Need new panniers

Edino

New Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2016
Messages
26
Location
Sweden
I am considering new panniers for my S10. Currently I have the Trekker 33L but I really don't like the side loading. I have narrowed it down to three options.
1 - Anodised TT Zega Pro 38/31.
2 - Bumot Defender Evo 40/36 or 35/31.
3 - Mosko Moto Backcountry 35L 2.0. I'm not a gravel/dirt rider but Mosko Moto seems to be a nice and flexible system even for highway touring.

TT is a nice looking setup. But I understand that some users find them to leak.
Bumot seems to be good, but I think they have a slight bulky appearance.
MM is waterproof and of high quality according to what I find on the internet. Can be mounted on my existing PLR2119 rack.
It would be nice to hear about these three options from those of you who use or have used them. Pros and cons!

As a side note. Don't want any other options. It's all about the above ;)
 

Madscrapper85

Active Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2019
Messages
112
Location
Delaware
I have found that a hard top box and soft side panniers work great for me (except off road I leave the box at camp). I was originally running a set of mosko scouts on the back but after my last two up camping trip I decided to move them to the crash bars and run the Backcountry 35's in the rear. I only run the BC 35 and the top box daily and put the scouts on when my son comes with me for a trip. Mosko makes some great stuff I don't think you can go wrong, but they aren't as easily accessible as hard side cases.
 

EricV

Riding, farkling, riding...
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
May 22, 2011
Messages
8,227
Location
Tupelo, MS
I started with the TT Zega Pro 38/31 and no top box. Rode that combo for 100k miles or so before changing to 38/45 for the next 50k miles. My touring needs started to include a lap top and I got tired of having just enough room, so got the larger 45L bag and sold the smallest one. They hold up well, some graphite lube on the locks every few years helps. I did get some minor leaking on rare occasions. Sometimes I think this was because I didn't get the lid seated fully with stuffed panniers. It can be a little fiddlely to seat the lid sometimes, requiring some adjustment or a push on the outside to get the lip to seat. No seals on the tops of the panniers to the lid, just aluminum overlap.

I always used dry bag style inner bags with my Zegas. I had the silver anodized versions, so no black marks on your contents. I recommend that, either ano silver or ano black to your preference. If you get bare aluminum, consider lining the inside with vinyl or drawer liner to keep your contents from getting black rub marks all over.

I had side opening bags on my FJR and specifically did not want that on the S10. So I understand your reference. I liked that the Zega Pros were so easy to take off the bike and could be used for a chair in camp. They are expensive. The plastic corner protectors are fairly inexpensive to replace if you grind them down in a drop or crash and work well to protect the bags themselves.

I haven't used the Mosko products, but many of my customers gave me glowing reviews about them. The puck mounting system appeared to allow you to remove the entire bag easily. At hotel stops I take my inner bags in and leave the hard bags on the bike, then cover the bike with a half cover that covers the panniers. Not sure how I'd feel about that with the Moskos, as they are also expensive and I don't know if they can be locked to the bike.

Hope that helps. Feel free to ask me any specific questions you have about the Zega Pro panniers.
 

MIKE R

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2012
Messages
722
Location
Lancashire, UK
I have Bumot on my GSA. They are Defenders, not the latest Evo Defenders (unfortunately they came out about 6 months after I bought mine)

The are really good panniers, well made and powder coated inside and out. You can buy bike specific frames with a tool box attached to them. I have found them fully waterproof and the pannier lids have friction hinges so that you can open the panniers, have the lid horizontal and use it as a shelf. Seems a very small thing but I find it very useful. The only downside is the key is small and makes attaching and releasing them from the frames slightly awkward.



Mike
 

Attachments

Last edited:

Edino

New Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2016
Messages
26
Location
Sweden
The Bumots are great. Nothing but good to say about em.View attachment 63267
Thanks for the picture! What sizes are your boxes? One advantage of Bumots is that they are narrower than than the TTs. Bumot 40/36 is 92 cm wide and TT 31/38 is 98 cm and you get 7 litres more space in the Bumots. Sorry for the metric ;)
For those of you with Bumots. How do you find it to pack the box with exhaust cut out? Is that an issue at all?
 

EricV

Riding, farkling, riding...
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
May 22, 2011
Messages
8,227
Location
Tupelo, MS
Keep in mind that the Bumonts are narrower because they step the left bag down. This has the disadvantage of making the bags not interchangeable side to side as well as making it slightly more challenging to put a full liner bag inside unless it's shaped specifically for that pannier. The TT bags are strait sided and can be mounted to either side. A nice feature when I moved to the 45L bag and just mounted the 38 over to the left and the new 45 on the right.

There are very few situations where the width makes any difference. The bars are still wider than the bags.
 

Highwayman

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2019
Messages
394
Location
Southern California
Thanks for the picture! What sizes are your boxes? One advantage of Bumots is that they are narrower than than the TTs. Bumot 40/36 is 92 cm wide and TT 31/38 is 98 cm and you get 7 litres more space in the Bumots. Sorry for the metric ;)
For those of you with Bumots. How do you find it to pack the box with exhaust cut out? Is that an issue at all?

Theyre the big ones. The left side hasnt been an issue for me packing. I also have the large topbox. The bumots are well thought out. The liners fit well. I like the organizers in the lids and the toolbox setup in the racks. Gives me the option of running no bags offroad, yet some storage.
 

Don T

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2011
Messages
541
Location
Denmark
Thanks for the picture! What sizes are your boxes? One advantage of Bumots is that they are narrower than than the TTs. Bumot 40/36 is 92 cm wide and TT 31/38 is 98 cm and you get 7 litres more space in the Bumots. Sorry for the metric ;)
For those of you with Bumots. How do you find it to pack the box with exhaust cut out? Is that an issue at all?
Based on the above I can't see any reason to choose TT over Bumot..?

I've used Zega Pro panniers on a previous bike and wasn't impressed - never got them completely waterproof.

I have used panniers with an exhaust cut out. It was not an issues when packing.

While we are at the topic packing... I stopped using an inner liner a few years back, as I found that it takes up too much space and make packing/organizing more difficult. Instead I now use several smaller bags/organizers. This makes it easier to utilize all the space in the panniers and to find what I need.
 
Last edited:

EricV

Riding, farkling, riding...
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
May 22, 2011
Messages
8,227
Location
Tupelo, MS
Based on the above I can't see any reason to choose TT over Bumot..?
No argument from me, and I had the Zega Pros. Back in '11 there were not as many options for the Super Ten, so I went with the Zega Pros for the features I liked/wanted.
 

Cycledude

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2016
Messages
3,997
Location
Rib lake wi
I sure don’t understand the worry about the exhaust cutout . For my clothes I use an old duffel bag leftover from my trucking days and haul it in the left Yamaha Pannier , if I use up all the clean clothes most motels have a laundry or stop at laundromat but that’s pretty rare.
 

EricV

Riding, farkling, riding...
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
May 22, 2011
Messages
8,227
Location
Tupelo, MS
I sure don’t understand the worry about the exhaust cutout .
It's just a personal preference. I use a combo of boxes and stuff sacks for packing. My experience with the exhaust cut out panniers has been that things tend to get lost in the very bottom and you end up emptying out the bulk of the bag looking for something you need. Everyone has different needs and preferences.

I know some that only pack an extra tee shirt and underwear, no matter if it's a day trip or a month long one. That's more extreme than I prefer in terms of "light packing". :D
 

Cycledude

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2016
Messages
3,997
Location
Rib lake wi
My problem is even after all these years and miles I still usually pack more clothes than I should.
There is also other stuff like un needed tools but I’d rather carry a few extra tools and not need them than need them and not have them along.
 

Don T

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2011
Messages
541
Location
Denmark
My opinion on hard vs. soft luggage...

If I was only riding street I would without a doubt choose hard panniers!
It's much more convenient. It make it easier to pack and organize your gear, and it is more secure in relation to theft.
The only down side on the street is that hard panniers is heavier than soft, but on a fully loaded behemoth like the T12 a few kilos more or less really doesn't make much of a difference.

- and this comes from a guy who has just switched from hard to soft luggage (Holan Nomada Pro > MM Reckless 80), but only because my riding deviate increasingly towards the dirt.
 
Top