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Panniers for Round-The-World trip Panniers for Round-The-World trip
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Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? Anything to do with the bikes equipment, saddlebags, etc. Questions on repairs and maintenance of the bike itself belong in the Brand Specific Tech Forums.
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

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


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
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  • 1 Post By ta-rider
  • 1 Post By mollydog
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  #1  
Old 9 Jul 2017
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Panniers for Round-The-World trip
In a few month I will start for my second round-the-world trip by bike.
This time it will be on my Triumph Tiger 800 XC.

I am in the process of outfitting the bike. Wanted to get the Touratech panniers Zega PRO 2. But after reading some posts here - I got a bit unsure about if I am on the right path, as many guys here seem to be not happy with these panniers .... too weak, will bend when having the first little crash ...
Are they really so bad? Who has experience with them?
What alternatives can you recommend?

I will ride mostly on paved roads. But sure there will also be a few thousand kilometers on gravel. And experience tells me that my bike will fall down from time to time. Trip should last for about 4 years - and I want something what will last.

Thanks in advance for your, hopefully, helpful inspirations!
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  #2  
Old 10 Jul 2017
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Just build some panniers your selfe: http://reisemotorrad.eu/?report=seitenkoffer
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  #3  
Old 10 Jul 2017
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I have no experience of these panniers and am not a fan of Touratech much of which seems to be lifestyle products rather than anything needed but many people have travelled using these panniers and found them perfectly good. If you are looking for an alternative Metal Mule have a good reputation among people I have spoken to who have them, a friend works for the company that make them and says they do take quality seriously so could be a good alternative.
https://metalmule.com/by-product/pan...er-frames.html
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  #4  
Old 10 Jul 2017
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Have a look at Heavy Duties from Romania.
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  #5  
Old 11 Jul 2017
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike14 View Post
In a few month I will start for my second round-the-world trip by bike.
This time it will be on my Triumph Tiger 800 XC.

I am in the process of outfitting the bike. Wanted to get the Touratech panniers Zega PRO 2. But after reading some posts here - I got a bit unsure about if I am on the right path, as many guys here seem to be not happy with these panniers .... too weak, will bend when having the first little crash ...
Are they really so bad? Who has experience with them?
What alternatives can you recommend?

I will ride mostly on paved roads. But sure there will also be a few thousand kilometers on gravel. And experience tells me that my bike will fall down from time to time. Trip should last for about 4 years - and I want something what will last.

Thanks in advance for your, hopefully, helpful inspirations!
4 Years going RTW is a lot of stress for any pannier to endure, whether Hard or Soft ones. My guess is over time any hard bag will get bent, crushed or dented.

Good chance latches will not line up, won't close and boxes may no longer be waterproof. You might get them to last 4 years ... but if you're really MOVING,
then probably more like 2 years if things go well.

I used hard bags for years, now use ONLY soft bags. Hard to damage, they hold lots and are WAY WAY cheaper than any hard pannier. I use inner bags with mine, so my soft bags stay ON THE BIKE! I take the inner bags to Hotel or camp ground.

... and if you think because your hard panniers lock .. and that makes them
secure, well, you are dreaming.

Check these out! Cheap and Cheerful ... life time guarantee and tough!
https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/...dry-saddlebags
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  #6  
Old 12 Jul 2017
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Take a look at MoskoMoto.com In my opinion and personal experience of running all over Colombia, the best panniers you can buy, with excellent support.
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  #7  
Old 13 Jul 2017
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I narrowed my search down to this 3 pannier systems:

1. Bumot Defender: 40/36 Liters
Pros: can be ordered with a good 5 Liter tool box fitted into the frame

2. Jesse Odyssey II: total of 80 Liters
Pros: biggest capacity, and it is the narrowest system - only 84 cm wide
Cons: expensive (they cost in Europe almost double than what they cost in the US); external bottles or canisters can not be mounted

3. Touratech Zega Pro 2: 38/31 Liters
Pros: lots of add-ons like external carriers for extra bottles or 3 Liter fuel canister, boxes look good;
Cons: smallest capacity, and widest system (99 cm) - makes the system look ugly from the back

I guess they are all good, and have their good and less good sides. What are your thoughts, what are your experiences?

I am looking forward to get some additional input and ideas before I make my decision and order.
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  #8  
Old 13 Jul 2017
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Take a look at these, made in Portugal:

http://pamir.pt

A lot of riders here in Portugal are using these Pamir panniers, and also from Heavy Duties
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  #9  
Old 14 Jul 2017
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maybe consider purchasing the jesse's and have them shipped. you can always make your own mount. drill the box and seal it well.

jesse's have a god reputation for lasting. one friend used them on a 3 year trip thru the americas and loved em.
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  #10  
Old 31 Jul 2017
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike14 View Post
3. Touratech Zega Pro 2: 38/31 Liters
Pros: lots of add-ons like external carriers for extra bottles or 3 Liter fuel canister, boxes look good;
Cons: smallest capacity, and widest system (99 cm) - makes the system look ugly from the back
Hello

On my RTW I had the ZEGA :
https://get.google.com/albumarchive/...CJjR5Ma0lOK4Yg

Now I have the Zega Pro 2 with the fast mounting system.
This is good for road trips and hotel/campingground.
On bad roads I use the straps as on the fotos.
I dont like the lock of the panniers, sometime to difficult to open.
Look as well at the Mundo:
https://shop.touratech.ch/zega-mundo...rmontiert.html

Hard or soft is almost like a religion.
Usually soft bags are used for more offroad (also lighter because less volume) and short trips (up to a few month).
I have not met anyone on a several year trip using soft bags.
Guess why?

sushi
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http://www.youtube.com/user/MrXt660ztenere
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  #11  
Old 31 Jul 2017
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Wow! Your Alu cases are really beat up! Did you have them repaired while on the road? The repair looks pretty good, but that is something I would not want to deal with when traveling. In my experience even a low speed drop can bend or crack a hard pannier or bend or break rack. Then, if you have bad luck (we did) and only find a BAD welder ... you have a MESS of junk.

Soft bags are lighter because they are not made of METAL and do not use steel racks and brackets. Some soft bags need NO RACK at all. Yes, we see them off road but they work OK on road too.

Travelers can find various size soft panniers. For me, 30 to 35 liters per bag are fine.

Most use inner bags, just like with Hard cases ... just grab inner bag and go. Main bags stay on bike so no theft issues.

You never see soft bags in your travels? I know why~
NO PLACE TO PUT STICKERS ON SOFT BAGS!
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  #12  
Old 31 Jul 2017
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Hello
Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
Wow! Your Alu cases are really beat up! Did you have them repaired while on the road? The repair looks pretty good, but that is something I would not want to deal with when traveling.
A Roo commited suicid on my bike.
90 Km/h to 0 on the roughest Aussie tarmac.
Panniers were strapped to the bike so they could absorb all the energy.
With softbags my leg would have had to do that. Don't think I still had my leg with softbags.


:
score?


Amazing how aluminum can be bent back. No way with ripped apart soft fabrics.
Fixed with duct tape and later repaired in Chang Mai.


Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
Soft bags are lighter because they are not made of METAL and do not use steel racks and brackets. Some soft bags need NO RACK at all. Yes, we see them off road but they work OK on road too.
With softbags you need more selfcontrol on the things you take with you.
Main reason why it gets lighter.


Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
You never see soft bags in your travels? I know why~
NO PLACE TO PUT STICKERS ON SOFT BAGS!
I did not meet anyone doing a trip longer than a few months with softbags.
Last year I saw softbags repaired with dental floss after only 2 weeks riding Iceland.
On my two wintertrips to Norway and Sweden I had lots of problems with the plastic of the saddle and dufflebags, it just broke at -20°C, aluminum was fine, just use gloves.

Only sticker on my boxes is the CH.


sushi
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Last edited by sushi2831; 31 Jul 2017 at 21:14.
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