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Soft bag or panniers? Best bag system for XT 600 E ? ! Soft bag or panniers? Best bag system for XT 600 E ? !
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  #1  
Old 8 Aug 2010
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Question Soft bag or panniers? Best bag system for XT 600 E ? !
Hi All,

I bought a 2003 mod. XT600 E and I will need a bag system.
Panniers don't look nice and I think panniers looks and fits better for XT.

* What do you recommend soft bags or panniers, which is better for XT?
* About soft one, which brand is good?

Thanks for contributions.
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Old 9 Aug 2010
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There doesn't seem to be a right answer.

I prefer soft luggage (Wolfman) b/c of weight, size, and cost. You may be sacrificing some security, I more proscribe to the fact that if someone wants your stuff bad enough soft or hard bags won't matter. Hell, they might even take the entire bike!
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Old 9 Aug 2010
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TT Panniers
You might want to look at this video of me in the Congo bashing the heck out of my TT panniers on my XT, sorry about the expletives on it but it goes to show I'm having soft panniers next time I buy!!

YouTube - ‪Lovely Day in the Congo‬‎

I chuckle every time I watch it!!
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Old 9 Aug 2010
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I had a 2003 XT600E. Used it for South America..

If you want the advice of someone who bought hard panniers for this bike then swapped them to softbags as soon as he could, i'd say keep the bike as light as possible by using soft bags. That way you also don't need a heavier pannier frame too.

Big heavy panniers belong on big heavy bikes. It's as simple as that !!

Its not the type of bike that takes heavy panniers well. The suspension and brakes are crap as it is...

Theres some further XT mods on my website if you're interested.

Regards, Ted
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Old 9 Aug 2010
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Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
I had a 2003 XT600E. Used it for South America..

If you want the advice of someone who bought hard panniers for this bike then swapped them to softbags as soon as he could, i'd say keep the bike as light as possible by using soft bags. That way you also don't need a heavier pannier frame too.

Big heavy panniers belong on big heavy bikes. It's as simple as that !!

Its not the type of bike that takes heavy panniers well. The suspension and brakes are crap as it is...

Theres some further XT mods on my website if you're interested.

Regards, Ted
* * *

Are they really crap? Does it need to be changed/modified?

Ok soft bags but which brand especially?
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Old 9 Aug 2010
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Originally Posted by Samy View Post
* * *

Are they really crap? Does it need to be changed/modified?

Ok soft bags but which brand especially?
Don't get me wrong.. The suspension is adequate. It is budget though. It's non adjustable but it will get your through and do the job as long as you don't expect it to be a desert racer.

You can stiffen up the front with different progressive springs or oil weight

Just promise me you will keep the weight down.. lol.

ANY quality softbags will do. I'm currently using a set of £30 pattern 58 Army canvas bags on my DRZ..

You will probably need to buy/build an exhaust shield for the bags but it will cost a fraction of the price of hard luggage.
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Old 9 Aug 2010
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Old 9 Aug 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by geoffshing View Post
You might want to look at this video of me in the Congo bashing the heck out of my TT panniers on my XT, sorry about the expletives on it but it goes to show I'm having soft panniers next time I buy!!

YouTube - ‪Lovely Day in the Congo‬‎

I chuckle every time I watch it!!

AHHH Geoff ! Your XT was the clone of mine.... Even down to the bash plate and white tank..

I kept the standard shock though.


Sorry to hear your woes with the boxes. Same thing happened to me with my Metal Mules. Alwasy breaking, bending etc !!

I guess your a soft bag convert now ?? ? lol
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Old 9 Aug 2010
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Originally Posted by geoffshing View Post
sorry about the expletives on it but it goes to show I'm having soft panniers next time I buy!! YouTube - ‪Lovely Day in the Congo‬‎ I chuckle every time I watch it!!
made me ROTF Hehe only problem now got to look at all the others .

I quite agree i would suggest soft panners as lighter
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Old 9 Aug 2010
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Originally Posted by Samy View Post
* What do you recommend soft bags or panniers, which is better for XT?
* About soft one, which brand is good?.
I have never used these but the look like a neat idea...

Giant Loop™ Moto: Saddlebags for Motorcycles | Giant Loop™ Performance Motorcycle Gear

John
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Old 31 Aug 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Redboots View Post
I have never used these but the look like a neat idea...

Giant Loop™ Moto: Saddlebags for Motorcycles | Giant Loop™ Performance Motorcycle Gear

John
I bought one of these....very easy to attach, remove..and throw over your shoulder when carrying from bike to tent etc...

A few thoughts....
- I left it on the bike over night in some Cornwall rain and woke up to 2 pools of water in the basins. Perhaps it was because the tail of the bike was facing the direction the rain was coming from and this was directly into the zipper. I'd imagine that while riding the bags would not take in water.

- The tapering effect of the basins restricts the volume of goods you can pack, squared off would imo be better.

- Not sure if the inner packing bags are necessary. I packed my goods in my old Oxford soft pannier waterproof covers which would take on any shape I needed by a squeeze and a shove.

Besides that, I was impressed...makes a good back rest too. Dropped the bike once, rode through a bush ....bags were unharmed.
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Old 1 Sep 2010
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I have a mate doing a dirt lap of Aussie at the moment. I've been a soft bag covert for a while now and he knew it before he left with his lovely custom made heavyweight alloy boxes. He must have hated telling me, but a month after he left that he was sick of bashing his boxes back into shape, and the boxes bashing his legs OUT of shape and now has a set of Andy Strapz bags on!

I've got Andy Strapz bags and they are good, but have worn thru in a couple of places. I'm going to get another layer sewn on to them.

Cheers

Nigel in NZ
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Old 3 Sep 2010
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For you guys who are soft luggage convets, do you ever worry about your stuff being stolen when ur not near the bike? Or are you with ur machines most the time?

Id love soft luggage but id be paranoid that all my belongings would be stolen, and hence will prob use hard luggage. The security is the only reason i want hard panniers tho.
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Old 3 Sep 2010
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The idea of soft luggage is that you mainly put "Soft" or non valuable things in them..

I pack mine with clothes, plate , mug , toiletries etc etc ! Stuff no one would really want to steal. And if they did steal them, their need is obviously much greater than mine .. It would hardly be a big deal if my favourite Spiderman y-fronts were stolen anyway !

For valuables, keep them in your tank bag which comes with you and any other things in a "pacsafed" roll bag.

In all the places and years iv've used soft bags, I've never even had anyone try to steal anything...
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