Hey!
New on this great forum and thought I could start with contributing with some of my experience.:-)

I´m going for a 4 week trip to Morocco within a few days, This is something I´ve been planning for the last six month together with my great friend Chris. He is running his company for adventure traveling, Explore360 and we are three persons going together for some reconnaissance.

During the summer I´ve made two independent trips to beautiful Norway to try out the bike and different equipment, plus myself. ;-)
One of my biggest concerns are to lower the weight as much as possible, familiar to you all is probably the downside of a heavy bike when the things gets going.

I started out with the original panniers in aluminum which really are adding comfort and are easy to load and use. However I found out that the two panniers together represented an empty weight of more than 10 kg´s. On top of that is the mounting construction that adds another 5 kg´s which means at least +15 kg on the bike BEFORE any load is added!!

I looked for an option and found an interesting option from the company Motonaut (motonaut.eu). The "Motonaut Adventure" was their best model for my use. (They also have alternatives for lighter bikes like enduro´s and such).

On my second Norway-excursion lasting for a week I tested that loading system, which is almost weightless in comparison with the panniers. Once you get acquainted with the strapping system I found that it as a really great option to those heavy panniers.
You get a slightly higher center of gravity but that´s compensated by far with less total weight. I´s also flexible and less fragile once you fall or drop the bike.

I´ve since had some contact with the inventer and owner of Motonaut, Kristofer and discussed some details that´s now implemented in the line of loading systems that he provide.
I found the system that convincing I´ve decided to use it on the upcoming trip to Morocco.
You will be able to follow us on:
Lisa Nordlind - på motorcykel i Afrika med Jonas och Chris

Check it out!
JJ

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Interesting concept. Not exactly sure how it works though. Keen to find out how much it wiggles.

It doesn't just deal with lowering weight, it brings it closer to the bike's centre of mass which is much more important and my biggest gripe with conventional saddle bags like steel pony, andy strapz and magadans. A high centre of mass is less stable relative to the contact patch with the ground but only depending on the angle you lean it backwards and forwards. A higher placed also has benefits like improve braking. The width is what makes it feel out of control. The impact of width is squared to the impact of weight so it's much more important. This is what tight rope walkers take advantage off with their long balance pole.

Moment of Inertia

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

I´m getting more and more convinced that this is the way to go carrying luggage on longer trips and adventures.

Thanks tmotten for your enlightenment!
If I got it right it´s better to load high than wide provided the weight is the same?
JJ

Good luck, Jonas! Knowing how well you have prepared your bike, I am sure that you're going to have a blast on it!


Thanks!

Here's the crash course (more info can be found at www.motonaut.eu):



The two bags are held down at three points (on each side), securing them on the bike. No wiggling!


We have tried to illustrate the benefits in handling here: Motonaut Adventure - YouTube

Thanks for contributing!


Best regards,
Kristofer, Motonaut

Found this video. Cool concept but a bit to fiddly for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tMc...layer_embedded


The impact of the mass would be reduced more in that scenario provided the height above the bike centre of mass doesn't exceed the width from the same centre of mass too much. Low and close is best. Right behind the rider legs/ boots in other words. Off course this is somewhat a compromise on rider space, but as expert riders (not me) know, it's always best to stay on the pegs.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

Ok, that makes sense.
I´m about to load the bike for the departure any time now, bringing this theory into practice which makes it even more fun - thanks!

As always, don´t bring too much - less is more! ;-)

Interesting. I like the fact that you can leave the mounting half on the bike so that you don't have to go through a lot of adjusting every day. If I could tweak it though it would be to make the bag straps quicker to fit, maybe have some quick release buckles in there so that the bags effectively clipped on and then only needed a quick tension.

It does make me wonder though, for a longer journey couldn't you attach fixed mounting rings directly to the bike's frame rather than having the "bikini" used here?

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Exactly right. I get the shits with stuff that doesn't come out of the bag every day and like the bag to be near empty when I've made camp. Hate spending time packing stuff everyday.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

Hi Alexlebrit,

We use metal fasteners instead of plastic quick release buckles for greater reliability. I hear you on the quick part, but it is actually really fast to take the bags off or put them on if you leave the system on the bike.

I like the idea and it's definitely something we could do. A system designed to stay on the bike 90% of the time could be even quicker to use. The "old" Motonaut Harness (instruction here) was more like that, but a new system would do the job even better!

If you can help us to find out if this is something people want, we will make it!


Best regards,
Kristofer, Motonaut

Kristofer

Thanks for taking the time to explain more and to listen. There's a world of expertise here hopefully you'll get plenty of suggestions to help continued development. In the meantime good luck it's got the makings of a great product.

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Thanks, I will make my ears bigger to try to catch it all!

We have done user trials in Sweden during development, so we have incorporated a lot of that feedback into our products. But there is always room for improvement!

I have noted your point and have some ideas that we will test! Maybe it will become a product, we will see!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

As a 4x4 driver i can just admire about how you bikers travel!

How less it really need.

Surfy

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About Overlanding, Travelogues, Equipment
Trans-Africa over the west coast

Jonas has left the country! They left last night and will hit Morocco in a few days time!

He sent me a pic of the bike all loaded up and ready to go!



I'm helping out from behind the desk by putting the info from Lisa's blog here. If you want the uncensored truth it is here.


Kristofer, Motonaut

Alex:

We have released a new product, the Motonaut Rack, that is designed to stay on the bike at all times. It's very low profile and doesn't get in the way.

On the Rack you can attach anything you want, with anything you want. We have developed adjustable straps, Adjustastraps, that are great for this, but if you want quick release buckles you can use Rok Straps or something like that!

I hope that you like this new product, as it adresses some of your earlier points!

Videos:
Motonaut Rack Installation


Motonaut Raid and Adventure Systems - Comparison


You can also see more at www.motonaut.eu