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  #1  
Old 7 Jan 2008
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Home made alu panniers
You can still build your own metal panniers+rack: rtw.xtz660 - Home made aluminium boxes
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Old 9 Jan 2008
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For traveling, the Wee´s really an excellent choice... our 2007-model has now got 32.000km on the clock, and we´ve ridden (2-up) from Finland to India, then airlifted the bike to Bangkok, and plan to proceed to Malaysia, (then maybe) Indonesia and Australia. So far, this bike has been the tool for the job.

We´ve got Suzuki´s 49 L rear bag (plastic) and MetalMule 38 L aluminiums on the side. Been very satisfied with all of them, especially the Mules feel unbreakable, and very convenient to use. Havent yet tested crashing with them, though (fingers crossed we wont have to!!) I would think that plastic boxes, especially if theyre on the side, can more easily get badly damaged in a fall.
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Old 20 Jan 2008
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Metal Mules.....
Hi! Sorry to jump in here, Pesha... I noticed you've got the 38L panniers, whats the overall width of the bike with them on? I'm tempted by the "skinny" 31L ones to keep the width down, but the extra space in the 38L would be nice!
Many thanks,
Tim.
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Old 20 Jan 2008
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I think we measured it once, and if our reading was correct, the thing is about 104 cm wide with these 38 L panniers. (And do I remember correct that they are 4 cm wider than the thinner ones, so I guess that would mean it'd be 96 cm with them?)

It is actually quite wide, but you do get used to the panniers, even surprise yourself, how smoothly you can filter through traffic with them (at least I havent taken down many car mirrors with mine YET)...!
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Old 20 Jan 2008
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I think Suzuki´s are (were) made by GIVI. The reviews on them seem to say there not grate but they say that about BMW boxs to. I have a GIVI top box been grate but the locking mechanism dose not like to open the box. Its made to need the key in the lock to unlock or open or lock or remove the box its fool proof but I need to figit with it to make it work.
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Old 20 Jan 2008
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touratech also have pannier-racks for v-strom.
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  #7  
Old 21 Jan 2008
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Panniers
Tim, in regards to pannier widths, I'd go for the 38L. The main differences are noticed when you ride with or without panniers at all. Once they are on, you are concious of the extra width and ride accordingly. It would be a rare and pretty tight squeeze that would make you notice the difference between the two but you would notice the difference in roominess for packing everyday you jam your junk in the panniers.

I'm using the Caribou (Pelican) plastic panniers which are about 30L are a tad tight to squeeze things in side by side. The strength, is actually very high, comparable to the strong category of af aluminum boxes, which the Metal Mules fall into. The downside of the caribou system is the "lightness" of the attachment system which is fine for city stuff but if you plan or expect to dump it a couple if times in the dirt or sand, there will be some bending which will require re-bending to tighten it up again.

It's been said a few times before, but the Touratech look fine, but are actually poorly built and with one fall, never function the same.

Cheers.
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  #8  
Old 24 Feb 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alexpezzi View Post
You can still build your own metal panniers+rack: rtw.xtz660 - Home made aluminium boxes

respect!!
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