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9 Dec 2007
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The thing is...the metal mule setup comes in at about £750 +more if you want anodizing etc.
The TT option is coming in from a couple of online webdeals at £480. Thats a whole lot more money
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Joe
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9 Dec 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeSheffer
metal mule setup comes in at about £750 + The TT option is coming in from a couple of online webdeals at £480. Thats a whole lot more money
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Maybe, just maybe, you get what you pay for...
Take a look at Tesch boxes & racks Boxes range between175 & 190 Euros ant the racks around the 350 euro mark. Thats around 730 Euro.
They are strong as old boots and the frame is super strong.
Globetrott Zentrale Bernd Tesch
John
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10 Dec 2007
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Metal Mules
My 5 cents worth is my (second hand) MM's are really well built, far sturdier than TT's. Not as "nice" though but who cares? I bought them off a guy in Brisbane who had taken 2 dirt bikes with them from UK across Russia to China. He swore by them. I'm using the original BMW mounts which are OK so far (on my RTW to the supermarket). I scrounged a new set of decals off MM who responded immediately by air mail. Says something.
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The only baggage you carry should be in the panniers
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10 Dec 2007
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Why not soft?
Hey guys,
I have Zega's on one bike and Jesse on another, pity that the bike I have the Zega's on is the one that I am riding in Africa at present. Yes you are all right the Zega is not a good system and just doesn't cut the mustard for the price!
Jesse on the other hand is much better and I swear by these panniers. Good strong boxes, great non protrusive mounting system and they carry 50 lts (so is claimed anyway). If you look at them you can do what I did and put a false Alu floor in them just above the bevels and cut a small door in the back and can then use this area for tools, parts tent pegs etc. That keeps all the weight low. Great system, I say.
The bike with the Zega system is going to get a make over in a cpl weeks and I am going to put some soft luggage on it. I have been looking at and have seen the Andy Stapz canvas bags Andy Strapz Home Page and this looks the ducks nuts. Light strong, dustproof, warer proof and east to take on and off. I did meet a guy in Nairobi who is using it and says it is great. You can just slip a couple of poly bread boards inside them and you will have hard luggage anyway for a lot lighter system.
OK, just my 2 bobs worth. Stephan, if you buy from TT get straight from the factory in Germany. My stuff took only 2 weeks to Muscat.
Cheers
Ivan
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11 Dec 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dingo
Stephan, if you buy from TT get straight from the factory in Germany. My stuff took only 2 weeks to Muscat.Ivan
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Thanks for the tip, Ivan. I'm definitely avoiding the UK subsidiary.
I've also bought some Andy Stapz bags ready for the next trip. I think I showed you them when you were in Sharjah. As you say, they are well made and a whole lot lighter.
Stay safe.
Stephan
PS You've still got a jacket at my house. 
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28 Dec 2007
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Hhhhmmmm
Hey people just read this thread. I have used givi e36 boxes on a purpose built rack on my drm 650 for the last 10 000 odd km's living in New Zealand they get loads of use on bumpy corrigated gravel tracks have been thrown down the road a few times and they are bomb proof and so easy to use taking on and off
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28 Dec 2007
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hhhmmmm 2
Thats a dr 650 don't know what a drm 650 is!! Sorry got called away. I travelled from the uk to here with metal boxes on my dommie and the joy of now having totally light weight totally water proof boxes that come on and off in seconds is great. You can even use them to wedge under the bike for taking wheels off. The other good thing is that you attract a lot less attention. It used to drive me nuts that everytime someone saw my big rtw metal boxes they would think I was mr star wars bloke now I can just blend in better. Anyhow I hope they will be alright because they leave for a year in S America very soon.
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28 Dec 2007
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Vern's world beater panniers
Quote:
Originally Posted by toneski
hiya folks,
i'm looking for panniers to fit my Super Tenere (XTZ850)
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Last year we travelled around Argentina and Chile, two-up on a R1150GS.
I don't know if he's fitted these to a XTZ before but Vern is a very industrious sort, who can make you something for the job, and beautifully finished.
The panniers are ridiculuously tough and well built: hand made to order. The have strong clasps and hinges and are angled at the base to aid with any nasty muddy terrain that would trap square panniers. For the price these are way superior to Touratech IMO, having seen both.
Have a look.
::::.ProjectVND.com.::::
The silver GS in the bottom three pics on the picture gallery was (now RIP thanks to blind driver) mine ...yes... including the one on it side....
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30 Dec 2007
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Im travelling with mules at the moment...
I recently had a 70mph crash and my left mule, although dented looking a bit rough, is still in one piece and im still travelling.
It took the full forc of the crash, was ripped off and thrown down the road.
Its soo tough and thick that I cant get it square again without the use of a workshop. The brilliant guys at MM in the UK had already sorted me out with the new fixings and rivits... I can still close it and travel with it too !!
Because the mules are rivetted, you can take them apart, knock them flat and re-rivet them !!
The Touratech Zegas would of been abliterated and btw, the TT boxes are thin enough to open with a tin opener !! 
pics of my mules here !! before and after lol Touring Ted » Crash near Viedma
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1 Jan 2008
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More on the Zega panniers...
Quote:
Originally Posted by MountainMan
Well, if it is of any use, four bikers were sitting under the Syrian stars the other night and as biker nerds are wont to do, we started comparing pannier systems.
King of Sark had the Metal Mules, great feedback as stated previously by others. Strong, not easily bent out of shape and great attachment system and closing mechanism. Strong enough to prop the bike on the middle of the cases while taking the back tire off and not think twice about bending it.
Prince of Mince had the Touratechs along with his better half and thumbs down. Thin, not dust proof and after one crash they are bent out of square never to return again. They have taken to carrying around a rubber mallet to beat the panniers into shape. Quite useful really, they used the mallet on tent pegs and no doubt could be used in a pinch on some relentless touts in Africa.
I have the Caribou system, the Pelican boxes are great, very strong on dumps and crashes. The Caribou racks are great as well but the attachment system of the boxes is a bit weak for around the world travel IMHO. After a couple of low speed dumps messing around in the sand in Jordan, the attachment swivel bends and has to be bent back into shape otherwise the bag isn't tight against the frame and rattles. It is very convenient for taking the bag on and off but probably is better suited for on road trips. I would use the Pelicans again in a second, you can buy the Caribou bags only which have a lock and inner straps inserted. I would use these with a standard attachment system from somebody like Happy Trails or even the Touratech one.
The Pelicans used are the 1550s. Side loading and you can get quite a bit in them (30L?) but the best way to do that is to take them off and load it when it is sitting like a suitcase. Too much cramming when it is on the bike and you get a bulge which makes it hard to close.
Hope that helps.
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Ahem, Mountain Main, Theprinceofmince has, sniff sniff, Jesse luggage panniers. As per everyone elses comments, they are great. They are about handlebar width, solid and easy(ish) to get on and off. I slid 20 or so metres along the (admittedly greasy) Jordanian highway and they suffered nothing but a scratch. Haven't found a fault yet, and in Europe, our supplier Kiwibob (Germany) provided us with great customer service.
On the Zega panniers, they are probably great for collecting the groceries, but if you expect your bike to fall over at some stage in its life, they just don't stack up. Moto Maiden's Zega panniers are closer to oblong than rectanguar, and are now sporting a second layer of auminium struts and supports - almost a second skin. We are thinking about balsa wood for the next trip.
Mountain Man's 2 suitcase system would - in addition to the above benefits - look fantastic in high-powered business meetings. Something to think about. 
cheery o
Gareth and Helen
Last edited by theprinceofmince; 1 Jan 2008 at 18:59.
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6 Jan 2008
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It pains me to say it
but the panniers from KLr650.com can't be beat for the price. I have them on an old DR that has taken its share of spills over the last year and 20k miles and they have held up better than any others I have seen.
Why it pains me? They are clear knock offs of happy trails boxes but for $293. delivered they can't be beat.
I didn't use and specific mount, just bolted them to my frames. I made the rack from square tube for a cost of about $36 and a couple days of welding. Since this was my first ever intro to welding I would imagine someone that knew what they were doing could bang out a similar project in a matter of hours.
The whole set up is now well tested and for a total of $330 US ya just can't touch it---
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10 Jan 2008
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Panniers
Hi Guys
I am looking to fit panniers as well and have been looking at these HATTECH has any one had any experience with these Hattech panniers. they look solid and spacious and are 2mm thick the same as the mule
cheers
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17 Jan 2008
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What about Jesse?
Guy's I am in the process of kitting out my bike in the US & was wondering what the feedback on Jesse panniers was? I will be in Phoenix soon & as they are a local firm some friends & ofcourse a local dealer have recommeded them & a bike that I am looking at buying is also fitted with them.
Have seen Ted's snaps & would go for MM just for the added protection! I might need it!
Cheers Mojo
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1 Feb 2008
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What about Overland Solutions? They do heavy, but rock-solid pannier systems. I toyed with the idea of going for Metal Mule but I don't like the fact that their pannier lids don't come off. Also, they open from the inside. So if I got a tent/luggage bag strapped to the top, I'd always have to push this out of the way before opening the pannier.
From what I've heard and seen (Ewan & Charlie), Touratech panniers won't last too long after a few offs. The aluminium's just a bit too thin.
Bjorn
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1 Feb 2008
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i thought overland solutions were just modified zegas?
i contacted vern at projectvnd and he's a too busy at the moment with moving house&workshop and back orders
looks like its MM then
leaving date set at 30th Aug
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