Pannier Opinions, please

[CraigM]

To me the OEM panniers themselves are fine. Quality look and feel seems quite good. They are nicely finished off inside and you can get the OEM liners/bags to fit each. They are also a lot cheaper than say the Touratech. What is the biggest let down to me (and I can honestly say its the only thing about the S10 that does frustrate me so far) is the locking mechanism. I have had a separate key made because I am so worried about the key bending or worse, breaking in the lock. The problem is that the long key doesn't fit into the lock all the way, so there is a lot of leverage when you turn the key to open, close it or remove the pannier.

It may be that one could change the locks but as I say, I've had a spare key made so that the original can stay out of harms way!! :-X

 

[markjenn]

I also like the removable soft inner cases for carrying clothes and stuff to hotel rooms rather than bug and tar splattered hard cases.

I agree, liners are the way to go rather than wrestling hard bags on/off the bike and banging them around taking them inside. But, of course, you can liner any bag, not just the Pelicans.

- Mark

 

[hANNAbONE]

I don't like top cases; On my BMW and Concours, I had them taken off.

I much prefer side cases...and actually like the luggage look, more because when staying in a hotel, find them easier to carry.

why not just buy some liners and pop the packed liners out of the bags and into the room?? slick slick slick

try googling "Bestem" I bought some last year and wondered what took me so flippin' long.

 

[colorider]

why not just buy some liners and pop the packed liners out of the bags and into the room?? slick slick slick

try googling "Bestem" I bought some last year and wondered what took me so flippin' long.

Agree completely!

TLC makes some great bags as well in all sorts of shapes/sizes:
https://www.tlcproducts.com/servlet/StoreFront

 

[rem]

Well, I don't know about you guys, but I've never felt like I needed panty liners.


OH, wait .... sorry ... you're talking about Pannier Liners ..... my bad. Sorry. It's early here.


I'll just go make some more coffee. R

 

[colorider]

I'll just go make some more coffee. R

I've been up since about 4:30 and on my third cup.

BTW, I know the difference!!!

 

[rem]

Yeah, you wouldn't want to mix up the two.


Well, I'm gonna take advantage of the awesome weather here and check out the Atlin Road. Beautiful area. I lived on the Atlin Road for a couple years about a hundred years ago. We built a little log house there ... no running water, no electricity, and the best outhouse in the Territory. I loved it. But a 55 mile commute into Whitehorse started to wear us out.


I'm really looking forward to fitting my MicaTechs onto the big black raven. I've been studying the process, and I think I could pass a quiz on how to do it. I'll hire a 12 year old to help me, and it should go really well.


I met a BMWer in town the other day. They (double up) were doing some kind of trans continental thing. Florida to Dead Horse, Alaska. Jeeze. It was a decked out 1200 something I think? Nice looking bike. I bought them coffee and wished them well. Old guys, not unlike myself. That's quite the trip. R

 

[Salty]

I have also been researching pannier systems and will be going with the C. Pelican System, for an upcoming trip planed from Halifax to Ushuaia and return. I have an additional requirment for an AC /DC refrigerated top box for six month supply of medication. I have posied this question to Pelican R & D as well as belive it or not Coleman Product. As of this date neither company has come forward at this time. Pelican had acknowledged that this has been put forward to their US R & D department, Colemn ................?.
Has anyone else requiring refrigerated dayly perscription looked into this problem. Is there another poduct I have not found ?

 

[rem]

That's quite the trip. And a considerable concern, especially given where you're headed. I don't have any specific ideas, but check out RV/Marine supply places. They come up with some pretty neat stuff sometimes.


Best of luck with the trip. It's a big one. R

 

[Salty]

Thanks Rem. There are a number of marine outlets here, but tippical of the East Coast if it has not existed it will not exist. So far I am looking at makeing my own, but hold out hope for industry to ralley as there must be other riders with similar requirments that are being limited to their destinations. In short I would think there is a greater market for this. I now know what it feels like to be limited to accessibility.

Salty
2012 S. Tenere on order

 

[HoebSTer]

salty, i work in the trucking industry. there are some coolers out there already that are electric for cooling. you might want to check that direction too.

 

[rem]

The only other thing I can think of is to convert a pannier or top box, or maybe even a tank bag, into a super insulated container. Buy small frozen items as required along the way. However, I have no idea how available frozen items might be once you leave NA. If you figure it out, let us know. R

 

[Spider]

Salty, maybe you can adapt something like one of these:

http://www.12volt-travel.com/12-volt-refrigerators-c-630.html

or

http://www.compactappliance.com/12-Volt-Travel-Coolers/Outdoor_Living-Travel_Coolers,default,sc.html

Good luck!

G

 

[toompine]

Salty, maybe you can adapt something like one of these:

http://www.12volt-travel.com/12-volt-refrigerators-c-630.html

or

http://www.compactappliance.com/12-Volt-Travel-Coolers/Outdoor_Living-Travel_Coolers,default,sc.html

Good luck!

G

Those are cool (no pun intended). I like those better than a top box

 

[dcstrom]

Has anyone else requiring refrigerated dayly perscription looked into this problem. Is there another poduct I have not found ?

I heard an interview with Bill Gates the other day. He was talking about some of the things his Foundation is working on. In the past they had being trying to develop drugs with a long shelf life at room temps, so that delivery would be much easier in Africa and other remote areas. The conclusion was that this was too complicated and expensive, given the new drugs would all have to be re-tested and re-certified. He said it was much easier to develop super-insulated containers... maybe with some research you could track down those containers?
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Pages/home.aspx

Trevor

 

[pqsqac]

Would you have any pics of the pelicans mounted on the XT? I am curious how they handled the left side with the pipe. I checked out their link but didn't see any pics mounted. I'm leaning towards Jesse bags but my gut tells me they are going to be way out of my price range I've seen their boxes at $1,100-1,300 for other bikes. My next option would be OEM but I'm reading not so good things about them as well quality wise. I'm kicking around the Pelicans as my next choice I didn't care for the look at first but they are starting to grow on me. Not to mention their life time warranty. I thought I would like top load boxes better but side load might be nice as well. If you have any pics of the Pelicans please share and thanks. Vince

However, Ollie and I were talking about the Pelican cases (http://cariboucases.com/store/?name=Catalog&mode=i&item=000360), which come with a lifetime guarantee.

Now, I'm leaning to the Pelican bags...anyone with experience with Pelican and opinions on that luggage and racking? .

The other question is 40L vs 35L...., any thoughts on the relative cubic carrying differences between 35 and 40 liters? What's a liter in US terms, anyway? What's a hedway? (.....oh, about 8 pounds)

 

[colorider]

Would you have any pics of the pelicans mounted on the XT? I am curious how they handled the left side with the pipe.

Sorry, can't help you for on a XT, but here are a couple pictures of the pelicans (Caribou) on my DL650. The actual mounting is more a factor of the mounts and not the panniers. In this case, I was using SW-Motech mounts which are pretty much symmetrical on a DL650. Some mounts (on some bikes) mount close on the non-exhaust side while others have a space on the non-exhaust side.

HTH

 

[pqsqac]

Not bad looking at all Rod ru saying you switched mounts for a better fit on your DL then what came stock with the Pelicans and did you run different size boxes on each side to even things out or were they both 35L?

Sorry, can't help you for on a XT, but here are a couple pictures of the pelicans (Caribou) on my DL650. The actual mounting is more a factor of the mounts and not the panniers. In this case, I was using SW-Motech mounts which are pretty much symmetrical on a DL650. Some mounts (on some bikes) mount close on the non-exhaust side while others have a space on the non-exhaust side.

HTH

 

[colorider]

Not bad looking at all Rod ru saying you switched mounts for a better fit on your DL then what came stock with the Pelicans and did you run different size boxes on each side to even things out or were they both 35L?

I ran SW-Motech racks on my DL with the same size (35L Pelicans since the racks are symmetrical on the DL. For the SuperT, the SW-Motech racks or NOT symmetrical (right side is closer to the bike) and to maintain overall symmetry I'm going to use a 33L Trekker on the left and a 46L Trekker on the right. If you want symmetrical racks on the SuperT, you will need to look into other brands. Perhaps Givi or Hepco-Becker, but not sure.

 

[hANNAbONE]

Jesse's are gonna cost right at $1250