Thanks for all the advices, I have managed to find a buyer for my top-case and hopefully I will be able to sell it in the next week or two.

Meanwhile I have been researching rack designs as the KLE's rack is kinda small. Still have to find a design I like and than have it laser cut out of 4-6mm aluminium.

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I have a large ortlieb duffle too. Used it all over south america. Best thing about it is that you set the size yourself with how much you pack and roll it. Very versatile. However, being a tube, its harder to pack (think packing a tent away), and you often have to empty it to get what you want like a rucksac.

The ortlieb rack packs are GREAT because they have a large top opening, making them easy to pack/unpack.. The flat base sits nice on a pillion seat and the handles make It easy to carry.

And the 49l one should get away as airline carry-on luggage. Be it with a raised eyebrow on occasion.

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I'm very happy with my recently acquired Wolfman 40l roll bag. Looks and feels bombproof- very thick vinyl material and handy D rings for lashing to the bike securely and adding more packs if need be. Opens nice and wide so easy to pack. Made up a couple of custom straps to keep things neat, fits well on my Rugged Roads rack plate.

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I actually don't have the rack pack which is a roll bag but a real duffle, with a zipper (water tight) It's 85L which seems big but its not much bigger than the bag on the beemer above! And it has back pack straps which is a big bonus I think.

I agree. I own one of those huge Lomos for all my kayaking junk but would never use it on a bike and expect it to keep the stuff dry over a day of heavy rain.

Here's another rack pack suggestion: Watershed Chattooga dry bag.
They claim 30L which may be possible, perhaps more like 25L. I can get my tent, bag and mat in there, so all up no more than 4-5kg weight hung out back.
Tough PU 'hard-coated' fabric would outlast an Ortlieb on a slide down the road and a fat, rubbery ziplock seal (similar to freezer bags) means it's effectively submersible. Designed for rafting; it will not leak.
I've found in a day of heavy rain riding, water inches it's way past roll-up bags, no matter how tightly done up. A bit OTT for most (I mostly use it for paddling) but if I had a long wet ride lined up - say trans Siberia - I'd be confident this bag out on the back could fall in a few rivers without problems.
Knowing that, you don't need to put contents inside yet more dry bags, just in case (as I used to do). One submersible bag does the job. Rubber seal is a bit of a faff but the way I use it, camping gear gets packed and unpacked once a day at most.

Ch

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I've tried lots of top boxes, duffels and top bags. I've shifted luggage around quite a bit on my DR650, trying various hard and soft panniers. Now going full soft all the time.

With camping gear I have a massive duffel. Way too big, must hold 50L easy.
But more room than I need ... this $35 usd bag came apart after just ONE
week long camping trip. JUNK! (Cycle Gear) Avoid!


Working hard to keep up with the boys on the KTM 950SE's with GIANT POOP
bag on the back.


I use a simple wood platform. This one is too big. (was for BIG bag shown above, about 28" wide). I will now cut it down for the small Wolfman duffel bag, (33L) which is only 20" wide.

I'm using Nelson-Rigg panniers. Very well made, hold more than I need for solo non camping travel. I got these new from a fellow rider... $100 usd.
I use inner bags with them, at Hotel, just a grab and go. I use small and light Happy Trails racks that allow the panniers to sit very close to the bike but off the HOT pipe. They ride LOW and FORWARD. They pretty much stay put on the roughest trails and have held up well the last year/8,000 miles.


The Wolfman unrolled and stood up ... man, a lot of room in there! I got ALL my clothing, sandals and MORE .. filled it half way.

Easy to mount up securely and quick off ... and since I use clear bags for stuff, I have a way to organize internally ... and SEE contents and get to it quickly.

Opening bag is easier than expected. I hate fiddly bags. My only complaint here is TOO MANY straps. After a few trips ... I will simply CUT OFF the ones I don't use or don't need. So far, after having the duffel off and on several times, loading it up and unloading it ... it is a pure delight and much better than expected. This is the small size... and it holds a ton!
Remember, this is my NON camping bag. For camping I would go up one size to hold tent, pad, sleeping bag plus all clothing.

With this set up my main panniers are not even half full. Lots of spare room. Now I have to resist overloading with junk I don't need.
The panniers will hold:
1. a few tools that don't fit in my tool tube (extra tire iron)
2. Spare tubes (2)
3. Toilet kit, meds, Medical kit
4. Tow strap
5. bike cover
6. quick access Merino wool sweater and syn T shirt, rain pants, spare gloves
7. Hand heaters, Ear plugs, Zip ties, Chargers, camera and phone stuff
8. Bike elec. kit, nut/bolt kit, bike odds and ends
9. Maps held in flat inner pocket in panniers
10. Tea kit/cup/sugar (No stove)

Hey!

As I am riding more and more gravel and light off-road, I need to change my Givi Maxia 52l top box for a soft dry bag. Here is my criteria: needs to be top loading, at least 50cm wide, quality product not some Chinese knock-off. There are a lot of options out there, so I narrowed it down to these 3:

1. SW-Motech Tailbag Drybag Medium 35L


Size: 55x30 cm
Capacity: 38,811L (Calculated)

Pros:
- Hi-Viz yellow

Cons:
- Possible flapping of carry handles in the wind while riding

Price: 60€ (66€ delivered)

2. Enduristan Tornado M 32L


Size: 53x27cm
Capacity: 30,345 (Calculated)

Pros:
- No flapping handle

Cons:
- No reviews of the bag, like no one is using them
- Smaller size than advertised

Price: 65€ (77€ delivered)

3. Wolfman Expedition Dry Duffel - Small 33L


Size: 51x29cm
Capacity: 33,687L (Calculated)

Pros:
- A lot of happy users
- A lot of add-on parts
- Repair kit available

Cons:
- Possible flapping of carry handles in the wind while riding
- Price

Price: 99€ (112€ delivered)
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In this bag I will have my camping gear: tent, ground sheet, sleeping bag and mat,...

Is anyone using any of these bags and can comment on them? If you had to chose one, which one would it be and why.

I will buying one as soon as I sell my Givi case.

Thanks for your help![/QUOTE]

Like Touring Ted I use Otleib Dry Bag for diving Camping & everything between.

Lomo are doing a offer at the moment £40ltr dry bag £15.00 or 20 for get now worth a snout quite a few of the ABR guys used them.

I use the roll toped type as I can see problems with the tube type & doubble open ended, I dont see the point, I can see with doubble ended needing more bags in side & if you for get where or which side of the bag well you get the pic the roll top dry has quite a large mouth to rummage in & rolls down as small as it needs to be, if you get the big one & dont need all the space roll it up some more

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check this
ORTLIEB Produkt-Details
But it's expensive too.

English: http://www.ortlieb.com/_prod.php?lan...=moto_rackpack

I see no prices on the site.

90L is huge... Orlieb do a 55L which when full is already very big. Think of the weight distribution. The big 90l bags will also be hard to store on the bike. They are too wide and sag a lot.

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Hey Ted!

Iagree, 90 or 85 liter is huge. If it will be to huge, that's the question.

I'm planning a trip to kenia and find it hard to estimate how much room I need. With only 2x10 liter as sidebags, a 11 liter tankbag I think I will need it. My thought is that I rather have to much bag than to much luggage. I'm trying to go minimalistic (that's more difficult than packing everything that I can think of).

But apart from the size, what do you think quality or up to the job wise?

Luc

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Luc

IMO, Ted's got it right. Both 85 or 90 liter Duffel bags are H U G E!

My advice would be to fill up the 90 ltr. bag ... now attach to your bike and see how you like it. Too heavy?

If your top bag is ONLY bag you carry .. maybe it is OK for you? If you have room on your rear rack. No way to fit that monster duffel bag on my DR650.

I have a 35 ltr. Roll Top Wolfman bag. It's good but a PITA to get see what is at bottom of the bag. Holds A TON of stuff!
I use with panniers, never fill it. 50 liters more than enough for me, always room to spare, but I work hard to pack light.

I prefer ZIPPER top bag. Easier to find things quickly in your duffel bag. No digging around. I would go with Zipper bag ... but a smaller size bag. I'm sure Ortleib zipper will not leak ... no need for roll top type. A pain. (IMO!)


My Wolfman Duffel bag (less than half full) used with 35 liter panniers.


Here is a 65 liter bag I used on one ride. TOO BIG! Look how ridiculous it looks on my DR650. (black bike) Bad choice.

I agree that 90L is twice as big as practical, even alongside the bike.
A typical travel bike's entire baggage needs would cover that volume.

I'd go for roll-top not that Tizip. I have one on a drysuit. It works but is overkill for a moto bag (as opposed to rafting) and needs greasing, cleaning and careful use. And when it jams or breaks you're stuck.

Roll top is maintenance-free, can't break and can adjust for volume changes.

Overboard feels like cheaper, heavier PVC than Ortlieb TPU.
I'd go for full PVC/TPU shell - easier to repair than a Cordura panel.

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Tnx guys, that's useful info. I will get a smaller bag.

My preferred setup on my 2011 650 vstrom is the altrider hempishere saddelbag (without the original innerbag) and put 2 drybags in it. Only problem is that it will be sticking out to much if I go over 10 liter. Putting a duffle bag on top of it will be difficult:



I like the concept of not needing any sideracks and go as minimal as possible, in theory. In real life I find it hard to estimate if I will have enough space to carry all my essentials. That's where your expertise comes in.

I would like to put the dufflebag just behind the saddlebag and build my own luggagerack (a bit like mollydogs!)

Which full PVC/TPU shell duffle/bag would you recommend?

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Luc

Ortlieb and equivalents are tough bags. Up to the job for sure. But my point was that they don't like to be bent and creased. That's when they could let you down. Where are you planning on on putting the dry bag ?

And why such small side bags ?

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