Hi giles, I have been using the Gobi boxes for 2 1/2 year now and they have covered a lot of miles often overloaded with gear tied on top and bottom of them, I also have the gobi top box. Overall they are good with some bad points - size limited I travel two up a lot so they limit what you carry but stops you taking gear for the sake of it. They are immensly strong and if your going off road unlock the framelocks so they can spring open in the event of a crash the box will bounce away and remain hopefully intact. If the crash is so bad and I hope not any pannier or part of the bike could be badly damaged anyway so try to stay upright.In minor falls they absorb bumps and bashes very well. the boxes have remained totally watertight even when submerged in a river ford OOPS! I have often thought of going over to ali panniers but decided my gobi boxes have done the job well never let me down and now have a nice used look about them they are becoming part of my proven kit so why change it. PS they also sit higher from the ground than a lot of ali panniers which can be handy in some terrain but they are wide. Depending where your going the 3 litre tanks built in can be handy. the top box is 42 litres not as well made but still very strong and on the ktm seems to sit well without distubing the ride at all. overal i give them about 8 out of 10 cos they have downsides but what doesnt !! Oh bye the way my boxes even when pretty overloaded have never come loose even on hundreds of miles of terrible roads in russia /eastern europe plus camping gear strapped on top and under the box so if thats your problem never been one to me.
[This message has been edited by adventure950 (edited 19 January 2006).]
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