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25 Mar 2011
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Belgium
Posts: 54
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Well, I'll be on the road for 6 months, cape to caïro trip. Most of the time I will be camping and I am planning to ride some dirt roads. Good thing is that I am a champ in travelling light. Don't need much. Tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bag, stove and pot, minimum of clothes, and some spare parts. Think it will all fit on the back of my bike. I want the bike as light as possible, even if it means leaving some gadgets at home. The less stuff you have, the less to worry about, no? And I can't imagine that riding a bike that looks and weighs like an icecream truck is really pleasant. Specially if you have to sit and ride on it for half a year. Going to look further into tailbag choice...
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26 Mar 2011
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Calgary AB
Posts: 1,028
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zjwannie
The less stuff you have, the less to worry about, no?
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Well done. You keep hitting the nail on the head. I think Giant Loop is for you. It's designed by desert riders in the US that developed the loop idea from a roll bag over the seat. Follow guys like Wachs and Hodakaguy on ADVrider.com. They've got it down pat.
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26 Mar 2011
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Join Date: Jun 2008
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I have a Highlander Forces 95 Ruck Sack that can hold most of my gear. I just bungee it to the back of the bike and away you go. If I ever leave the bike I unstrap it and carry the bag on my back. For longer journeys I have a lockable top box.
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26 Mar 2011
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Contributing Member
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,680
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tmotten
Well done. You keep hitting the nail on the head. I think Giant Loop is for you. It's designed by desert riders in the US that developed the loop idea from a roll bag over the seat. Follow guys like Wachs and Hodakaguy on ADVrider.com. They've got it down pat.
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I love the giant loop idea too...
Can anyone confirm the waterproofing though ?? Someone on here (cant remember who) said theirs leaked !!
Something to do with water gathering around the zips or something..
That's something not really a problem to desert riders 
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
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26 Mar 2011
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Registered Users
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 266
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Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted*
I love the giant loop idea too...
Can anyone confirm the waterproofing though ?? Someone on here (cant remember who) said theirs leaked !!
Something to do with water gathering around the zips or something..
That's something not really a problem to desert riders |
I think they fixed the leaking issue with a magnetic flap over the zip
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26 Mar 2011
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: england
Posts: 79
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I started off with out panniers, all of my stuff was in a bag on the pillion seat and in the top box. The top box was overloaded and the rack broke twice, before i chucked the top box away in istanbul and got a pair of cheap panniers. Panniers made the journey much much much better, the bike handled better as the weight was better distributed. I was carrying a tent and all the gear you expect for a month trip.
Got Ortlieb panniers now, they are perfect- not too big and 100% waterproof
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27 Mar 2011
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Calgary AB
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No point worrying about waterproof soft bags. A few good stacks on gravel roads and you'll find with the next decent shower that you haven't got any dry clothes and your sleeping gear is wet. Although the consensus is that with GL gear the sleeping gear goes behind it in it's own bag using the large centre straps.
Either way, I reckon you shouldn't rely on it anyway. There are plenty waterproof roll closure bags available now to waterproof from the inside those things like fabrics that can't get wet. I stuff the tent fly and inner seperately in the stuff sacks they provide. That way if the fly is soaked I can dry it during the day at lunch or something without having to deal with the inner. Stuffing instead of rolling/ folding makes breaking camp quicker as well.
They now come with storm flaps, but the seams aren't waterproof anyway. They do come with a tube seal sealant though if you want to go down that route. How good is that? I should get a commission from these guys.
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27 Apr 2011
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Join Date: Aug 2010
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Giant loop on a 125?
I am leaning towards doing a 6 month trip to S.A on a gc125.
Having done my research here on the HUB one of the key issues with all trips seems to be security of your luggage and especially if riding solo, being apprehensive about leaving your bike and luggage alone for any period of time. Regardless of soft saddlebags or panniers it still seems to be high on peoples lists of concerns.
The benefits of a small, affordable and extremely reliable bike like the GC 125 are well documented but the thought of using a Giant loop bag that I can just throw over the back (plan to travel very light) and then remove quickly is extremely appealing. And then your bike just looks like another local Moto.
I plan to do quite a bit of solo travel so I dont want to be stressing about security as many seem to.
I'm surprised more people dont take this option given the cost of shipping, Carnets, fuel etc? Or maybe I'm clueless and will learn a bitter lesson.:confused1:
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27 Apr 2011
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Banned
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Join Date: Dec 2009
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Hi,
If your 125er is able to do more then 50.000 kilometers (25K down and back) then its probably the best bike to use. Fuel consum and carned deposit should be less then with any other bike. Lesse wait is also more importent in africa then horsepower. If you travel some offroad parts there is no chance to get 100 PS like a GS1200 on the ground anyway and if there is tar there are usuarly so many pothols that you cant go fast.
I traveled the westcoast alone and realy enjoyed it but did not leave my bike unetendet in any big city even i had alu boxes. Rather ask locals if they can wath for you like i did in Brazzaville while i had to get the visa for Kamerun etc.
LG, Tobi
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9 May 2013
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Bend, Oregon USA
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Giant Loop Q&A
Hello HUBBsters!
Just started a new Giant Loop company thread:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ant-loop-70221
Please feel free to post your questions, comments, feedback and photos there. We'll do our best to respond quickly, honestly and completely.
Ride while you can,
Harold
owner, co-founder
Giant Loop LLC
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29 Mar 2011
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Posts: 142
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Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted*
I love the giant loop idea too...
Can anyone confirm the waterproofing though ?? Someone on here (cant remember who) said theirs leaked !!
Something to do with water gathering around the zips or something..
That's something not really a problem to desert riders |
I rode to Cornwall in the rain, parked up with the zipper facing the rain ........was left with 2 goldfish bowls (VERY waterproof from the inside out) 
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29 Mar 2011
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Contributing Member
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,680
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Trichelia
I rode to Cornwall in the rain, parked up with the zipper facing the rain ........was left with 2 goldfish bowls (VERY waterproof from the inside out) |
Are yours the "new and improved" ones ??
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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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