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Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

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


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 10 Jun 2017
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Versys X300
I know its a very new bike and no one yet has pannier frames for it but I was wondering if anyone had ever made their own frames for a bike?? If so, would you recommend it or waiting 1 maybe 2 years for an official frame to come out. Looking at getting SW motech Trax panniers but the frame does not yet exist for my bike. Anyone know of one that could be modified or, as previously mentioned, custom make my own?
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  #2  
Old 29 Jun 2017
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryDemon View Post
I know its a very new bike and no one yet has pannier frames for it but I was wondering if anyone had ever made their own frames for a bike?? If so, would you recommend it or waiting 1 maybe 2 years for an official frame to come out. Looking at getting SW motech Trax panniers but the frame does not yet exist for my bike. Anyone know of one that could be modified or, as previously mentioned, custom make my own?


Out of necessary due to my location (a remote island province in Philippines) I plan to fabricate my own pannier racks on my next bike.
You don't mention if you're making them yourself or just designing and drawing up sketches for somebody else, but I'll be posting my process on here, hopefully in the next few weeks.
My biggest challenge will be designing a lockable external clamping system to detach the hard cases from the racks. I dont like the internal systems because it means you have to unpack 1/2 of your stuff to take them off the bike. Try doing that when it's pissing with rain in the dark.


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  #3  
Old 29 Jun 2017
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Hi LoLo

Not sure what type of " internal systems" clamping system you are talking about but here are pictures of the Tourfella systems which is used by many other manufacturers.
And IMO you have no need to remove 50% of your stuff and will the size of the locking wheel I am sure even a blind man can undo.

Even in the dark with one eye closed




The top picture shows the locking nut up high, where the below picture shows it lower down?
But as you are making your own racks then you can place the locking nut even closer to the top?





If your reasoning for removing the Aluminium boxes to allow you to take the boxes into your Hotel of a night, why not just get some Bag Liners?
In & out in 10 sec keeps your stuff 100% waterproof.

Last edited by Nuff Said; 29 Jun 2017 at 05:06.
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  #4  
Old 29 Jun 2017
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Those hard boxes look great ... but might be overkill for a 300cc bike. Hard Bags and steel racks add quite a bit a WEIGHT ... especially noticeable on a small bike with not much HP.

My advice would be to go with SOFT, throw over panniers until Kawasaki come out with racks and hard panniers. It's a guarantee the Kawi ones will fit better than anything SW Motech make.

But once you try soft bags you may never get hard bags. Many can be used without cumbersome racks at all. And as with the INNER BAGS shown above (a Must Have for any panniers, IMO) soft bags can also be used with inner bags.

So much nicer as your panniers never come off bike ... just grab inner bag and go.
Morning pack up takes just a minute and main panniers are never detached from bike.
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  #5  
Old 29 Jun 2017
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I totally agree with you Molly, soft bags are great but depending on one reason then hard boxes are a must.
Take my CRF 250L in Thailand yes soft bags works well and can take a drop or two.
But with my other bike in China, it looks right and I need more security than what soft bags can offer.

Honda set up.








Chinese bike set up.









0ne bike with boxes and one without




So I am a lover of both lol
Last edited by Nuff Said; 29 Jun 2017 at 13:26.
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  #6  
Old 30 Jun 2017
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Originally Posted by Nuff Said View Post
Hi LoLo

Not sure what type of " internal systems" clamping system you are talking about but here are pictures of the Tourfella systems which is used by many other manufacturers.
And IMO you have no need to remove 50% of your stuff and will the size of the locking wheel I am sure even a blind man can undo.

Even in the dark with one eye closed




The top picture shows the locking nut up high, where the below picture shows it lower down?
But as you are making your own racks then you can place the locking nut even closer to the top?





If your reasoning for removing the Aluminium boxes to allow you to take the boxes into your Hotel of a night, why not just get some Bag Liners?
In & out in 10 sec keeps your stuff 100% waterproof.


Yep there're the ones I mean.
As far as I'm aware you have to remove the white plastic nuts from the end which then allows the large aluminium wheel to be rotated and unlatch the mechanism. Those plastic nuts are loose: easy to drop.... but you still have to move 25% of your stuff out of the way (I've reformed down from 50%).
You're correct that liner bags would be cool, but as we're on a budget here, $50 or $60 for bags may be a game changer.
Just my thoughts......


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  #7  
Old 30 Jun 2017
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The white nuts are not important, there just a locking nut which it not needed.
when you get down to 10% then I will agree.
Now you have disclosed you are on a tight budget, then I think the route you need to take is just to modify some zip up shopping bags with some straps across the 2.
Should get out paying no more than $10.
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  #8  
Old 1 Jul 2017
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I like the zip-up shopping bag idea. Nice job.
I've done some basic sketches of an external lock idea using a simple latch. When it's a bit more refined I'll post the images on here for some feedback from you more experienced guys.


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