be turning many potential customers away from them - including myself.
Thanks again Frgich.
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  #3  
Old 7 Jun 2008
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No problem Tony glad that I helped in someway. Try to e-mail Roger, and ask exactly what would you like to know. I've send an e-mail and they answered the next day, which I like very much. I also plan for the next year to buy these cases, and will go to Germany and make a small trip-the place is near the Frakfurt just for the info.

The thickness of the alu used to make the cases is 2 mm, so they must be very tough. The way the cases are attached and secured to the mounting frame is a question though, so it's best to e-mail them directly and ask them to send you some detailed pics of the set-up.

Maybe I should open a thread for these cases alone so some more people can see them, and maybe someone on the HUBB have used them already,

regards
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  #4  
Old 11 Jun 2008
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Eight months ago I invested in Metal Mule panniers and top box as opposed to bike-specific luggage so that I could move the luggage from bike to bike. Metal Mule were considerably more expensive than Zega and other alternatives at the time but I was prepared to pay a premium for powder coated luggage and it helped that Metal Mule is local to me.

I now want to mount my Metal Mule topbox and panniers on my new F650GS, but the prices have gone through the roof in the last four months:

- top box rack was £91.99, now £118.99 an increase of £27.00 (30%)
- pannier rails were £229.99, now £299.99, an increase of £70 (30%)

I told Paul today that I was really aggrieved about this but he refuses to move on price and I feel like I'm over the barrel.

So I started looking at alternatives. The list price of the BMW vario panniers, pannier rails and key-coded locks is £543 and most people will be able to get 10% off this making the price £488. So why on earth should I pay Metal Mule £300 for a set of pannier rails when I can get the whole caboodle from BMW for £488?

I won't make the decision whilst I'm still fuming, I'll sleep on it first.

Tim
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  #5  
Old 29 Jun 2008
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Wink Worth it
Hi,
Metal mule may seem expensive, but they are tough! My right hand pannier took off the nose of a Toyota that pulled out in front of me in Malaysia. I then bashed it back into shape and refitted it no problem(even with 1 bracket wiped off and the others bent!) As they say" you pays your money and takes your choice". and there are worse choices than M/Mule!

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