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Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? Anything to do with the bikes equipment, saddlebags, etc. Questions on repairs and maintenance of the bike itself belong in the Brand Specific Tech Forums.
Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  #16  
Old 19 Feb 2002
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Hi Vincent,

I use the HG (tuareg large) on an Africa Twin. It's straped on with 6(!!) straps. I think it's bomb-proof
All bags come loose with a zipper.
I like it a lot.
Like Grant say's, with the side bag's you can put heavy stuff low and upfront.

Maarten
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  #17  
Old 19 Feb 2002
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Who makes those 'heel' bags (see photograph above)?

I've not seen them before - are they any good?

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  #18  
Old 20 Feb 2002
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The heel bags I BELIEVE are Aerostich, as are the side tank bags. And yes the quality is excellent.

No comment on the VP45, the pic on their site is so bad I have no idea.

To my mind the way to decide what size bag is to decide what you want to put in it, determine it's size, toss it all in a day pack and carry it around for the afternoon, preferably after a hard days work. Then decide if you REALLY want to have to carry it all whenever you're off the bike.

Rethink what you want to put in it, then decide how big a tank bag you need.

Anything heavy goes in the knee pockets/side tank bags.

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  #19  
Old 27 Feb 2002
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Quote:
Originally posted by Grant Johnson:

No comment on the VP45, the pic on their site is so bad I have no idea.
Here's a better picture from the VP45 on my KTM. The topbag is in low position, and can be raised by a zipper.

http://home.planet.nl/~freekkno/page19.html

Freek
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quote code fixed by Grant

[This message has been edited by Grant Johnson (edited 26 February 2002).]
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  #20  
Old 27 Feb 2002
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Ok, thanks Freek, as tankbags go it doesn't look bad for height imho. IF you plan on travelling with it in the low position, good. Raise it when you buy food for the evening only, and it seems pretty reasonable. Always nice to have that expansion option.

We have always had at least one daypak available that can be attached to the topbox, for the same purpose.

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  #21  
Old 27 Feb 2002
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Can't find the 'heel' bags in the Aerostitch catalogue - help!

Are they in there, hidden away somewhere? Or does someone else make them?

Any suggestions welcome...

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  #22  
Old 28 Feb 2002
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Fuzzy, If they are the same application as he used on a KLR outfit, the "heelbags" are just a set of tank panniers with the strap run underneath the seat and the bags resting on the passenger pegs and ziptied to the frame. They aren't a separate catalog item. Just make sure that the back side of any bag near the exhaust has heat protection. (see article in March motorcycle consumer news if you can find one.)
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  #23  
Old 2 Mar 2002
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Cheers Steve

I think you're right - a closer look shows they are similar, but not exactly the same as the tank panniers. They seem to have the corner sloped to stop it interfering with his feet. Thinking about it, I'm not sure I'd like the idea of too much lugguage around my feet - perhaps I should just pack less...


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  #24  
Old 2 Mar 2002
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Hi Guys

Have used the wolfman explorer and also the Touratech tank bag.

I did not like the wolfman too high moved too much and the quality was not as good as touratech.

Have also travelled with a Hein Gericke magnet tank bag which was ok for road use.

I am please with the Touratch but as Grant says keep them light (I keep my documents, camera and valuables in Mine).

I have a friend who's using the throw over tank bags in morrocco at present, He ended up getting additional brackets fitted bu overland solutions as he found that they moved. But looked like a good piece of kit though.

I think it will depend on what type of riding your doing too as the smaller the better for off road.

One to note, the wolfman would switch the kill switch off on full lock on my r100 so be careful.

Julio
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  #25  
Old 4 Mar 2002
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hi,
the hg tuareg tank bags look great
they are cheaper than others too
they have a 15-25l pocket on top + also have 2 pockets on the sides of the tank
are they strong ?
any experience ?
on the catalog, they say there may be a problem with the r100gs oilcooler fixed on the cylinder protection bar, don't know what they mean ?

thanks
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  #26  
Old 4 Mar 2002
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In my opinion they are strong. I use it for a year now( on and off-road), and it still looks new, without any damages.
They are not waterproof. I made (with a hot needle) a gap in the lowest part of the bags, so that water can drop out.
I use plastic bags inside to keep everything dry.
for the topbag I have a raincover.

Freek (Netherlands)
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  #27  
Old 5 Mar 2002
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thanks freek
so hg is not a bad solution :-)
i'll take care for waterproof too
do you have the large one or normal size ?
on which bike ?
how do you attach the side bags : zip to the tank bag or strap independant to the tank ?
they say something about bmw r100 gs for the side bags : i worry about that if i should buy zip or strap thing ???

thanks
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  #28  
Old 6 Mar 2002
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sorry, you where talking about the Tuareg and I about the Touratech.

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  #29  
Old 6 Mar 2002
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I have a R1100GS with the 41 litre tank. The VP45 was made for this tank. The base cover straps on to the tank on each corner with a cutout for the fuel filler. The tankbag zippers on to this and the side bags zipper on base cover. The first time I dropped the bike one of the side zippers broke and the bag was useless until I could either repair or replace the zipper. I ended up sewing the side bag onto the base cover. Hate the side bags. The tankbag didn't come with any stiffeners to make the bag retain it's shape with little inside, blah blah blah.

The next time I'm in Mexico or Guatemala I want to have made a leather tank cover with a matching leather tankbag that is buckled on not zippered. A set of leather side bags(copied from Aerostich's tank panniers)
all waterproofed with something so I don't need a raincover.
Might cost me all of $50

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  #30  
Old 6 Mar 2002
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Vincent,

I recently bought the HG Touareg tankbags. But I am still experimenting with them. The fixation for the top tankbag is really good. Doesn't move at all. I am having the side tankbags reinforced by a shoemaker. I don't trust the way the straps were they hang on are fixed to the bags.
Even with this in mind and the modifications the shoemaker will do it's a lot cheaper then the Touratech material.
Also, the mapholder is a bit small.

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