Pannier Opinions, please

[keeponriding]

I had always thought to go with the OEM side bags, plus liners, for convenience sake.

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]

Nothing wrong with Pelican bags, IMHO. I had the Caribou system on my DL650 (using SW Motech racks) and like them. Mine were the 35L. I would chose them again over the OEM bags, but decided to go with Givi for my SuperT.

 

[rem]

I almost went with the Pelicans, but the MicaTech group buy thing came up so I did that. I don't think you can go wrong. They are tough as nuts, and there is some kind of lifetime, forever, whatever reason, no questions asked guarantee.


When you hear liter, think quart. A liter, or PARDON ME, litre (we Canadians are sooooooo proper), is like maybe 5% larger than a quart. So for all intents and purposes, a litre is a quart. A litre is 1.05 quarts. 35 l would be 37 quarts. Hope this helps. R

 

[pqsqac]

I'm going with Jesse Odyssey II boxes in black I like the look of them and they will fit the XT nicely when they are complete. My only negative on the Pelicans is they look more like luggage then side panniers.

 

[keeponriding]

"35 l would be 37 quarts. Hope this helps"

That does Rem, so 35L bags are capable of carrying my daily beer consumption...I like being able to put things in practical terms.

 

[rem]

Now you're talking. I was gonna do that myself, but then I'd have to factor in that Canadian beer is twice as potent as 'merican beer and therefore .... take your 5% divide by 2 and add GST minus the dollar exchange then .... well, you'll figure it out.


I'm off to check on my cripple motorsickel. Bye for now. R

 

[keeponriding]

Oh, you're right...I need to go 40L

 

[colorider]

Oh, you're right...I need to go 40L

Depending on what mounts you use - and what you decide to use with the "free space" on the right side (depending on the brand of mounts), you may want to use a 35L on the left side and a 40L on the right side to "balance" the center-to-outside edge of bag look.

For instance:

 

[Checkswrecks]

After having side bags on the last two bikes, I'm going the other way. I find that there is not that much I really need to lock and I don't use the side bags that often. The top case is mandatory for every day.

My plan is for another lockable top case, maybe another Givi 52 Maxi, and probably the Nelson Rigg 850 side bags. At 35 L they have the volume of what's on the FJR and they can be found on sale for $90.
http://www.amazon.com/NELSON-RIGG-SADDLEBAGS-TOURING-DELUX-CL-850/dp/B000J462JU

 

[keeponriding]

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.

 

[switchback]

I almost went with the Pelicans, but the MicaTech group buy thing came up so I did that. I don't think you can go wrong. They are tough as nuts, and there is some kind of lifetime, forever, whatever reason, no questions asked guarantee.


When you hear liter, think quart. A liter, or PARDON ME, litre (we Canadians are sooooooo proper), is like maybe 5% larger than a quart. So for all intents and purposes, a litre is a quart. A litre is 1.05 quarts. 35 l would be 37 quarts. Hope this helps. R

+1 (Or 9.2 gallons.)

 

[switchback]

After having side bags on the last two bikes, I'm going the other way. I find that there is not that much I really need to lock and I don't use the side bags that often. The top case is mandatory for every day.

My plan is for another lockable top case, maybe another Givi 52 Maxi, and probably the Nelson Rigg 850 side bags. At 35 L they have the volume of what's on the FJR and they can be found on sale for $90.
http://www.amazon.com/NELSON-RIGG-SADDLEBAGS-TOURING-DELUX-CL-850/dp/B000J462JU

I agree about the utility of a Top-box. I can go to Costco, stowe a helmet, or carry a normal sized laptop in the case with a top-box, great for commuting. Side panniers are useful but do not have the every day utility of a top-box.

 

[markjenn]

The discussion started off Pelicans vs. OEM side bags, so I don't want to stray too far afield, but I've had bikes with and without top cases - they're super nice for convenience, but you couldn't ask for a worse place to put weight and aero drag on a bike, up high and so far aft. If you keep the size small and don't put anything very heavy in them, they're tolerable, but I'd never use them on tour.

I've seen the Pelicans and seems like a nice system, although they'll never win any style/beauty awards - strictly utilitarian. I'm a bit of a slave to fashion, so I'm going OEM boxes as they look right, have better integration to the bike than any of the aftermarket systems, and will perform adequately for my needs.

- Mark

 

[keeponriding]

Mark,

You make a good point about bag integration. Up to last week (darn you, Ollie!) I had felt the same...but, the lifetime guarantee on the Pelicans really attract me.

So, does anyone know the OEM pannier capacity In litres....please? (For our Canadian associates).

Also, do you have to lock the panniers? (My NT requires constant locking and is fiddly enough to have bent the key)...I know there was a fair amount of criticism about the fiddliness of the locking mechanism.

 

[colorider]

So, does anyone know the OEM pannier capacity In litres....please? (For our Canadian associates).

Also, do you have to lock the panniers? (My NT requires constant locking and is fiddly enough to have bent the key)...I know there was a fair amount of criticism about the fiddliness of the locking mechanism.

Seems like I read somewhere that the large (RHS) bag was 32 liters and the smaller (LHS) was something like 20 or less. Not much for size, IMHO.

AFAIK, you have to lock them.

 

[rem]

http://www.yamaha-motor.eu/eu/accessories/?productCode=XTZ1200&accessoryCode=23P-W0751-1X-00&redirect=false

 

[keeponriding]

Thanks Rod,

That is absolutely pushing me to the Pelicans....probably the 35L.

Anthony

 

[motocephalic]

I had 35 L pelicans (1550's ) on my DL. Excellent bags, took a pounding, very useful. I would buy them again in a minute. Carribou makes an excellent system, and guarantees them for life. I tried micatechs this time out, as I met the owner of the company at Daytona, and scrutinized the way they were made. The fit and finish of the mica's are first rate, and with the 10" and the 8" bag, I have 82 L of space. I don't plan on carrying much on the top, as I don't care for the way a bike handles with top loaded weight. After I get 50K miles on the bike, I will know if I made a good choice.

 

[keeponriding]

I just talked to Roger at Carbou...I'm buying the 35L Pelicans.

Great price, great value with the life-time guarantee....I also like the removable soft inner cases for carrying clothes and stuff to hotel rooms rather than bug and tar splattered hard cases.

 

[colorider]

Are you getting the complete system from him - or just the bags? I had his bags on my DL650, mounted on SW-MoTech racks. Very pleased overall!

Good Luck!!!