Dry duffel bag instead of top case
 

Hey!

As I am riding more and more gravel and light off-road, I need to change my Givi Maxia 52l top box for a soft dry bag. Here is my criteria: needs to be top loading, at least 50cm wide, quality product not some Chinese knock-off. There are a lot of options out there, so I narrowed it down to these 3:

1. SW-Motech Tailbag Drybag Medium 35L
http://shop.sw-motech.com/cosmoshop/...2465-24509.jpg

Size: 55x30 cm
Capacity: 38,811L (Calculated)

Pros:
- Hi-Viz yellow

Cons:
- Possible flapping of carry handles in the wind while riding

Price: 60€ (66€ delivered)

2. Enduristan Tornado M 32L
http://www.enduristan.com/typo3temp/pics/c80b6c6682.jpg

Size: 53x27cm
Capacity: 30,345 (Calculated)

Pros:
- No flapping handle

Cons:
- No reviews of the bag, like no one is using them
- Smaller size than advertised

Price: 65€ (77€ delivered)

3. Wolfman Expedition Dry Duffel - Small 33L
http://www.wolfmanluggage.com/images...m_Yel_a_lg.jpg

Size: 51x29cm
Capacity: 33,687L (Calculated)

Pros:
- A lot of happy users
- A lot of add-on parts
- Repair kit available

Cons:
- Possible flapping of carry handles in the wind while riding
- Price

Price: 99€ (112€ delivered)
--------------------------------------

In this bag I will have my camping gear: tent, ground sheet, sleeping bag and mat,...

Is anyone using any of these bags and can comment on them? If you had to chose one, which one would it be and why.

I will buying one as soon as I sell my Givi case.

Thanks for your help!

They all look good. I always stick to the original, and often the best...

Ortlieb Motorcycle rackpack.

Lots of colours and sizes available.

Ortlieb Rack Pack - 49 Litre


I think they are even doing one with a one way compression valve to get it really small too.

I've got the enduristan I chose it because it matched vmy panniers. But as far as a dry bag goes having ridden in torrential rain a few times with it it works, which is the main thing. and design means it straps down easily. Really as long as a dry bag keeps your gear dry what more do you worry about.

Sent from my GT-I9295 using Tapatalk

I have used the XL Ortlieb one for my trip around the world where as now I use the smaller Enduristan one.

The fabric is more less the same but the Ortlieb one seems a bit thicker. Nevertheless, both bags are very good.

Have used both, I would advice to buy the Enduristan one. Reason being, it only has one handle to carry which makes it easier to handle. Plus it has incorporated a lot of gear loops which the Ortlieb is missing. These are good for fixing it to the bike or fix additional gear to the bag. And all the buckles are the same and they seem to be stronger than the ones on the Ortlieb.

CA 266 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/claudio...57632842585319

Greets

Claudio

You might want to check out Lomo. This 40 litre version is a mere £21.


Their biker's rucksack was voted a best buy by Ride magazine and every owner I've ever met says they are the best bit of kit. They're cheap because they're sold to divers who good cheap kit and won't pay the premium that adventure motorcycling seems to attract.

My ortbieb has a handle... :confused:

Actually... it has two Ted.. ahem....doh...:smiliex:

Ghostie- might be worth remembering that yellow attracts insects.

I spotted this today which I thought was quite a good idea, it's a double ended dry bag so that you can get to the stuff at the bottom HERE

The cheaper ones do work well. I've got a few of them.

However, the Ortlieb ones are about twice as thick and made of a thick almost Vinyl material where the cheaper ones are not. They all keep the water out just the same but I've found the cheaper ones tend to wear thin and start failing where your straps are or where they're dragged along the floor etc.

I use a 65L Caribee Kakoda. Brilliant bag, cheap, tough, waterproof, and zips open. fits my tent, pillow, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, gas cooker and a bunch of co2 canisters.

Thanks for all the useful information. I guess enduristan is in the lead at the moment and those double sided dry bags look practical for my non-waterprof paniers :thumbup1:

To an extent I'd agree but it does seem that bags marketed at bikers has a premium slapped on them compared bags aimed at the watersports community like Lomo or Overboard. I've got both and the fabric used is thicker than that used for my Enduristan panniers.

A way to tell is to compare weights if possible obviously heavier = thicker (usually). Watch out too for the much thinner bags which are designed to go inside other bags. Very useful in their own right but far flimsier.

I have an overboard! Well i think that is what they are called and it is brilliant.

RRP is around 60-70

I got it from a company off ebay for 33 inc postage. Brand new. Its ace!

I took one of these to Europe this year, it pissed down nearly every day, by day 3 no one apart from me had dry anything, they are very well built,(the company make all there products for water based sports so what do you expect).

louis 1

louis 2

I have the louis 1 and its bombproof...

I have the "large" Ortlieb Rack Pack. Nice and strong and coped well with some very wet days.

The material is easily patched; it's the same as used for curtain-side lorries so you'd be able to get a repair done at any transport workshop. It welds pretty good using an eating knife warmed on a camping stove; just hold the knife under the patch to melt the vinyl and press together.

I've had the Louis sponsor bag, all though its not been rtw it has survived the last 10 years. I think I got my 5€ worth. ;)
I think regardless of how much a bag costs I would still have everything that needs to stay dry in dry bags. Belt and braces

sent from my thingy, using whatchamacallit

As mentioned already the thick vinyl bags are easier to repair and less likely to need a repair in the first place. Gaffa tape will stick to them for a short/medium term fix. Don't worry about flapping handles as you be strapping these bags down and the handles can always be tucked away. You will be thankful for a handle if you ever need to carry it along with helmet etc...

Thanks for all the advices:clap:, I have managed to find a buyer for my top-case and hopefully I will be able to sell it in the next week or two:thumbup1:.

Meanwhile I have been researching rack designs as the KLE's rack is kinda small. Still have to find a design I like and than have it laser cut out of 4-6mm aluminium.
http://shrani.si/f/12/OZ/4jKtOODK/rack-size.jpg

Giant Loop's Double Ended Dry Bags
 

For your respectful consideration: Giant Loop's double-ended dry bags. Access gear from either end without removing bag from bike. Full disclosure: This is my company, and I'd like to encourage you all who participate in this forum to support the companies that make motorcycle-specific products for motorcyclists. It benefits motorcycle riders by stimulating innovation in our industry.:thumbup1:
http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media/...jpg?1379553975

What Ted said. Ortlieb 49l. Been all over with it, handles an' all and its still waterproof despite having a hole in the bottom. :clap:

Thanks for all the suggestions :clap::clap:
I guess it will come down to Ortlieb or Enduristan. Though 49L is a bit to much for me.

Can you suggest how big my luggage plate should be? At the moment the design is 400mmx300mmx6mm, with a lot of strap points and holes for rotopax 1 galon fule pack.

Here is a picture of the design, the red-ish line represents a rotopax pack
http://shrani.si/f/2T/ZD/1SiQ1rcy/plate.jpg

Short summary of my view on the matter. Last week I received my Ortlieb 85L! duffle bag, pretty sturdy with daisy chain and all. It is a big bag, probably too big but I though it would be easier to push access air out of the too large bag rather than push access baggage into a too small bag! I can stash all luggage in 3 bags now. In case of unpacking the bike to a hotel room, put the Ortlieb on my back (it has back pack straps) and a pannier lining bags in each hand. The bag is big enough to also stash my day pack and stash food and groceries for longer stays in the field. All in one bag, seemed convenient to me.

For carrying the bag I made a small rack, 16mm tubular steel, rack size 55cm x 25cm with cross bars, bolted on the original rear fender rack. The bag is expensive but the rack, home made, was not even 10 Euro!

Cheers,
Noel

I have a large ortlieb duffle too. Used it all over south america. Best thing about it is that you set the size yourself with how much you pack and roll it. Very versatile. However, being a tube, its harder to pack (think packing a tent away), and you often have to empty it to get what you want like a rucksac.

The ortlieb rack packs are GREAT because they have a large top opening, making them easy to pack/unpack.. The flat base sits nice on a pillion seat and the handles make It easy to carry.

And the 49l one should get away as airline carry-on luggage. Be it with a raised eyebrow on occasion.

I'm very happy with my recently acquired Wolfman 40l roll bag. Looks and feels bombproof- very thick vinyl material and handy D rings for lashing to the bike securely and adding more packs if need be. Opens nice and wide so easy to pack. Made up a couple of custom straps to keep things neat, fits well on my Rugged Roads rack plate.

http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/u...n/PA150071.jpg

I actually don't have the rack pack which is a roll bag but a real duffle, with a zipper (water tight) It's 85L which seems big but its not much bigger than the bag on the beemer above! And it has back pack straps which is a big bonus I think.
Attachment 11036

I agree. I own one of those huge Lomos for all my kayaking junk but would never use it on a bike and expect it to keep the stuff dry over a day of heavy rain.

Here's another rack pack suggestion: Watershed Chattooga dry bag.
They claim 30L which may be possible, perhaps more like 25L. I can get my tent, bag and mat in there, so all up no more than 4-5kg weight hung out back.
Tough PU 'hard-coated' fabric would outlast an Ortlieb on a slide down the road and a fat, rubbery ziplock seal (similar to freezer bags) means it's effectively submersible. Designed for rafting; it will not leak.
I've found in a day of heavy rain riding, water inches it's way past roll-up bags, no matter how tightly done up. A bit OTT for most (I mostly use it for paddling) but if I had a long wet ride lined up - say trans Siberia - I'd be confident this bag out on the back could fall in a few rivers without problems.
Knowing that, you don't need to put contents inside yet more dry bags, just in case (as I used to do). One submersible bag does the job. Rubber seal is a bit of a faff but the way I use it, camping gear gets packed and unpacked once a day at most.

Ch

where can I get one of them?
 

I wish I saw this a few months back, I went and bought a similar bag off ebay for the back on my bike but the plate snapped after a few days, where's best to get one of them?:helpsmilie:

Another Wolfman Duffel fan
 

I've tried lots of top boxes, duffels and top bags. I've shifted luggage around quite a bit on my DR650, trying various hard and soft panniers. Now going full soft all the time.

With camping gear I have a massive duffel. Way too big, must hold 50L easy.
But more room than I need ... this $35 usd bag came apart after just ONE
week long camping trip. JUNK! (Cycle Gear) Avoid!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-l...0/P1030370.JPG
Working hard to keep up with the boys on the KTM 950SE's with GIANT POOP
bag on the back.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D...0/P1000220.JPG
I use a simple wood platform. This one is too big. (was for BIG bag shown above, about 28" wide). I will now cut it down for the small Wolfman duffel bag, (33L) which is only 20" wide.

I'm using Nelson-Rigg panniers. Very well made, hold more than I need for solo non camping travel. I got these new from a fellow rider... $100 usd.
I use inner bags with them, at Hotel, just a grab and go. I use small and light Happy Trails racks that allow the panniers to sit very close to the bike but off the HOT pipe. They ride LOW and FORWARD. They pretty much stay put on the roughest trails and have held up well the last year/8,000 miles.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9...0/P1000218.JPG
The Wolfman unrolled and stood up ... man, a lot of room in there! I got ALL my clothing, sandals and MORE .. filled it half way.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-f...0/P1000224.JPG
Easy to mount up securely and quick off ... and since I use clear bags for stuff, I have a way to organize internally ... and SEE contents and get to it quickly.

Opening bag is easier than expected. I hate fiddly bags. My only complaint here is TOO MANY straps. After a few trips ... I will simply CUT OFF the ones I don't use or don't need. So far, after having the duffel off and on several times, loading it up and unloading it ... it is a pure delight and much better than expected. This is the small size... and it holds a ton!
Remember, this is my NON camping bag. For camping I would go up one size to hold tent, pad, sleeping bag plus all clothing.

With this set up my main panniers are not even half full. Lots of spare room. Now I have to resist overloading with junk I don't need. :nono:
The panniers will hold:
1. a few tools that don't fit in my tool tube (extra tire iron)
2. Spare tubes (2)
3. Toilet kit, meds, Medical kit
4. Tow strap
5. bike cover
6. quick access Merino wool sweater and syn T shirt, rain pants, spare gloves
7. Hand heaters, Ear plugs, Zip ties, Chargers, camera and phone stuff
8. Bike elec. kit, nut/bolt kit, bike odds and ends
9. Maps held in flat inner pocket in panniers
10. Tea kit/cup/sugar (No stove)

Hey!

As I am riding more and more gravel and light off-road, I need to change my Givi Maxia 52l top box for a soft dry bag. Here is my criteria: needs to be top loading, at least 50cm wide, quality product not some Chinese knock-off. There are a lot of options out there, so I narrowed it down to these 3:

1. SW-Motech Tailbag Drybag Medium 35L
http://shop.sw-motech.com/cosmoshop/...2465-24509.jpg

Size: 55x30 cm
Capacity: 38,811L (Calculated)

Pros:
- Hi-Viz yellow

Cons:
- Possible flapping of carry handles in the wind while riding

Price: 60€ (66€ delivered)

2. Enduristan Tornado M 32L
http://www.enduristan.com/typo3temp/pics/c80b6c6682.jpg

Size: 53x27cm
Capacity: 30,345 (Calculated)

Pros:
- No flapping handle

Cons:
- No reviews of the bag, like no one is using them
- Smaller size than advertised

Price: 65€ (77€ delivered)

3. Wolfman Expedition Dry Duffel - Small 33L
http://www.wolfmanluggage.com/images...m_Yel_a_lg.jpg

Size: 51x29cm
Capacity: 33,687L (Calculated)

Pros:
- A lot of happy users
- A lot of add-on parts
- Repair kit available

Cons:
- Possible flapping of carry handles in the wind while riding
- Price

Price: 99€ (112€ delivered)
--------------------------------------

In this bag I will have my camping gear: tent, ground sheet, sleeping bag and mat,...

Is anyone using any of these bags and can comment on them? If you had to chose one, which one would it be and why.

I will buying one as soon as I sell my Givi case.

Thanks for your help![/QUOTE]

Like Touring Ted I use Otleib Dry Bag for diving Camping & everything between.

Lomo are doing a offer at the moment £40ltr dry bag £15.00 or 20 for get now worth a snout quite a few of the ABR guys used them.

I use the roll toped type as I can see problems with the tube type & doubble open ended, I dont see the point, I can see with doubble ended needing more bags in side & if you for get where or which side of the bag well you get the pic the roll top dry has quite a large mouth to rummage in & rolls down as small as it needs to be, if you get the big one & dont need all the space roll it up some more

check this
ORTLIEB Produkt-Details
But it's expensive too.

English: http://www.ortlieb.com/_prod.php?lan...=moto_rackpack

I see no prices on the site.

A top box to me is the worst form of luggage. It puts the weight high up, at the worst place for stress on the sub-frame, and it is not flexible for luggage size.

A dry bag tied on with a cargo net and straps is better, mounted on pillion seat behind you, with another non-waterproof bag to hold things you may need to access on the road, like tubes, small compressor, tyre levers etc. The dry bag rolls closed, becoming smaller with less luggage and forming a handle. it just gets in the way if you swing a leg over the bike, but if you are fit and flexible it is possible without standing on the pegs. Be careful your boot or sharp objects dont catch and make holes in it. Also, invariable you have to unpack the whole thing each night as something is always at the bottom.

Recently Ive gone over to panniers. I don't like that rattle on gravel roads, but since I sometimes take my son pillion the dry bag option is not possible. It looks neater but gives you that awful C&E look :eek3: They also reduce your ability to filter. But they do distribute the weight low down and allow easier access to your stuff. Also, all your stuff is safe and locked up

Riding solo Im still tempted to go with my old dry roll bag and the hobo look.

Dry bag and net, hard or soft panniers, each has advantages and disadvantages. I cant see any advantage from a top box, especially on gravel and rough roads.

I have the 40 litre LOMO dry bag. For 20 quid it's a no brainer..... Delivered to my door in two days. Excellent performance and robust to boot.

Soft Luggage
 

Soft Luggage......It works.....

Eat , Drink and Stay Dry or Wet

xfiltrate

I've done multiple tours with the Lidl and Aldi 40l dry bags. Never had a problem with them wearing or getting damaged and of course my gear always stayed dry.

I now need something larger and was considering the 60l Lomo, but they only do it Yellow (eugh), so as much I'd love to support Lomo, I'm now looking at the 70l Q-bag. A buddy of mine took a 40l one of these around Morocco and it served him well.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...XL._SX342_.jpg

Your choice?
 

What would your choice be?

The ortlieb 85 liter duffle. I have some doubts about the zipper but it has a ip67 qualification and cordura bottom.https://www.ortlieb.com/wp-content/t...arge/k1471.jpgor the 90 liter waterproof overboard (or any other suggestions)? IP 66 and I like the roll closing system. It's heavier but I have some doubt about the durability compared to the ortlieb material wise.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...YL._SX522_.jpg

90L is huge... Orlieb do a 55L which when full is already very big. Think of the weight distribution. The big 90l bags will also be hard to store on the bike. They are too wide and sag a lot.

Hey Ted!

Iagree, 90 or 85 liter is huge. If it will be to huge, that's the question.

I'm planning a trip to kenia and find it hard to estimate how much room I need. With only 2x10 liter as sidebags, a 11 liter tankbag I think I will need it. My thought is that I rather have to much bag than to much luggage. I'm trying to go minimalistic (that's more difficult than packing everything that I can think of).

But apart from the size, what do you think quality or up to the job wise?

Luc

Ortlieb and equivalents are tough bags. Up to the job for sure. But my point was that they don't like to be bent and creased. That's when they could let you down. Where are you planning on on putting the dry bag ?

And why such small side bags ?

IMO, Ted's got it right. Both 85 or 90 liter Duffel bags are H U G E!

My advice would be to fill up the 90 ltr. bag ... now attach to your bike and see how you like it. Too heavy?

If your top bag is ONLY bag you carry .. maybe it is OK for you? If you have room on your rear rack. No way to fit that monster duffel bag on my DR650.

I have a 35 ltr. Roll Top Wolfman bag. It's good but a PITA to get see what is at bottom of the bag. Holds A TON of stuff!
I use with panniers, never fill it. 50 liters more than enough for me, always room to spare, but I work hard to pack light.

I prefer ZIPPER top bag. Easier to find things quickly in your duffel bag. No digging around. I would go with Zipper bag ... but a smaller size bag. I'm sure Ortleib zipper will not leak ... no need for roll top type. A pain. (IMO!)

https://patricksphotos.smugmug.com/p...-SX2Hccz-L.jpg
My Wolfman Duffel bag (less than half full) used with 35 liter panniers.

https://patricksphotos.smugmug.com/M...P1030370-L.jpg
Here is a 65 liter bag I used on one ride. TOO BIG! Look how ridiculous it looks on my DR650. (black bike) Bad choice.

I agree that 90L is twice as big as practical, even alongside the bike.
A typical travel bike's entire baggage needs would cover that volume.

I'd go for roll-top not that Tizip. I have one on a drysuit. It works but is overkill for a moto bag (as opposed to rafting) and needs greasing, cleaning and careful use. And when it jams or breaks you're stuck.

Roll top is maintenance-free, can't break and can adjust for volume changes.

Overboard feels like cheaper, heavier PVC than Ortlieb TPU.
I'd go for full PVC/TPU shell - easier to repair than a Cordura panel.

Tnx guys, that's useful info. I will get a smaller bag.

My preferred setup on my 2011 650 vstrom is the altrider hempishere saddelbag (without the original innerbag) and put 2 drybags in it. Only problem is that it will be sticking out to much if I go over 10 liter. Putting a duffle bag on top of it will be difficult:

http://wachs.smugmug.com/photos/i-C8...C8QDgTg-XL.jpg

I like the concept of not needing any sideracks and go as minimal as possible, in theory. In real life I find it hard to estimate if I will have enough space to carry all my essentials. That's where your expertise comes in.

I would like to put the dufflebag just behind the saddlebag and build my own luggagerack (a bit like mollydogs!)

Which full PVC/TPU shell duffle/bag would you recommend?

The 55L Ortlieb rackpack is a very good bag. The best in my opinion .

I have got the 89ltr Ortlieb Rack Pack and yes it is big....but I have all my camping gear in it, tent and footprint, sleeping bag, roll mat, walking boots and cold weather gear and it is working great. It has all stayed bone dry. I do not find it a problem on the bike nor the length an issue.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5823/...e236683c_c.jpgUntitled by Wayne 66, on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/697/2...5c2a3e70_c.jpgIMG_1149 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

Wayne

I use a medium Wolfman duffel. I like the mounting loops which help stop the bag moving if you thread the straps through them and as the upper loops are doubled up you can easily strap another bag on top if you need to, and the handles velcro together so don't flap. Very thick material.

Get some Moskos. On and off the bike like hard panniers, but you can cinch them down like soft, so no rattles.

http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/u...P4240121_1.jpg

The large bags do work okay if you have those big metal boxes to spread them over.

They do have the all the weight high and rear though which is not ideal.

Bigger, heavier bikes handle this better. You would certainly feel the difference on a smaller, lighter bike though. Especially off-road.

Ideally you want your weight as close to the centre of gravity as possible. The pillion seat is usually the best bet and that's where a 55L ortlieb sits best.

Dry duffel bag instead of top case
 

I use a 31lt Ortieb - agree with others anything over 50 is massive. I only put bedding, sleeping bag, clothes and riding thermals in there. Anything else is too heavy to be that high up and far back. I also like keeping these items separate from fuel stoves, tools, etc which go in my saddle bag. I have a 8lt tank bag for bits and bobs.

Few weeks ago, got the Moskomoto http://www.moskomoto.com Backcountry Duffle (40l).

The Moskomoto Backcountry Duffle (40l) is very solid and really like the beavertail feature as easy to stash & carry a decent size chain lock and nylon biker cover or other gear with easy access = http://www.moskomoto.com/collections...40-rear-duffle

Completely agree. I have the very same bag - great value for money and totally waterproof.

My 1150GS came with System panniers & top-box. I've never liked placing weight high and rearward on a bike. I don't use the top-box.

For a trip of 5000-6000km in mind for the future (60-70% road, 30-40% light off-road, 50/50 camping/B&B), I'm pretty set on replacing the System panniers with aluminium cases, to have a simple luggage set-up:

- Aluminium panniers (locking)
- Waterproof bag on passenger seat.
- Waterproof tank bag.

No extra bags on top of the panniers, and nothing on the luggage rack.

In my theoretical planning, I've arrived on the idea of packing stuff I'd take into a hotel/B&B in the soft bags (clothes, toiletries, tech, valuables), and leaving everything else (that doesn't need to come into a hotel/B&B) in the panniers (tent, sleeping gear, cooking gear, tools, spares).

It seems more common to do the reverse, but that seems more faffy to me, primarily because you must take your camp gear (in the soft bag) in with you for security reasons.

I'm pretty sure I'll mount the drybag longitudinally on the passenger seat/luggage rack, most likely removing the passenger seat and passenger grab-handle for the trip to facilitate this. Mounting the bag long-ways will mean there'll be no interference with opening the pannier lids.

All the bags mentioned, and a few others, are on my radar. I want something like the top-loading Ortleib Rack Packs, rather than an end-loading tube-type, and somewhere around 30-40 litres max.

The only tank bag I can find now that looks to be properly waterproof (hate the faff of needing to carry and fit a waterproof cover for rain) is the Givi GRT705 - expensive, but waterproof and simple.

If I let my OCD take control, I might consider the matching GRT703 40L bag, but it's way dearer than the equivalent Ortleib Rack Pack, or Givi's own WP400, so as I've never been a money-no-option kinda guy, maybe not...

I see those Q-Bag bags on websites for great prices, and they might be worth looking at, but I can't find many reviews online, and I'd be reluctant to take a chance that my dancing clothes won't be dry when I hit town...


Mark

Lomo dry bag panniers FTW except vs. chipmunks
 

I have a pair of Lomo dry bag motorcycle panniers that I love. I used them for a couple of months in the summer of 2024 on a cross-country (USA) motorcycle trip. They were great.

They never leaked. They were easy to pack and set up on the bike.

The only problem was that one very aggressive chipmunk chewed a hole in the bag that contained my food one morning while I went to the out house. Fortunately, the hole is in a part of the bag that isn't exposed when I roll the top closed.

That was the only time in the trip when I wanted hard cases, even in bear country.