I regretfully had Metal Mule panniers and frames for SibirskyExtreme.
After the very first day off-road the frame suffered one fracture and at the same point on the other side, a complete break. And we had hardly even started in Siberia!

Later I checked with another rider we met who had TT panniers. We found both makes panniers were fully interchangeable to both makes of frames.

Looking at the frames, the difference was that MM do not 'butt-weld' the tubes to mounting points but squash the tube flat (which destroys the inherent strengh of a tube section) and then bends the flattened part to the required angle - providing a further specifically weakening location!

By contrast TT 'butt-weld' the cut tube end to a thick metal plate which looked far stronger.

When reporting the problem to MM their only comment was that I must not have fitted it correctly - nothing wrong with their product!

Additionally, specific to F650GS, there is a sliding unit that holds the frame by gripping the inside of the circular rear footpeg support. The MM unit only grips in two narrow sections of its circumference along about 60% of its length. Givi make a far better expanding unit that grips throughout all its length AND throughout 95% of its circumference

In future I would go for TT frames.


I also learned on that trip that hard luggage can injure and possibly kill, it encourages carrying too much gear/weight and really is best suited for showing off your stickers outside the pub or around the M25, Boulevard Périphérique or МКАД.

For any sort of non sealed roads I would now always go for soft luggage - as in a whole series of different threads!

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