Is the OEM Luggage Large / Good enough?

Rasher

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I mentioned this in another topic and I wondered what the general opinion is?

I started touring properly on a ZZR1400 with Givi V35's, these were "small" panniers designed to fit on sportsbikes and as the name suggests about 35L in capacity.

When moving to the GS I was worried about the Vario's as they apparently were "only" 68L combined, however the V35's on the old bike were a sort of Diamond shape and despite the larger on paper capacity the GS cases can fit in a fair bit more with the smaller one taking almost as much as the V35, and the larger ones holding loads of gear.

I do really like the look of the Yamaha boxes and even think the mechanism seems OK judgin by the video, I think many in the press just did not know how to operate it (and were incapable of RTFM)

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelvideo/651/1136/0/video.aspx

I still think for solo use the Yamaha cases are great, the fit nicely, look good and have enough capacity for one person. But for two-up use I think they are too small, being square helps as they are more "stuffable" but I think losing 6L on the side cases and about another 8L from the top box makes the 92L of Tenere capacity seem a bit small after the 106L on my GS (which I find just adequate)

I have not done the maths, but I would guess just an inch extra on each side would have given another 5L per case, and another 5L on the Top Box (which is tiny compared to almost any other case on the market) would have helped at least match BMW's smallest set - at the end of the day that is what Yamaha are trying to compete with.

In fact Yamaha are really trying to punt the Tenere against both stock and Adventure BMW's, and the Adventure comes with 82L side cases.

I can get cases in 33 / 45 (Givi) or 37 / 45 (motech) which adds up to 78L or 82L, and if you don't mind having the bike a shade wider on one side you could use 2 x 45L to make up 90L in total, even using the two smallest cases from givi still provides more space than the Yamaha's.

All the top boxes I have looked at are larger than Yamaha's which looks like it may not even hold a helmet - another point of OEM luggage is it won't take a crash helmet - something luggage is oten judged by (number of helmets a box can hold)

I really do think the luggage design team had never toured on a motorcycle, sure it looks neat, is narrow but it does not carry much, is incapable of holding Helmet (maybe one in the top box?) and you have to use the key every time you want to get into it - the BMW system on the Vario's is brilliant, normally the Japanese just copy (often improving on the original) but in this instance seemed to miss the point (or several of them)

Obviously this is my opinion, based on my needs, but what do you lot think?
 

spasm

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i use mine cos they come with the bike, ive toured 2 up, and loaded tents sleeping bags and loads on top, they are not as good as other stuff out there, but they work fine if looked after properly, i will only change to better stuff when this lot gives up the ghost on me ::008::
 

Motowalt

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Luggage, like seats, handgrips and windscreens are a very individual choice that must be tailored to one's own riding style...I have a small, lockable pelican case to mount to the tail rack to carry all my tools but I'm still shopping for panniers...I tend to overpack, so will probably stay away from the larger/wider panniers on the ST.

I had Varios on my F800GS and they worked well and looked good.

Personally, I don't care for the non-aerodynamic look of large top boxes (I ride solo most of the time...) and don't see the need for luggage big enough to hold a helmet. If I'm touring, the luggage will be full of other stuff anyway (ie, I wouldn't mount a top box just for temporary helmet storage....) When away from the bike I just use a locking cable to secure it which I keep in my Wolfman tankbag, as it's always on the bike.

I like how the Yamaha panniers fit close to the bike, but not so much their plain, boxy styling...but I have only seen them in pictures...
 

gerry2085

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The top box will hold my XL Aria helmet, Ive not toured with the bike yet, I have the factory boxes that came with the bike. I have toured most of Europe over the years mainly on an FJR. I think we all tend to overpack and go with the thought that if you have a large box you will fill it. I do not camp or go miles off road as some do here. I agree with Motowalt each rider has his or her own needs, it depends what you intend to do. I do like the fitment of the side boxes but don't like the feel of the locks which to me feel quite poor in quality. they will however do what I need them to do.
 

Z06

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From the info on the Yamaha USA website, the capacity ofthe Yamaha bage are right side 962ci or 15.76 litres. Left side is 769ci or 12.6 litres and top box is 830ci or 13.6 litres. Total for side bags is 28.36 litres. Comparing to cases with 33-40 liters each seems to leave a huge difference in capacity. Like the looks of the Yamaha cases but don't think I want to give up that much capacity.
I am also thinking of fabing a trailer hitch and would incorporate case mounting along with it. Leaning toward Pelican cases with custom mounts.
 

colorider

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Z06 said:
From the info on the Yamaha USA website, the capacity ofthe Yamaha bage are right side 962ci or 15.76 litres. Left side is 769ci or 12.6 litres and top box is 830ci or 13.6 litres. Total for side bags is 28.36 litres. Comparing to cases with 33-40 liters each seems to leave a huge difference in capacity. Like the looks of the Yamaha cases but don't think I want to give up that much capacity.
IIRC, the sizes listed on the Yamaha site are wrong. Somewhere here there is another thread on the OEM bag sizes. Seems like they are more like 29 on the small side and 33 on the large side. Not sure about the tail trunk.

Rod
 

TRUBRIT

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My 2cents. The OEM bags are as noted above. My Nolan Trilogy fits in the Top box just fine. My feeling is the more space you have the more crap you are going to take that you do not need. More crap=more weight=changes how bike behaves. You overload the bike, don't complain when you drop it. Reading some of the Ride Reports, I am amazed at how much some people take and how little others take. Usually the ones going the furthest and the longest are carrying the least. For me the OEM are working just fine.
 

Z06

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ColoRider said:
IIRC, the sizes listed on the Yamaha site are wrong. Somewhere here there is another thread on the OEM bag sizes. Seems like they are more like 29 on the small side and 33 on the large side. Not sure about the tail trunk.

Rod
LOL You would think Yamaha could get a little closer with their specs than that.
 

justbob

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I have my Tenere fully farkled and the hardest decision was which saddlebags to use. I have owned a few sets of Givi bags and think they make a good quality product but the drawback for me there was that I tend to overstuff the bags and when doing that it can cause some flex and distortion and compromise the waterproofness of the bag. I finally decided on the Micatech bags and am happy with the build quality and ease of use of the side loading doors. They are priced comparable to the Yamaha OEM bags MSRP.
One week after installing them I clipped a plastic construction barrel that a big truck sent spinning across the interstate, it rocked me pretty good but barely left a mark on the saddlebag where it hit. I dont think a plastic bag would have survived as well.
 

hojo in sc

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I don't like having to use a key to open the OEM bags all the time, I'd rather be able to pull over and reach into the bag without having to get off and take the key to the bag. I went with Hepco-Becker.

https://picasaweb.google.com/hojo747/DropBox#5678259188779281570
 

Rasher

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They look really neat ::008::

I try not to carry huge amounts of stuff, but at the same time want to easily get my minimum kit in, with two people 30L each is not a lot.

The top case takes spare visor, spare gloves, visor cleaning stuff and other bits I may need to get too quickly, so that leaves us one case each, when awayf for a couple of weeks I need a couple of changes of clothes, a jumper, pair of trousers, pair of shoes and a light jacket for the evenings - this fills my smaller Vario, she takes a similar amount of clothing in the larger box and we put the bog bag in there with shower gel, travel wash, toothpaste etc. amnd that's it, the bike is full.

I am worried the Yamaha cases would not even cover the basics - although unlike the GS I do not need a comprehensive toolkit and huge stash of spares!
 

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I'll give my 2 cents on pannier selection as well. I don't have a ton of experience with bags in general, but my experience with the Tiger 1050's OEM luggage has definitely influenced the direction I'm going to go with the S10.

The Tiger's OEM luggage is, get this, 19L right (due to muffler cut out), and 25L left. That's 44L, of which the shape of the bags, the clamshell design, and the protruding lock mechanism into the usable area makes them more like 30L of usable space. They look great, but they're terrible as actual luggage.

Now, since the side cases are so small, I end up throwing everything on top with my 46L Coocase and pinion seating area. While this gets the job done, it has a huge impact on the handling of the bike. The Tiger is already top heavy, and now I've stacked most of what I'm carrying right up on top. Throw in road tires on 17" rims front and back and anything besides pavement is undesirable to ride on when touring.

So, for the S10, I'm planning to go with larger side panniers than the OEM, because I'd like to keep the weight down low and off the top if at all possible. I don't do 2-up, so for me I'm considering the TraX boxes (45L right, 37L left), which gives me 82L as you've already said, which is practically what I have right now on the Tiger between the 2 OEM cases and the 46L top box. The square shape of the TraX boxes makes them infinitely more packable than the Tiger's cases which are terrible, so I'll probably be par with 2 bags (with the weight held much lower) vs. what I'm doing today with 3. The only thing on top will be my folding camp chair (when camping) and my tent (poles won't fit in panniers, too long).

So to summarize, I've done the top heavy thing, and I don't like it, so I'm going bigger on the panniers this time to keep the weight lower down.
 

Venture

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hojo in sc said:
I don't like having to use a key to open the OEM bags all the time, I'd rather be able to pull over and reach into the bag without having to get off and take the key to the bag. I went with Hepco-Becker.

https://picasaweb.google.com/hojo747/DropBox#5678259188779281570
I'm with you on this. My Tiger's pannier's require the ignition key to open. I hate that. I definitely want the ability to just latch and not lock so I can open without a key.
 

Twitch

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The right factory side case is 28 liters and the left is 25 liters. The inner dimensions are 16.5 inches long, 7.625 wide and 13.75 deep (420mm x 195mm x 350mm). The tapper for the muffler in the left case is not as dramatic inside the case as it appears outside the case.

Rasher said:
I still think for solo use the Yamaha cases are great, the fit nicely, look good and have enough capacity for one person.

Obviously this is my opinion, based on my needs, but what do you lot think?
I generally agree with this ^. For one to three days of solo riding, they’re three-quarters used including bike essentials. For four-five, they’re full. For more, I have a 33 liter Motocentric duffle bag for the rack (the one with built in bungees). The cases work fine for me...a solo rider...but beyond a couple nights, they’re probably not going to work for two travelers.
 

titsken

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I'm using the side 2 panniers for about 1 year now and I do not have much complaints right know. If you put some tec7 at the water-seals they stay where they should and for the locking mechanism everybody here knows the right procedure (push before unlock or lock) . they would not fit a helmet.
 

JohnB

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I wonder how the Hepco-Becker "Junior Enduro" bags are. They offer a "30L left and 40L right" combo. They remind me of the factory BMW bags I had on my '93 R100R.

http://secure.capitalcycle.com/Hepco-Becker-Junior-Enduro-Set/productinfo/610.038+00+01/

•Offers stowage space for full-face helmet in the right side
•Watertight seal
•Unbreakable, special double-walled shell made of
highly impact resistant plastic absorbs impacts and falls
•Extremely rugged metal locks
•Ergonomic carry handle
•Aerodynamic design
•30Lt left & 40Lt right capacity
•Innerbag (liner bag) option
 

LousyPups

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hojo in sc said:
I don't like having to use a key to open the OEM bags all the time, I'd rather be able to pull over and reach into the bag without having to get off and take the key to the bag. I went with Hepco-Becker.

https://picasaweb.google.com/hojo747/DropBox#5678259188779281570
I really like the looks of your setup with the hepco-beckers. They seem to fit extremely well and all the lines match up evenly. Are they the 30L side bags? Where did you find them and how do like them so far?
 

markjenn

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Some good discussion in this thread.

All the luggage capacity specs seem a little wacko to me. I'd simply characterize the OEM luggage as a significant step down in capacity from most of the after-market choices, perhaps 30% smaller overall on average. But the bags are very usable and straightforward in shape.

I've hotel-toured with the three-box OEM luggage for a couple weeks and along with a tank bag, I had way more space than I needed. I haven't camped yet, but when I do, I'll ditch the top box, remove the rear seat, and drop the luggage rack down so I can and strap tent, pad, sleeping kit, etc. in a dry-bag, torpedo style. One pannier will get clothes and the other will get the kitchen, rain gear, tools, spares, etc. I'm not expecting I'll be space challenged at all. I'd characterize the OEM luggage as adequate for most but not generous.

To my eyes, the big advantages of OEM is that it is so nicely integrated with the bike. It is a more sophisticated system with unobtrusive mounts when the boxes are off the bike. The latches are quite clever, but are constructed of plastic and are look like a weak link to me; this can be mitigated to some extent by simply being very careful with them, but I'm still leery of their durability. We'll see on this.

I think it mostly boils down to whether you want big, utilitarian, simple boxes with hardware store latches, or you want something sleeker, smaller, more fragile, and more elegant. The OEM luggage would probably be better for a rider who tends to sport-tour more on pavement, stay in hotels, and pack minimally whereas the after-market boxes would suit the more off road oriented rider who likes to take the kitchen sink and camp. And if you're someone who is likely to push the envelope off pavement, meaning the bike is likely to be on its side every day or two, I'd tend towards after-market, although there have been scattered reports of the big metal bags contributing to leg injuries. If I head off into the deep woods, my plan is to fit soft bags.

- Mark
 

Tremor38

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markjenn said:
Some good discussion in this thread.

All the luggage capacity specs seem a little wacko to me. I'd simply characterize the OEM luggage as a significant step down in capacity from most of the after-market choices, perhaps 30% smaller overall on average. But the bags are very usable and straightforward in shape.

I've hotel-toured with the three-box OEM luggage for a couple weeks and along with a tank bag, I had way more space than I needed. I haven't camped yet, but when I do, I'll ditch the top box, remove the rear seat, and drop the luggage rack down so I can and strap tent, pad, sleeping kit, etc. in a dry-bag, torpedo style. One pannier will get clothes and the other will get the kitchen, rain gear, tools, spares, etc. I'm not expecting I'll be space challenged at all. I'd characterize the OEM luggage as adequate for most but not generous.

To my eyes, the big advantages of OEM is that it is so nicely integrated with the bike. It is a more sophisticated system with unobtrusive mounts when the boxes are off the bike. The latches are quite clever, but are constructed of plastic and are look like a weak link to me; this can be mitigated to some extent by simply being very careful with them, but I'm still leery of their durability. We'll see on this.

I think it mostly boils down to whether you want big, utilitarian, simple boxes with hardware store latches, or you want something sleeker, smaller, more fragile, and more elegant. The OEM luggage would probably be better for a rider who tends to sport-tour more on pavement, stay in hotels, and pack minimally whereas the after-market boxes would suit the more off road oriented rider who likes to take the kitchen sink and camp. And if you're someone who is likely to push the envelope off pavement, meaning the bike is likely to be on its side every day or two, I'd tend towards after-market, although there have been scattered reports of the big metal bags contributing to leg injuries. If I head off into the deep woods, my plan is to fit soft bags.

- Mark
+1 on all points made. I'm fighting the battle between wanting integration or added capacity with a more utilitarian look myself. I'm really liking the looks of the Trax though and I keep telling myself the S10 is not an FJR, so integrated isn't quite as important (rationalzation at its best). :-\


"sleeker, smaller, more fragile, and more elegant." I think I saw something related to that on album cover once. I believe it read "Queer Eye for a Straight Guy".....just kidding!...but I couldn't resist :D >:D
 
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