Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Equipment, Travel > Equipment Reviews
UTE Panniers from Metal Mules UTE Panniers from Metal Mules
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
Equipment Reviews Post YOUR REVIEWS of ANY Motorcycle, Camping or Travel Equipment and accessories. Tell us what worked and didn't work for you!
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 21 Feb 2011
Endurodude's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Middle England, UK
Posts: 457
UTE Panniers from Metal Mules
It might be way to early to ask this (I think they've only just been released), but does anyone have some experience of these?

Ute Pannier | Panniers Only | Metal Mule

If I am considering buying these, should I just get the MAX one's instead and worry about the cost later? The UTE and Zega Pro are (roughly) the same price, whereas the MAX are just that: £200 more.

I keep changing my mind between MM and Zega Pro (I'm just contemplating the boxes themselves) and cannot come to a definitive choice?! It may come to just flipping a coin . . . . .

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 21 Feb 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Des Moines
Posts: 433
Metal Mule makes a fine product, but here is an idea. Buy mine for $299 US + $89 shipping to the UK and save mega $$$$$ and help out a Forum Sponsor!








Colors: Silver or Black powder coating
Sizes: 9 in width, or 7.5 in.
Locks: Euro or US stainless steel
Handles: stainless steel retractables
Thickness: 2 mm
Welds: TIG
__________________
http://www.journeyrider.net Latin America blog (07-8)
Last edited by gatogato; 16 Mar 2011 at 08:30.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 21 Feb 2011
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,673
Unless you have a gold plated, highly polished BMW1200 GS that never leaves the garage, leave the Metal Mules where they belong... In a glossy catalogue.

They are serious extracting the urine with their pricing now.

£352 quid EACH for a basic aluminium box..... They're having a giraffe !! That doesn't even include fitting systems or handles etc. They're not even welded and they DO bend and the rivets DO fail.. They are just not worth the money. I know this from the set all bent and non repairable sitting in my garage.

I'd buy a cheaper set from gato or a number of other smaller cheaper companies and help to get over landing get back to reality.

For the cost of the materials, welding and fittings, there is NO reason a company cant sell a set of boxes for £300 and still made a decent profit.
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10 Mar 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 155
gatogato, aren't your side handles upside down? That way you will crush your fingers against the box!
__________________
Tim ('91 R100GSPD)

The only baggage you carry should be in the panniers
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10 Mar 2011
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,673
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Wood View Post
gatogato, aren't your side handles upside down? That way you will crush your fingers against the box!
These ones are made for the Australian market.. Being upside down !!
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 16 Mar 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Black Forest
Posts: 171
Rms
Ask this guy .... all custom made, hand welded

RMS - Reinhard Guhr Rennsporttechnik

We got 2 boxes without all the fancy stuff for Euro 340.- at his shop

sending/mailing, I don`t know ... ask him

Good Luck
Thomas
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 16 Mar 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Des Moines
Posts: 433
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Wood View Post
gatogato, aren't your side handles upside down? That way you will crush your fingers against the box!

Yes, they are. I am going to change that on the next batch. I have carried them holding the handles with a lot of weight in them and it is not painful on your knuckles.

One nice feature about the powdercoating on my boxes is that the insides are powdercoated too so you avoid the crappy aluminum dust stuff that rubs off on your gear.
__________________
http://www.journeyrider.net Latin America blog (07-8)
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 21 Mar 2011
stuxtttr's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Lutterworth,Midlands, UK
Posts: 574
great to see good gear at a reasonable price forget the big overpriced firms and help the ones that are in it for the people
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 21 Mar 2011
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: salt spring is. bc
Posts: 6
gato
your website says you cannot ship to UK ,Canada, etc.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 31 May 2012
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kandahar Afghanistan
Posts: 160
Ted,

What do you recomend mate?

And what size?
__________________
www.landroveradventure.co.uk
Land Rover Discovery 2, Yamaha Super Tenere
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 31 May 2012
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,673
Quote:
Originally Posted by andyb43 View Post
Ted,

What do you recomend mate?

And what size?
Soft bags !!!!

Size depends on you. But as a general rule, the lighter the better... If you get massive luggage systems you'll just fill them full of crap you don't need or use.

Also depends on what you're doing, where you're going etc.
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 31 May 2012
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kandahar Afghanistan
Posts: 160
Saw some soft paniers some where on the internet that had hard backing plates and soft colapsable outers. You could also get water cans that clipped on but i cant rember the make?
__________________
www.landroveradventure.co.uk
Land Rover Discovery 2, Yamaha Super Tenere
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 31 May 2012
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kandahar Afghanistan
Posts: 160
Found them,

anyone tried the Kriega?

Overlander-60 - Kriega
__________________
www.landroveradventure.co.uk
Land Rover Discovery 2, Yamaha Super Tenere
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 2 Jun 2012
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,673
Quote:
Originally Posted by andyb43 View Post
Found them,

anyone tried the Kriega?

Overlander-60 - Kriega
I haven't tried them personally but I do know that Kriega do make some very good quality kit. I've seen all sorts of their stuff on bikes. It's very nice.

Even though the brand sounds German, I think they're British...

They certainly ain't cheap though... I used £35 Canvas army bags all the way through Europe and Africa. Best bit of kit I owned. Not waterproof but £10 dry bags sorted that problem out.

http://www.silvermans.co.uk/ProductD...0/Default.aspx

I could be wrong though....
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Last edited by *Touring Ted*; 2 Jun 2012 at 11:20.
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Metal Mules prices go up AGAIN!! UTS Rich Equipment Reviews 41 1 Oct 2009 15:08
Spotted: Black Yam + Metal Mules + Jamaica Road KTMmartin Europe 0 6 Jun 2009 00:06
Metal Mules (used) at Ripley for sale Alan Whelan TRAVEL Equipment for Sale / Wanted 6 1 Jul 2008 14:53
Africa Twin Metal Mules & rack F/S UK edteamslr TRAVEL Equipment for Sale / Wanted 5 30 May 2008 14:41
Fitting Metal Mules to XT's Dakota Yamaha Tech 1 17 Sep 2007 20:21

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27
Queensland is back! May 2-5
Ecuador June 13-15
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1
CanWest: July 10-13
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:27.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top