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Best design for aluminium boxes? Best design for aluminium boxes?
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Equipment Reviews Post YOUR REVIEWS of ANY Motorcycle, Camping or Travel Equipment and accessories. Tell us what worked and didn't work for you!
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  #16  
Old 14 Sep 2004
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I know a lot people like Jesse's and I have nothing else to compare them to but after my a long weekend trip testing my installation I think there could definately be improvements.

The locks are worthless. Any kid with a large screwdriver should be able to pop them open. There are latched for using an external padlock but the are secured by two philps screws. I didn't use an external lock but the latch fell off somewhere between NYC and Canada. This is a heavy piece and I hate to think that this flew into a car. Several bolts came loose, but I do no attribute this to a design flaw. I didn't use locktite because I wanted a test run first.

They get very hot. Again, this is probably true for all bags, but I have a suggestion. Add vent holes and an optional fabric cover like the rain covers for tank bags. Preferable a light color, either white or bright yellow. Perhaps this could be lockable as well. How about some rubber washers or something to help reduce vibration.

There are no means to attach items to the exterior of the bags.

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  #17  
Old 21 Oct 2004
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I really like the look of those custom ones by Roger from Germany, especially the minimal rack, but the weakness I see here is that they might be difficult to take on and off. I notice for stability that the box attatches to the pillion footrest, and there is a bar between the two boxes at the back, so the boxes are themselves perform part of the role of a more traditional rack.

How often do people like to remove their boxes? I have touratech 41litres on an F650 dakar, and needed to take them off sometimes just becuase of the width, other times it was useful to be easily able to remove them for other reasons. This is a good aspect of their rack and mounting, but where I think it really falls down is the amount of stress around the mounting with fully loaded cases - after a year on the road my cases have cracked around the plastic mounts - due I think to a combination of weight and vibration

Richard

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  #18  
Old 23 Oct 2004
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Hi

Ahhh... doncha just love ally pannier debates.

FWIW I've been very happy with the Touratech frames and boxes on my R80 GS. Survived Indian full-contact traffic and a 40mph crash with minimal damage. Nice and light, easily beaten straight. I'd use 'em again, no question.

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  #19  
Old 25 Oct 2004
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Hello. I recently built a set of boxes for my GS and would like to comment on removal options. I chose to make mine solid mount with the bar across the back, similar to the ones featured earlier on the KTM LC8. The bags contain my tent, sleeping bag, cold weather gear, cooking equipment and food. These are items i prefer not to carry into the hotel when i choose to stay at one, and i usually park my bike where it is secure. Fully loaded i can still pick up the bike after a dump and if i really want to do some hard off-roading, there off tn 5 min. With four allen-head bolts each. Most important is the strength added to the frame with solid mounting. Been on the road for a month now, both on and off road, and this has worked out very well for me. Just my 2 cents...
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  #20  
Old 25 Oct 2004
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Here's what I had built by Overland Solutions in the UK.

http://www.nohorizons.net/framed.htm
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