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17 Jun 2008
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Location: Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland
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There's nothing like small panniers to encourage you to take less stuff, and weight, while not as critical as it is when hiking or cycling, does make a difference to the bikes handling and fuel consumption etc.
My panniers are 36 litres and they are plenty big enough for most trips. To go with them you could buy a large roll top dry bag which can expand to carry extras like the food and stuff when you stop at the supermarket on a camping trip. As you've already done a bit of backpacking, my guess is that you've already got a fair bit of lightweight camping gear, so that should save a bit of space.
You'll probably curse yourself if you buy the smaller panniers the FIRST time you go camping, but once you've been you'll realise that you can leave a lot of what you took behind, and the panniers will suddenly seem big enough.
The old principle that you'll always fill any luggage you take with you (be it a rucksack, snowboard bag, bike panniers or a car boot) always seems bang on the money for me, so it seems to make sense to take small luggage! Remember that you already have a 48 litre top box, if you add two 35 litre panniers to that it's like back packing with 59 litre rucksack each, and that's without adding a roll-top bag or strapping your tent/sleeping mats behind the pillion.
Matt 
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*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!
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17 Jun 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt Cartney
Remember that you already have a 48 litre top box, if you add two 35 litre panniers to that it's like back packing with 59 litre rucksack each, and that's without adding a roll-top bag or strapping your tent/sleeping mats behind the pillion.
Matt |
Yeh that's the problem - I backpacked with a 70L rucksack and a daypack for camera and laptop ;-> And that was with no camping gear....but with some climbing stuff, some trekking stuff etc. I'm pretty happy I can almost get tent, 2 camping mats + bags with stove in the top box. I think I'm swaying to the 37L side boxes and I can buy a top rack for the top box 'just in case'.....the larger boxes will make it like driving a bus and could lead to a lot of scratched cars when leaving town ;->
We had a few people out in Edinburgh for drinks via the edinburgh group last night...shame you missed it.
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18 Jun 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wanderingscotsman
Yeh that's the problem - I backpacked with a 70L rucksack and a daypack for camera and laptop ;-> And that was with no camping gear....but with some climbing stuff, some trekking stuff etc. I'm pretty happy I can almost get tent, 2 camping mats + bags with stove in the top box. I think I'm swaying to the 37L side boxes and I can buy a top rack for the top box 'just in case'.....the larger boxes will make it like driving a bus and could lead to a lot of scratched cars when leaving town ;->
We had a few people out in Edinburgh for drinks via the edinburgh group last night...shame you missed it.
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Fair enough, I've a bit of a 'kitchen sink' tendency myself! My mates are forever laughing at my toolkit (until they need something from it!). To be honest I don't ever ride two up (my lass does road accident cases for her law firm and is reluctant to pillion for some reason...) so I can see why you might need the extra room.
There's an Edinburgh group? Let me know next time you're heading for a pint!
Matt
__________________
http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com
http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/
*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!
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19 Jun 2008
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Join Date: Mar 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt Cartney
Fair enough, I've a bit of a 'kitchen sink' tendency myself! My mates are forever laughing at my toolkit (until they need something from it!). To be honest I don't ever ride two up (my lass does road accident cases for her law firm and is reluctant to pillion for some reason...) so I can see why you might need the extra room.
There's an Edinburgh group? Let me know next time you're heading for a pint!
Matt |
Matt is that an HU Edinburgh group, I wouldnt mind coming along .
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19 Jun 2008
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Me too but it would have to be soon, off on a very badly planned trip in a month  
Oooh and in response to the thread I have a set of MM panniers, a large 40 something and a 37l (I think) and personally I think they are too big for my trip and I am going two up. I would have preferred to have gotten the medium and small panniers, easier for filtering but mainly because I think the less room you have the less you can pack.
Last edited by hobospy; 19 Jun 2008 at 09:29.
Reason: To add my handy hints!
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19 Jun 2008
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I have 45 alu panniers and use them if I am going for long distance trips.
I have Ortlieb bag and I take my topcase and Ortlieb bag if I don't put panniers on.
Personally I would choose 45 L again as you don't have to load them all and it is better to have large ones to not regret when you need them large !
When you have panniers, you keep the center of wight down. With Ortlieb bag, topcase, thing attached on panniers takes the center higher.
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18 Jun 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt Cartney
There's nothing like small panniers to encourage you to take less stuff, and weight, while not as critical as it is when hiking or cycling, does make a difference to the bikes handling and fuel consumption etc.
My panniers are 36 litres and they are plenty big enough for most trips. To go with them you could buy a large roll top dry bag which can expand to carry extras like the food and stuff when you stop at the supermarket on a camping trip. As you've already done a bit of backpacking, my guess is that you've already got a fair bit of lightweight camping gear, so that should save a bit of space.
You'll probably curse yourself if you buy the smaller panniers the FIRST time you go camping, but once you've been you'll realise that you can leave a lot of what you took behind, and the panniers will suddenly seem big enough.
The old principle that you'll always fill any luggage you take with you (be it a rucksack, snowboard bag, bike panniers or a car boot) always seems bang on the money for me, so it seems to make sense to take small luggage! Remember that you already have a 48 litre top box, if you add two 35 litre panniers to that it's like back packing with 59 litre rucksack each, and that's without adding a roll-top bag or strapping your tent/sleeping mats behind the pillion.
Matt |
I agree with this approach. I have 32 litre panniers - it's the smallest I could then get. Backpacking with 70 litres? Sorry, that's outrageous. Change your needs, dont get bigger boxes.
2x32 litres and a rollbag across should really be enough. OK we're all different, but actually I've met overlanding Africa travellers with about 20 litres of baggage.
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19 Jun 2008
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Also agreed, I'm currently using a pair of Andy Strapz canvas panniers and a Ortlieb bag, all secured with Pac-Safes. On my Americas trip, I used Al Jesse boxes, which I liked for the security but were pretty damn heavy. Now I find I'm always thinking of things I don't really need or like anymore and what I can get rid of to cut down on what I'm carrying. The stuff I use on a daily basis is all in the Ortlieb and that includes a sleeping bag I've not even used yet. On my last trip, I made the mistake of carrying a synthetic sleeping bag, now I have a down one which is about half the size. Also, I have one pair of high ankle army boots and one pair of sandles instead of also carrying bike boots.
What ever you go for, definitely get panniers that are narrower than your handlebars, it makes it so much easier in heavy traffic.
And I didn't know there was an Edinburgh HU crew either, I'll have an IPA ta!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caminando
Change your needs, dont get bigger boxes.
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Last edited by MikeS; 19 Jun 2008 at 06:25.
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