custom small aluminium tank panniers?
 

my last year long trip i used aerostch front panniers along with my happy-trail rear alu ones. but they leak and are easy to break into and small. this next trip, RTW? im thinking of having some custom 5'X14'X12" alu panniers built to match my denaklis on back. theyd be h2o proof and difficult to steal stuff. why does everyone talk so negatively about them? if you have super huge metal boxes on back what does it matter alongside the tank, on my custom super macho crashbars im having welded up.? anyway theyll be a good place for stickers accumulated during my 3-5 year trip.

I am a minimalist of the less is more camp. And while your idea is abhorrent to me I see no reason why you can't add front alu boxes up front on the crash bars. The upside is more places to put stuff. The down side is more wear on the steering head bearings and front suspension and more likely knee injury in frontal impact.

Best,
John Downs

I too are of the mimalist inclination. However, if you want to put paniers up front I see some advantages. I was taught to ride on gravel roads by an expert and he always insisted on a forward weight bias as this improved handling in the loose stuff. Frankly, I am appalled by the tendancy most seem to have to load heavily to the rear. It has to be unstable. As for head bearings, I would not worry too much. I have replaced two (2) sets in 53 years of varied motorcycling. Knee injury may be a problem but you could pad the rear face of each panier to lessen the impact. Best of luck and happy times I wish you.
Ah Boon

front panniers
 

hi if you read grants and susans trip they had front panniers on their bmw, see here, Grant and Susan Johnson - Around the World, two-up on a BMW motorcycle, 1987 to... | Horizons Unlimited, hope this helps steve