Hi guys,

I am a french guy willing to undertake a year trip around South America.
I am currently looking at luggage solutions but I am kind of lost in the volume I should take.
This is the Set up I was thinking about:

1 tank bag of around 8 Liters
1 duffle bag (I already have the Mosko Moto backcountry) : 40L
1 set of saddle bags (such as Enduristan Moonsoon) : 60L (30L per side)
I was also thinking of smaller saddle bags such as the Blizzards from Enduristan 24L (12L on each side) but not sur if it is enough or not.

I will also carry on my back a small backpack that I will mostly keep empty during rides but will be used during daily visits around town.

So (without the backpack), I should have around 110L of carrying capacity.

Is that enough / too much for a year long trip in both warm and cold weather with camping gears?

Trying to be as light as possible. Will be on a KLR 650 European C model from 2003.

How did you do? More space? Less? Would have taken less stuff?

Thanks for your help and have a good new year.

V

Hello and welcome to the forum,
That is a question with an infinite number of answers, it sounds like you have enough to me but I am quite a minimalist, some will have more and a few will have less, if everything you feel you need goes in it you have enough.

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the reply. You are right, it is a tough question as we all have different standards as of what to take with us while travelling. What about you?
What is your load when you go travelling? Taking camping and cooking gears?

It is hard to know if everything is going to fit in without having the saddle bags first. And I don't know which one I need in terms of volume

Outfit your bike sequentially. Panniers/saddlebags first. Buy the larger ones for any extended (or complicated) trip. Add a hard-shelled top box with a lock if you’re using soft panniers. Duffle and tank bag next; personally, I don’t use a tank bag at all, but there’s no question they’re convenient for stuff you want visible or accessible while riding.

Backpack last. If its empty, don’t carry it on your back at all—just stick it into your baggage. It’s definitely handy to have a day pack for excursions on foot, but it should be chosen according to likely use. Something minimal will roll up tiny but can be deployed whenever necessary.

You might want to add a small camelback (or similar). It’ll fit inside or outside your jacket and won’t get in the way, but can make a big difference in keeping you hydrated, therefore alive and alert.

I’ve also carried smaller bags and cases up front, mounted low on my crash bars. This works better for me than the monstrous pile of duffles, fuel cans,l tires and other crap I’ve often seen on overlanders’ bikes. And don’t forget the classic tool tube, permanently mounted someplace out of the way and stuffed with tubes and tire change tools.

Hope that’s helpful. Per the above, there are as many solutions (and strongly-held opinions) as there are riders.

Mark

This looks just about right to me. Aside from tools and the quantity of water and food that you might carry, you should strive for a load that you could carry on your back.

You will probably find that you need to buy a lighter sleeping bag or tent to make this work and that you will have to think hard about clothing necessities- what to take and what to leave.

But if you can fit your gear into these bags, your load should be fairly easy to deal with, while still maintaining a nice level of comfort.



This was 28 Liters each side, 40 Liter duffle (not full at all), and 4-6 liters each side for the tank panniers. I had tent, sleeping bag, mat and tennis shoes in the duffle. I did not take a stove, but I did carry 2 Liters of water and a couple of days worth of food. (My tent and sleeping bag were expensive- but lightweight and compact- well worth it, I think).

.......shu

Hi,

Thanks for your help.
I hope I will be able to fit all my stuff into a small volume. Not sure about carrying a top box (even though it is lockable) I feel like it would be easy for anyone to break in. Not a huge fan also due to the weight increase at the far rear of the bike.

Shu... I will be interested to see your packing list (if you have one) to compare with the items I'll be looking to take.
Do you have one?

I whish you all an awesome new year full of adventures

Clem