Pacsafe
 

Have a look at the Pacsafe range-- tank bag, tail bag, stuff sack all bags have an integrated steel mesh that locks and steel cables to lock to your bike and steel mesh covers for odd shaped articles. These are going to be my next purchase-- soft luggage that you can lock up to your bike.

Cheers
Ian :thumbup1:

Here, here
 

I knew there was a good reason (or 7) why I use soft luggage!!

On the last point, soft luggage automatically "pulls in tight" and holds the contents against bouncing around inside. So, if you are not carrying much then the luggage overall size is smaller.

check out pelican cases. easily as strong as aluminium but much cheaper and much lighter.

Currently in Manauga, Nicaragua and am making my way to Tierra del Fuego. My advice is not to go cheap on panniers. Buy Happy Trails or Jesse bags and you will thank yourself so many times on the trip. I left with the stock bmw plastic side cases and I can not tell you how bad they suck. Trying to close them is such a challenge and you always have to worry about them popping open as you ride. The plastic tabs that hold them on break off and there is not much you can do.

i have had both
 

did europe and aussie with soft bags ,they split ,but i guess just get better ones ,like andys ,did canada to colombia with ali boxes ,happy trails rack fell to bits ,too much off road ,they are farcking dangerous if you do mad shit off road like i like to do, i still have a hole in my leg after 4 month,and i also got pinned under my bike wrenched my knee , but they do offer security for your goodies ,one thing is if you use any sort of hard panniers in my opinion ,wear motocross boots ,end of story .if i didnt i would have no legs left by now i think ,they bite and they bite hard

Yes, but when you pop into a store just a minute to get some food and find your bags slashed and empty you wish you were travelling at least in two...
...that's the smallest size.

But as Dessertstrom said earlier, there are several makers of soft luggage that have stainless steel mesh built into the fabric, and you can buy the same mesh to put on the outside of soft luggage that doesn't have it already. The only things anyone will then get through a hole in the bags is smaller than 2cm!

There are lots of good reasons for hard luggage, I know. I have a bike with Givi panniers (and lost ALL my clothes for a short trip this week when the lid came open!), another with Al Jesse boxes (the best I have ever used or seen in fact) and soft luggage for my other bikes that didn't come with hard luggage. The Jesse boxes are great for packing and unpacking, and for using the lids to work off, but for our big trip, it will be soft luggage. I value my good lady's lower limbs too much. I know she will be coming off more than me.

Regards

Nigel in NZ

Hi Nigel

I am still wrestling with the hard / soft luggage issue. I have bought a DR650 (after much deliberation) but there is very little in the line of luggage available in NZ. I think I have narrowed it down to two options - either Givi cases (E28 and E36) on MW Motech fames (twisted throttle have them but they are quite expensive). This on the whole is quite an expensive option. The alternative is a Givi top box (probably a E36 on the Suzuki rack) with Andy Strapz bags. I like the Andy Strapz bags but I am worried about the security. How do you secure these to the bike so that they do not get stolen when you stop for fuel / lunch? Is there anywhere in NZ where I can get the wire mesh you mention? This is certainly a cheaper option - only need to get the bags and have brackets made to keep the bags off the bike. How do you stop the bags from sliding around?

Peter

Some details and stuff
 

Hi Peter.
Givi cases.... some people have had them and love them, others have has problems on really hard roads/long trips. Personally, I think they are ok PROVIDED you check:
1) They are clipped on properly! They don't always lock on as they should.

2) They are shut properly. Sometimes they seem shut and they aren't. I lost ALL my clothes this week from a side pannier that flipped open while riding through Lewis Pass.

If you use the E36 as a topbox (and I probably would; I have one) then also take a supply of the little rubber bumpers that they sit on as these tend to disappear somehow and they are important to maintain tension on the lock-down clip. On balance, I'd be happy to use one as a topbox but probably not as a sidebox, as they are not robust enough to handle a big hit on the road.

I know it's always a concern about security, and it may just be my lax attitude, but I'm not so concerned. I have never had luggage broken into except at Havana Airport (THREE TIMES out of four trips!!). With a big locking topbox for the vital stuff, for me I can replace pretty much everything in the sidebags on the road. Sure, it would piss me off if someone cut a hole and tea-leafed my gear, but on balance, the total amount of hassle of covering the sidebags for the whole trip is probably more hassle. Tools and spares are in a locking box that doubles as engine protection, under the front of the motor. Keeps the weight low too.

With soft bags, it's pretty easy to fabricate something to keep them off the back wheel. A bar around the back to connect both side frames is very important for strength without lots of weight. I have plans to get a long "tube" of material stitched to the back of each bag, so a steel rod can be slid though to steel eyes each end and a small padlock used to secure to the frame. This will stop them moving around too. PM me if you want more details.

As for the steel mesh, I can't remember where I have seen it, but it was somewhere like Katmandu Outdoor, Bivouac or R&R Sport. Google "Outdoor equipment" and email the likely ones.

Hope this helps!

Kind regards

Nigel in Rangiora

Fastrax Dowco Bags - Soft
 

Check out this link:
http://www.partsmag.com/0702/pdf-070..._040_Dowco.pdf

My wife and I both have a set of these bags. They are awesome. They zip open and expand, have a ton of compartments and have hoods zipped in to the back of each piece to make them water proof.

Just curious to see others oppinions on this luggage. May use these on our rtw trip.

Best :scooter:

Erek & Candice

Hi,

I personally prefer hard boxes, they tend to hold more and as previously mentioned, are a bit more secure (although probably not much).

I once made smallish panniers for my enfield out of 1mm mild steel, which I then had powder coated. They didn't rust at all, were quite strong and not ridiculously heavy. Instead of welding (which I can't do) I pop riveted them together, which forms a very strong join and also helps to stiffen up the box as the joins are double thickness. Surprisingly, getting things caught on the sticking out rivet ends was never a problem.

Matt

Mr. Marx,

With soft bags, it's pretty easy to fabricate something to keep them off the back wheel. A bar around the back to connect both side frames is very important for strength without lots of weight. I have plans to get a long "tube" of material stitched to the back of each bag, so a steel rod can be slid though to steel eyes each end and a small padlock used to secure to the frame. This will stop them moving around too. PM me if you want more details.


Just curious to see if you had further details on the above info.

Best,

Erek

Sorry, didn't quote that correctly.

Erek

Mules
 

Just back from Africa in Feb (UK to CapeTown). Took metal mules and large ones at that on my africa twin. I crashed pretty heavily a number of times and the box always went back on (with some persuading) but they now look very munched and it has been an expensive luxury when cheaper softbags would have been fine. Its a fine line too with the protection of hardcases in a spill because you may find your leg getting fed under the box rather than just sliding clear. I've seen them help and hinder.

If I was doing it again I would take Andy Strapz. I would also take less stuff! I agree with the previous post on 'percieved security' as the locks really aren't that tough if you have a screwdriver.

I went the metal mules as well on the previous trip, but didn't really like the brackets very well. The locking bit couldn't be tightened enough to stop them coming off in even minor spills.

I still prefere hard luggage, but really skinny ones with a 45 degree chamfer on the bottom and the front like Jessy has.

Haven't really gotten under the mules though. We take it pretty easy, as nothing would last if you'd go trail riding with all that crap, but we had the habit to pull the legs up to the chest. Mind you, we didn't have much dirt experience back than, so not sure what instinct would tell us now. Find out I suppose.

2cm cuts are enough to ruin down gear and clothes. Plus they might go at it hard with the knife because of the mesh in an attempt to cut it leaving the fabric all slashed any you ending up with a mesh only.