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Metal Mules prices go up AGAIN!! Metal Mules prices go up AGAIN!!
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  #1  
Old 21 Apr 2008
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well quite. Mrs UTS is looking to do her DAS before october and the £700 difference in cost between MM and most others would just nicely cover that.

as far as supply and demand goes, unfortunately i think there will be still be plenty of people who will buy the best whatever the cost. i'd be very interested to know what MM's overheads were on each set...
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  #2  
Old 21 Apr 2008
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It's supply and demand. I'm guessing MM have now reached a point where they can sell all they make. You either take the responsibility of hiring more people/buying new equipment, or raise the price. Metal stock prices are also insane right now and petrol prices/economy issues might well kill the travel market, so I can understand the MM business decision.

I fitted the ultimate metal pannier for not much more than that though. I think it's something like 200 litres (Ural sidecar)!

Having used soft luggage briefly a few years back while waiting for MM to complete the Bonneville rack design, I'd go this route again on a solo, probably with a cheap metal/plastic top box for a bit of security.

Andy
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  #3  
Old 21 Apr 2008
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I have been looking at getting some metal panniers for my upcoming trip to egypt later this year , and i have just checked out the metal mule site . for a left and a right pannier plus mounting racks for my 650 v strom . £1348.98 !!!!!!! i have bought decent bikes for less than that ! . call me a tight git , but there is no way i would pay that for a set of metal boxes . i will probably end up spending about £500.00 for a set of panniers , no more . i truly think that they are in real danger of pricing themselves right out of the market .
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Old 21 Apr 2008
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Hi All,

Ive priced up a set for my 12GSA and the reply they got off me for a pair and mounting kit was "you cheeky *@?"!$&*'s . In English £1546 including vat , i think id be shopping in south wales for my panniers plus a few other gadgets for that sort of money.

R.n B.
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  #5  
Old 21 Apr 2008
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So, how much you´re looking at paying, if you get some other manufacturer´s set of panniers and racks? And I mean ones that can be compared to MM in any way.

The Mules are tough as hell, easy to take off / fit securely into the bike, and even the racks seem to be of the same quality. Not all aluminium panniers work as well as these.

Yeah, it felt like a xxxxload of money, when I bought them, but they do the job so flawlessly, everything just works well, and they seem practically indestructible, too, so in general I´ve just enjoyed using them, and havent really worried about the money.
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Old 21 Apr 2008
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Ttt
I know the £ is down the pan, but take a look at Bernd Tesch's stuff. Outstanding and you will NOT find a stronger rack system

Globetrott Zentrale Bernd Tesch

46 liter are quoted at €185 each and the rack is about €350.

Mine survived being sideswiped, caving in the car door with the L/H box and the bike landing on the R/H box from about 70kph. Its a bit dented and scraped, but still servicable.

Just a sugestion... MM & TT are NOT the only things out there.

John
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  #7  
Old 21 Apr 2008
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I was interested in a set of these for my new KTM990. Was thinking along the lines of selling the new racks and panniers that came with the bike on ebay, adding a few hundred quid and getting the MM's.
Just checked their website and the cheeky feckers are now asking £1200 for a pair of panniers and racks.
A set of TT's and racks go for just over £500, so I reckon maybe £800 tops is a realistic price. Are people really willing to pay the sort of prices they're asking??
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Old 30 Apr 2008
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cost
I bought a set of mules in jan 07 for my ktm640 the cost then was 775 sterling. the cost on mules website is now 1279 sterling.

I looked at the price of the individual boxes and a pair of boxes with all the handles, tie down points and rubber feet cost just over 500
so how do they get the other 800 am i missing something?

The boxes are good and i am very happy with them, but they are not worth twice the amount as the competition.

I used to worry about people getting into my boxes and stealing things now i am worried about them pinching my boxes.

IAIN
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Old 18 Jul 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roi View Post
Hi All,

Ive priced up a set for my 12GSA and the reply they got off me for a pair and mounting kit was "you cheeky *@?"!$&*'s .
and yet you quite happily handing over mega-mula for a 12GSA?

the 'adventure touring' market is just that, a market. plenty will pay over the odds (just like the 12GSA), when something much simpler will do. $5 army bags will do the job fine, but yeah, don't give 'the look'...
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  #10  
Old 18 Jul 2009
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For really cheap alternatives
If you just want something to start with you could try either of these, teh first is soft luggage, teh second hard but you will have to make your own frames, but at £40 set worth thinking about.
Buy Oxford First Time Pannier Set. at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for .

or

Find the cheapest Concorde Low-Level Plastic Cistern White by , best price, compare prices at MyVoucherCodes Shopping

have fun.
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Old 19 Jul 2009
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Find the cheapest Concorde Low-Level Plastic Cistern White by , best price, compare prices at MyVoucherCodes Shopping

I prefer the ones by Royal Doulton , they have more kudos .
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  #12  
Old 30 Apr 2008
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Wink Pricing policy
Quote:
Originally Posted by UTS Rich View Post
as far as supply and demand goes, unfortunately i think there will be still be plenty of people who will buy the best whatever the cost. i'd be very interested to know what MM's overheads were on each set...
Maybe folk will pay whatever is the asking price, but that price has no direct relationship to the cost of production - the latter is but one factor in setting the asking price.
Similarly, the "overheads" are only of some relevance to the cost of production.

Anyway, as my great grand pappy used to say, never buy the most expensive wine on the restaurants' wine menu.
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Old 30 Apr 2008
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Maybe the greatly increased prices is to support the advert that often appears at the head of this same thread !

Great co-ordination.

(Just leg pulling, Grant)
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  #14  
Old 1 May 2008
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Spoke to MM at NEC as they were upgrading the boxes from Series 1 to Series 2. Small changes like the way the Brackets are fitted, New Lid Seal and Improved Locking Mechanism.
The old Series 1 were about £800 for a full system, I was informed it would only be an increase of 20%.
50% + is crazy. Have they replaced the anodising with Gold Plate ??
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  #15  
Old 1 May 2008
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Smile Where's the problem?
Yeah, but the good thing is there's lot of alternatives for Alu boxes

Al Jesses
Alpos
Bernd Tesch
Caja Sahel
Därr
Happy Trails
ProjectVND (Vern)
SW Motech (TraX)
Touratech


And the list goes a bit further on... For every budget and strenght type. All of them cheaper than the Metal Mules, some probably even better.

Ride safe, Margus
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