A vote for soft ones....
 

Good advice as always Patrick.
I'll add my vote for soft bags. Lighter, actually tougher in a crash, and they will absorb impact energy and protect the bike better. Hard cases pass most of the impact energy on to the mount frames, and then on to the bike. I have Givi's on one F650 and Jesse's on the other and I would only recommend Givi top-boxes. The side panniers have been pretty unreliable, coming off their mounts a couple of times and not reliably locking the lids. My last trip out, I lost all my clothes for the weekend. The Jesse boxes are very well made and strong, extremely close fitting and I would rate them very highly, for rigid boxes, but they are very expensive.

Regards

Nigel in NZ

Hi, yeah a few dramas, but very happy now, want to be with that price. I am doing a lap of Oz July sometime then fly to the states, be there a fair whie then south america, then UK etc in 2009 sometime I guess. Thanks for the offer, I have rellies in Suffolk, so I will rock around for a beer at least.

Cheeers
TS

Home Made
 

I use some throw over soft bags from a Marauder and I made a top box for security from two plastic milk crates cut and lined with alloy plate with a waterproof cool bag to fit inside,about 45ltrs. When I leave the bike for the night I lift the cool bag out of the crate, when I leave the bike for a short time a pad lock keeps it shut.
I don't use the box all the time, I fitted four studs to the Suzuki rack which go through the base of the box and held by four nuts inside. One minute to remove or refit.
Cheers
Ian:thumbup1:

Luggage and footpeg
 

Any of you guys had to relocate the footpeg of the passenger to get them a bit more room or is that only a problem of the DL650 , my friend have the givi saddle bag and the back footpeg are way to close to the luggage.

Any help appreciated.

Hendi

:clap:
respect!!

i have touratech cases and i have just checked SW Motec website and see the rack for dl650. I think touratech cases wouldn't fit to SW Motec rack.

Panniers
 

I have had my 2006 DL 1000 for about a year now and the panniers are great. I usually go with the top box and a bag and dont fit the side panniers as they are wide. The plus side is that they do hold a lot more than the aluminium ones. i guess its personal choice really.

regards

- Caribou Luggage Systems

These are a great set up for Strom. Tough and with lifetime guarantee on case and priced much cheaper than metal boxes.

Great article in Rider a few months back discussing it on a Strom.

vstrom panniers
 

I used two 25 litre pelican cases 1520 with touratech pucks on Hepco & Becker racks. Touring Spain, Maroc,France,Germany,Holand. The Pelicans were brilliant 50 litres in total still had to much stuff. I think total width with cases is approx 38 ins.Pelicans were bought on ebay brand new from usa half price compared to uk, Marked as gift. I have not been on the hubb a while so if you have sorted your luggage no worries.