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ZEGA (Touratech)Alu Boxes ? Good or Bad ? ZEGA (Touratech)Alu Boxes ? Good or Bad ?
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  #1  
Old 26 Jul 2005
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ZEGA (Touratech)Alu Boxes ? Good or Bad ?
Is anyone using or have used ZEGA Aluminium boxes from Touratech. I was about to buy these for my Africa Twin but I have just read a really awful review of them.(see below)

http://www.smellybiker.com/cgi-bin/s...paration.shtml

If anyone has any comments on these, please let me know. Thanks
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Old 26 Jul 2005
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Yes this is sad true. ZEGAs are good for higway use but not offroad riding.
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Old 26 Jul 2005
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Can anybody recommend some strong Alumunium boxes and rack system for an Africa twin then. I really cant afford to spend over £600 but they need to survive 8 months in South America.
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Old 27 Jul 2005
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Second hand Jesse's if you can find them or the Caja Sahel panniers:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthr...threadid=40366

Reviews:
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthr...threadid=49854

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthr...threadid=44443

I've not seen them myself but they seem pretty good. Only drawbacks I've noticed are that they're not quick release and that the removeable lids are curved, not flat which lessens their usefulness as tables etc. No idea on cost either, just making you aware of their existence.
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Old 27 Jul 2005
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If you are a bit skint and have basic workshop skills you could make your own. You could buy a rack aftermarket, as that is the tricky bit, then fabricate the boxes out of sheet Aluminium. I just made some boxes out of sheet steel (I really AM skint!) for my Enfield to fit in the aftermarket Indian Army racks. Cost: £11 for the steel, £12 to powder coat them. £8 for catches and a quid say for pop rivets. Total cost: £32.
I see no reason why making boxes out of Alu should be harder. And Metal Mules are pop riveted together so it must be a reasonable method of construction. They are a bit rough but seem very solid. I dont expect them to be totally waterproof though.
matt
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Old 27 Jul 2005
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Iv just looked into this and unfortunatly they only make panniers for the BMW Gs series.

I found there website:

http://www.littleireland.ie/cajasahel/index.htm

The search continues.....
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Old 27 Jul 2005
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I've got Caja Sahel and very much like them. Decent room (41&43 litres) and cornering room (unlike Zegas the bottom arc is cut)

Yes, currently they only make them for BMW R-GSes only. But i've heard they have plans for making them for other makes too. E-mail them about that.

As for Zegas, skip them if you can. They seem to be cheap alternative, but i've heard many bad storyes too. While i was searching for panniers and feedbacks I've heard the good ones are:

Bernd Tesch: http://www.berndtesch.de/
Caja Sahel: http://www.cajasahel.com/
Al Jesse: http://www.jesseluggage.com/
Vern: http://www.projectvnd.com/
Happy Trails: http://www.happy-trail.com/
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Old 27 Jul 2005
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hello,
I just travelled for 6 months in central-south america. I had Tesch aluminium cases.
they are strong and can take a beating, but I would recommend you take soft lugguage instead. a lot smaller and cheaper. and remember, the more space you have got, the more crap you are going to take with you. it is no fun weaving through traffic with wide metal panniers. this is just my personal opinion( I must agree, big metal panniers look cool on the bike), but travel light and have a great trip,
Mark
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Old 28 Jul 2005
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This is true Mark! Soft luggages are better in hard terrain, if you hit and crash. This is simple, alu boxes are good for closed cars and cargo roof racks. Heavy box can easy loose connection between bike if you crash, and how to repair this in this conditions? I was test ZEGA on African deserts, and no comments. This is joke. Maybe if you ride 5km/h will be ok. I was lost my soft bags at 120km/h on desert section I was hit in little jump... and all was ok.

------------------
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Old 28 Jul 2005
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I agree that soft luggage is best in bad conditions but I am worried about security. If i leave the luggage on my bike, while i got into a shop etc. Someone can easily steal soft luggage. I am going around South America, and many places the bike will be left unguarded with luggage on.

I just dont know what to do

Can anyone recommend a good Pannier rack / soft luggage system then ??

[This message has been edited by tedmagnum (edited 28 July 2005).]
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Old 28 Jul 2005
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I believe everything that I've read here about the Zega panniers. However I must point out something.

In the Long Way Round dokkie (groan) E.McG is hit by a car from the rear. The bike apparently shot up and was barely kept under control. The car was completely immobile due to a busted radiator and slightly mangled front. The panniers took the full brunt of the hit and survived with minor damage.

How do you explain that or should we thank the rack and not the panniers?

P.S. If Charlie reads this: I actually enjoyed the LWR very much!

[This message has been edited by LuckyStriker (edited 28 July 2005).]
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Old 29 Jul 2005
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hello again,
you could go to the outdoorshop and get a steel mesh net, the kind people use to secure their backpack to the roof of a bus.
attach this to your rack first, then the softbags, close the net and lock with a small padlock.
you don't need a strong rack, just something to keep the bags away from the exhaust and the wheel.
maybe ortlieb, they make systems for bicycles.
Mark
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Old 31 Jul 2005
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Quote:
Originally posted by tedmagnum:

I just dont know what to do

Can anyone recommend a good Pannier rack / soft luggage system then ??
I've previously used the Ortlieb throwover saddlebags - without a rack, and will do so again. I rate them very highly - simple and robust in my experience, and relatively inexpensive. Their capacity is 47 litres, which when combined with some other storage for my tools and spares (I use a touratech tail rack bag), a small backpack (I use a Camelbak HAWG) and a jacket with a few pockets (Aerostich Darien), is easily enough capacity for me. Only problem is working out a means of safely isolating the bags from the silencer. Currently working on a solution for my bike (KTM LC4).

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Old 3 Aug 2005
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If you don't have expensive pannier rack made alloy u-shape plate and mount on rear part of your bike. Drill few holes and easly attach your stuff. This is best bulett proof solution.
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Old 10 Aug 2005
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The luggage rack of Touratech is known to be pretty tough. Besides that they fit the bike you order it for exactly, holes, screws, connections, everything. On that rack your're free to mount any pannier.

The disadvantage of extremely tough boxes & racks is that in case of an accident your luggage might still be in good shape, but your bike frame might be stuffed :-(

Hans
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