Big Seat Bags

[rider33]

I'm not a fan of side cases, they always strike me as much too wide. I'm also not found of the framing they leave even after the case itself is removed. What I use instead are seat bags, really big seat bags. They hold enough for a 2 or 3 week cross-country trip, put the weight where it is designed to be placed on the bike, form a nice backrest, & leave no trace once the bag is removed. The best I've found is the Aerostich Motofizz seat bags. I have the medium (1-2 wk trip) and the large (2+ w/camping gear). I've used them on multiple bikes an numerous cross country trips to good effect. I just got back from a trip to Glacier tho having tried something new that worked out quite well. A while back I removed the silly OEM plastic rack and replaced it with a nice, stout Happy Trail rack. When you then remove the pillon seat that leaves you with an ideal platform for lashing the seat bag on:

Add a large MotoFizz bag like the one I took to Glacier and you can carry just about anything:

It also doesn't tend to catch the wind the way side cases can at freeway speed. If you are looking for an alternative to acres of aluminum, this might be worth a look.
http://www.aerostich.com/motofizz-camping-seat-bags-large.html

 

[Chuck B]

I use a large MotoFizz as well...just a great bag design. Here it is on my KLR...

 

[rider33]

'nice. Damn I wish I had had that bag when I still had my KLR's, it would have made things a whole lot easier....

 

[klunsford]

I have the Bumot Side panniers and large top case. Most times I can just pack the top case and a dry bag and I am fine for most trips. The side Panniers are only for getting to a destination and then they come off.