T7 panniers & racks - which ones?
 

I've put down a deposit for the tenere 700 rally (not yet sure if I'll take it upon delivery).

Anyhow, I need to make a quick decision on choice of panniers and racks. As is, my choice stands between OEM Yamaha (Givi?) & SW Motech. I also have to decide whether or not I should get the luggage rack, and from whome.

The OEM I believe is more expensive, though not enough to impact choice. The OEM does however lack the feature that motech has for easily removing the rack (seems cumbersome on the OEM). This Motech feature is by itself enough for me to go Motech. On the other hand, the muffler side pannier on the OEM has a cut out to bring the pannier in closer, and with symmetrical distance on both sides. This OEM feature is enough for me to go this route... And here lies the choice.

As I have never seen any of the options IRL, I can't really make an informed decision without your help.

I guess Motech is in a slight lead. My main concern is wheather the lack of the cut out will make the bike noticably wider in total or asymmetrical enough to one side to make it matter. For one thing it could look strange. More importantly I am worried about bike handling and stability, as well as impractical width. With wide and offset weight, as well as asymmetrical wind resistance... and again looks. Does it matter?

I really liked the looks and quality of my Touratech panniers on my F650GS Dakar, and would be happy to buy it again if it was not for it lacking both of the main USPs of the first mentioned alternatives. That Dakar however was symetrical with two mufflers (actually one side being a mock muffler with a catalytical converter - 5hat I converter). Anyhow, the Touratech (economical) is not compatible with the Motech racks, and they also lack the cut outs of the OEM's as well. The Holan, same issue (great value though!). Metal Mule, how ever great the qualitt may be - not interested (for many reasons). Same goes for Jesse's.

As for soft panniers: Kriega, Mosko, and LoneRider was something that I considered all the way up until I was ready to pull the trigger, when I decided to fall back upon aluminium. Had the LoneRider come out with their quick release system (still in development), I probably would have gone for that in combination with the Motech rack. Aluminium can't be beat to keep otherwise honest people fron trying to get into my luggage, and in terms of convenience, and a bunch of other attributes, it also wins. Soft's greatest attribute for me was to protect my legs from injury. Although having other winning attributes as well, it boiled down to convenience and security on one side, and protection from personal injury on the other - the first was most important - but 8nly just... I mention all this in case you think I should consider other options besides Motech or OEM.

If there are similar options to the racks that motech offers, and a great panniers with the cut out - then I would be very interested. Until then, please help me choose between the two options mentioned in the beginning.

Oh, I have a parallel discussion going on the xt660z panniers choice (My girlfriend is also in the market for a bike). The OEM panniers in that case just didn't cut it, so choice is made. Anything but OEM! For the T7 however, the OEM option seems well built - just not as practical as Motech.

If you google 'facebook yamaha t700' you will find several groups with thousands of members who can help you.

You might want to extend your options to include Bumot, see https://shop.bumot.eu/en/catalog/cid/144.html

Their pannier rails can be used to mount both metal luggage and soft luggage.

Thanks - that setup looks good, but resembles OEM in the way that it lacks the quick disconnect of the racks.

As for facebook, I always try my luck on HU first. I dislike the teflon mentality of FB where the same questions are asked over and over, with each post having a very short life span, and with it being kind of hit and miss in terms of who replies, how they reply, and the extent replies are challenged - it is often a recipe to be led astray by convincing and ooinionated people that sometimes don't know what they are talking about. It is the accumulatedand information over time , in the easily accessible HU structure, that makes HU so useful. If everyone were to go straight to the forumkilling FB, HU will slowly dwindle up and die, like many other forums - which would be a travesty.

In the end, if I don't get the answers I seek on HU in due time, I will of course go to FB, and then come back to HU to share my findings - so that those that come after, can search and find or build upon previous discussions.

In 90% of the time, HU provides the answers I seek when I show patience.

I'll give it another day or so.

What would you have chosen if you had to choose between the two options above? I have allways put your opinions in high regard - they carry a lot of weight with me.

I would go with the Outbak Motortek kit: https://outbackmotortek.net/product/...pannier-racks/

They come in asymmetrical (in which case you can have a narrower pannier on the muffler side and a wider one on the sprocket side), and can be had with an extra inner fitting for a Rotopax or toolbox.

I think these guys also build their stuff a bit sturdier that SW Motech.

I can understand quick release for the panniers - but how often do you realistically need to remove the racks? And for what? You can take off the rear wheel with the racks on.

I was worried about width before I got my first set of hard luggage. In reality, it almost never matters. On a rare occasion, I have needed to take off the panniers to squeeze my bike out of a tight parking spot behind two cars; took an extra minute in total.

@AnTyx - thanks for the Motortek tip, I will check it out.

As for being able to remove the rack in a jiffy. I will be using the bike for daily commutes when not on adventures. It is mostly a case of vanity - where I don't like the look of the rack without its panniers. I'd like the option to ride without, and then just smack them on if going on a weekend trip or a longer adventure. It is of course very decadent, which is very degenerate and shameful and not at all who I'd like to be. Another benefit would be losing some weight if going on a local technical trail. Neither of these qualities that such quick mount system offers is all that important to me - I can do without without too much grudge. But, if I can have my cake and eat it too - I will.

On the other hand, having a wider than necessary bike, or width that is offset, is not something that I like - and not only for my vanity. What I worry about is lane splitting becoming more tense. I will also worry more about riding close to anything that can snag - wether on the street or in the bush. Also, with a wider bike, I'm also concerned that the cases will more likely bottom on the trail (i.e. riding in a deep groove, near rocks, close to a ridge, etc). Lastly I am worried that it will affect the riding dynamics on technical bits.

Ofcourse, I have no experience with these issues as I've never had to deal with offset luggage before and the extra width that this leads to - hence I'm asking for what your thoughts are. Does it matter, and if so, how much?

As is, because of my worries, the OEM is in a slight lead over all other options I have found - the luggage is brought in tight and centered.

Then agian, I saw a video on the rack for the top box (if I get one), and it seemed very intrusive to both the rider and the pillion, and the rear bit looked kind of short. It's probably ok.

FWIW, I'd go for the narrowest possible - it only needs to be too wide once to be a real pain (perhaps literally).
The boxes on my R80G/S (homebuilt) -are 12" / 30cm narrower than the Touratech medium and wide combination on my R1200GSA. That's a huge difference.

IF you choose another option than the OEM, a narrower box on the pipe side should be able to balance it out adequately, just try for narrower than the bars.
I've got black racks on both, and they aren't so visually obtrusive they bother me. Chrome, yes, ugly. Note that I'm not too fussy about looks, function first! :)

Second item - we're no longer fans of top boxes, in fact Susan won't ride with one anymore, and much prefers a roll bag. MUCH safer in the event of a rear-ender, or any crash, and more comfy for her to lean against. And it's a lot more flexible when it comes to load it up, and I can easily carry it over a shoulder with a saddlebag in each hand if need be.
If your reason for a top box is you want to put your laptop / cameras in the top box, then I recommend the saddlebag or a small tank bag. The top box gets the MOST shaking / shock of anywhere on the bike, not ideal for either piece of equipment.

Wheelie, thanks so much for that, it's greatly appreciated, and I agree with the issues with asking on Facebook. Interesting note - maybe - from way back - when we FIRST put up our webpage in 1997, it was just something cool to do, and a way for family to more easily keep up with our travels - except it wasn't, emails were still easier. But, people very quickly discovered us, and sent emails asking all sorts of questions. It didn't take long to realize that they were asking the same questions again and again; "what's a carnet", "how did you get across the border" etc. And thus was born the HUBB in 1998, where travellers can ask questions, get answers from experienced people on the road, share information, and remind themselves that they're not the only crazies - in a good way - in the world.

We intend to KEEP the HUBB going as a great place to get answers, as a repository of historical information, and a fantastic place to get inspired. Just reading all the old stories, shipments perhaps from years ago, technical info, how to fix / make anything, all helps people internalize how to solve problems, discover that it IS possible and you CAN travel the world.

So again, thanks for the support! In these tough times we need it.
Take care, stay safe, and PLAN for adventure!

Thanks Grant.

The top box would only be used for comutes when I don't carry side panniers. A dry place to store my laptop, and a dry and safe place to put my helmet when I park. But looking at the OEM rack for the top box, with the obtrusive handles, I'll probably look for a different solution than a top box to keep my helmet dry and safe. I've only had a top box on a scooter, never on a motorcycle. They are practical close to home for comutes or shopping on impuls with no backpack, but I prefer a bag or roll on longer rides.

For me, the reason for a top box is to keep it empty. ;) Granted, I take it off when I ride with a passenger. But when I am alone, the topbox normally has a can of chain lube, a bottle of water, and spare gloves. Then when I am off the bike, my regular gloves go inside the helmet, helmet goes inside the topbox. Tankbag with electronics also goes into the topbox. It's only used for storage while I am off the bike - or, occasionally, to carry my shopping home from the store.

I ordered the bike today with Yamaha OEM rack and panniers (37 and 35 liters), made by Givi. They were the only option I found with the rack and pannier shaped arround the exhaust, making for a narrow and symetrical option. The closest I could find had a large pannier on the left, and a smaller on the right.

On my f650gs Dakar I had the large Touratech panniers. I found them way to big and got the smaller kind - even then I felt like I had far more luggage space than I needed. Even with the narrower boxes, the bike became unstable at 130-140 km/H. I would never consider 45 liters again.

With the Yamaha OEM I was worried 5gat I would have problems fitting soft panniers later on, but Givi sells an adaptor plate.

I opted not to go for the top box and rack. I would only use it for the convenience on daily commutes and errands at home, never on a trip - as a bag is better in my opinion. The rack is heavy and obtrusive, and also cost a fair bit. Once on , I could not be bothered to take it on and off.

It is a shame that the OEM pannier rack takes 30 minutes to take on and off, and not 5 like SW Motech. It will be left on forever.

In the end, the permanent "slender and symetrical" OEM systemwon over the easy on/off, but wide an asymetrisk SW Motech solution.

Now I just have to wait until March/April for delivery.

Depending on what second hand alternatives that surface before then, I might not take delivery and forfeit my $100 deposit. Time will show, and I'll keep you posted in another post when time comes.

Thanks for all your comments - it was useful.

My T7 is currently on order and due in a couple of weeks. Over the last month I have looked into the options for luggage as well.

I'm currently torn between...
a set of racks that I can mount my old Darrs boxes onto, which without the boxes will protect the exhaust mount
or
a lightweight rack to accommodate soft luggage


At the moment i'm leaning towards touratech racks for the Darrs because they don't have a cut out on the exhaust side. I reckon the narrow box on the rhs will balance against the wider one on the lhs.


As for the softbag options....there are just far too many on the market for me to determine which would be best without seeing them first.

Congrats! I'm sure you're going to love it!

Softbags - yup, too many choices!

FWIW - I'm very impressed with the Mosko Moto Reckless 80 I have on my DRZ400 for extended hard off-road trips, really well built, well thought out. They also have straight soft panniers too.
(Note I asked Mosko, as my first choice, for a bit of a deal on the Reckless, and they just gave it to me. After using it I feel I made the right decision - for me - as it's extremely flexible, I can travel light or heavy easily.)

But there are loads of options, and it's all very personal what style you like., and what your budget is. Individual waterproof bags ala Reckless or one big container for everything, ala Giant Loop Coyote or saddlebags and a roll bag or?

I chose not to go with a rack on my T700 as every single one of them put the luggage way too far outside the bike. There are a number of really nice soft luggage options. Mosko Reckless and Kriega OS-Base both work quite well.

But I did want a top luggage plate and usable passenger grab handles, so I installed a Bumot top rack. That does not work well at all with the above 2 soft luggage systems, so I combine it with (much cheaper btw) Enduristan Blizzard saddle bags.

@Wheelie - congratulations on ordering the bike.
I had the same debate as you re luggage rack and panniers. I ended up like you with OEM rack and panniers. The main reasons were practicality, asymetrical look and reduced width compared to other options. Plus the Camel ADV external fuel tank fits. I also have LOMO soft panniers.
When offroading, I think of the rack as protection bars so they are permanent. It works for me. Good luck

It finally arrived
 

So after a ten week wait it arrived and I absolutely love. Still in two minds over the luggage but as I won't be travelling any time soon I can wait amd get a better feel for the bike