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17 Feb 2008
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Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Dreaming of travelling and riding bikes in general..
Posts: 445
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Metal Mule Destruction Test
I've just got back from a trip UK 2 South Africa and I honestly have tested my MULES to destruction! I crashed numerous times in sand, tarmac and mud incl a fast sand crash that popped the left mule off it's rack and bent the pannier badly off-square. I just adjusted the grabmechanism and it went back on securely.
I also crashed in Angola, twice heavily and one of those involved a collision with a scooter out on the piste. Both times the same mule got ripped off and both times it could be reattached without extra bits or welding.
The rack is another story. The R&D on the racks varies enormously between say a BMW and Africa Twin. The quality is the same good standard but the position of the transverse support that goes around the rear wheel is different and can compromise the strength of the rack. Mine broke and I can clearly see why from what is being asked of the Africa Twin one.
ANSWER: Yes, I would buy METAL MULE again. The panniers are brilliant. The attachment system is EXCELLENT. The rack varies but just looking at it tells me how I can strengthen mine for my next trip - I'll keep it. 
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19 Feb 2008
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Registered Users
New on the HUBB
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Singapore
Posts: 10
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Has anyone tried the KTM boxes?
The KTM alu boxes (KTM KOFFERTRÄGERSYSTEM) look good in the catalogue, but no-one on here seems to mention them - has anyone tried them, and if so, are they any good?
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19 Feb 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffL
The KTM alu boxes (KTM KOFFERTRÄGERSYSTEM) look good in the catalogue, but no-one on here seems to mention them - has anyone tried them, and if so, are they any good?
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Geoff,
This is the Touratech system. When I had my 640 a few years back you could not buy these from TT, had to buy them via KTM UK.
The boxes are 1.5 mm and while are well designed, locks and lid seals are good. the mounting arrangement is poor, takes up to much room inside the box and after the paint wears off the rack there is no way to take up the extra clearence. Both my boxes leaked around the bases.
The rack broke a couple of times, and had to be welded, not crash damage just bad roads.
Overall 6 / 10 form over function
Steve
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19 Feb 2008
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Gold Member
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Coventry
Posts: 126
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edteamslr
ANSWER: Yes, I would buy METAL MULE again. The panniers are brilliant. The attachment system is EXCELLENT. The rack varies but just looking at it tells me how I can strengthen mine for my next trip - I'll keep it.
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Take a look at the Touratech Rack it has an extra brace at the rear which mounts under the mudguard on the XRV. Instructions on this page show it best.
Touratech UK Webshop
I will fit TT rack and depending how this thread goes MM panniers. Metal Mule are releasing a Version 2 in March with small improvements to mounts.
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27 Feb 2008
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Registered Users
HUBB regular
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Sussex, UK
Posts: 80
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DarrenM
Take a look at the Touratech Rack it has an extra brace at the rear which mounts under the mudguard on the XRV. Instructions on this page show it best.
Touratech UK Webshop |
That's slightly better than the MM one, but will probably fail in the same way, it's the same basic shape...
__________________
brighton2expeditions
'02 Africa Twin (sold), GSX-R 1000 K5 (sold), '97 TL1000S, '08 DRZ400 SM/S, '92 CRM250
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5 Mar 2008
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Registered Users
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Denmark - Copenhagen
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Just a question:
Has anyone just fitted their alupanniers with relatively thin stainless steel nuts and bolts?
The idea is that you dont take the panniers off (have an insert bag or something) and if you crash the nuts will break off and afterwards you just put in some new ones?
This would minimize damage to pannier, rack and you.
Downside is that you can't easily take the panniers off.
What do ppl think?
__________________
Peter Kongsbak
South East Asia, USA, Central and South America and Scandinavia.
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5 Mar 2008
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Contributing Member
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,680
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It all depends on how many bolts you intend on using and where you place them.
A smaller bolt will obviously break before a fat one but i guess 4 smaller bolts half the size of 2 larger bolts will spread the load more evenly. In my experience, the fixings tend to rip out of the softer aluminium box rather than the steel frame so a smaller but will cause less damage.
If you never intend of removing your boxes then 16 well placed smaller bolts would be stronger 4 fat ones.
Just take into consideration that you may HAVE to remove your boxes at times to squeeze through pay booths, car parks and hotel front doors 
Quote:
Originally Posted by peter-denmark
Just a question:
Has anyone just fitted their alupanniers with relatively thin stainless steel nuts and bolts?
The idea is that you dont take the panniers off (have an insert bag or something) and if you crash the nuts will break off and afterwards you just put in some new ones?
This would minimize damage to pannier, rack and you.
Downside is that you can't easily take the panniers off.
What do ppl think?
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__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
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Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
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