Think touring - think luggage. Add this to the cost of your first main
motorcycle touring holiday because you wont get far without it.
Soft and Hard Luggage, which should you use? which will suit your trip the
best?.
The amount of luggage you will want to to take will depend greatly on where you
are going, where you are staying and for how long.
If you are travelling alone, and travelling light - you'll still find the
need for at least a tank bag or panniers. Buy what will be best for your bike
and shop around. If you are prepared to have luggage always on your bike
during your trip - think bolt on (or take tools!), if you want to dump the
luggage and get on with some serious knee down riding - think easily removable
soft luggage.
Tank Bags, Rucksacks, Saddle Bags or Panniers are about the breadth of
choice available, if you plan on bringing gifts back, remember you will need
somewhere to put them!
Tank Bags - usually sculpted for a sports bike, attaches via magnets
and a non slip base. Some tank bags will convert to a carry bag or rucksack
which is handy if you are not going far and just need some occasional luggage.
Expander Tank Bag - as tang bags, but usually sit higher (hence
expander)
Tail Pack - sits on your pillion seat, again many of these will
convert into a carry bag or ruck sack, so ideal if you don't take pillion and
need occasional luggage.
Panniers / Throwovers - strap over your pillion seat, usually shaped
to angle with your exhaust. Pillion can still sit nicely with these on. Try to
find them with a heat resistant base - as it'll get nasty if they do slip and
settle on your exhaust during riding. Some are adjustable, so that you can
modify the height - depending on the weight of the contents. On the cheap, you
can get these at around £20.00
Sports Rack - Available per make and model of bike. These usually
come in Black or Chrome, occasionally in white. They bolt on to your bike and
provide a ledge to which you can attach tail packs, Ruck sacks or whatever
else. Many can be used as a grab rail too.
Hard Cases - Available to fit per make and model, some universal (so
they say). Hard luggage is bolted on the the bike and provides protection from
rain, and hate to say it - scrapes.
Oxford Sports Luggage -
http://www.oxprod.com/
Soft luggage systems, which are available in a range of colours, blue, red,
black, white and yellow (depending on product in the range). Soft luggage
which is suitable for most sportsbikes and light motorcycles. Prices start at
around £70.00 for the really nice gear - however they do a 1st Time set of 40
litre for £39.95 and a 28L Tail pack for £19.95. Which is ideal if you haven't
toured before, watching the pennies or not sure if the expense of more
intricate luggage can be justified at this stage.
View more details of Oxford
Products
Photograph used by permission of Oxford Products.
Givi - http://www.givi.co.uk/
Givi Cases have a good range of cases, side panniers and top cases, Prices
start at around £100 for a pair of panniers. These look good.
View luggage specific for your bike at
http://www.givi.it/perlatuamoto/iframe.asp
Timberwolf
Producing Nylon tank bags and panniers, small tank bags start from £20.00
and panniers from £39.95
Bagster -
http://www.bagster.com
Bagster is great if you can't use a traditional magnetic tank bag
(or even if you can).
They
start with a tank cover - and their tank bags attach to these covers.
The
covers are great for protecting your tank in day to day riding.
Prices start
at around £65.00.
Visit their website to view luggage by make and model.
http://www.bagster.com/en/moto/bagagerie.php
Photographs used by permission of Bagster.
Buffalo
Soft and stylish black soft luggage. Panniers from around £70, Tank bags
from around £40.00
Ventura -
http://www.ventura-bike.com/
Soft luggage, Ventura do a pack which will sit on your luggage rack, or
pillion seat and will take up to 56 litres.
Cargo
Sports and Touring soft panniers, tank bags and ruck sacks, all in black.
Capacity from 25-46 Litre prices around £50.00 for tank bags and £90.00 for
panniers.
Packing.
When packing panniers - make sure you distribute the weight evenly.
Heavy items try to pack on the centre of the bike - either in the tank bag
or on a tail pack/ sports rack. Goes without saying (I hope) not to put
anything too heavy on the back of the bike - it'll affect the bikes handling,
and your steering will be light. If possible, keep the weight behind you.
Riding fully loaded, makes the bike heavier and will feel like you're
carrying two or three pillions in one go. Be sure you take it steady for the
first leg of your trip - so that you can adjust your riding to suit. If you
have a full set of luggage AND a pillion the bike will be a lot heavier to
handle. So when you are loaded up, don't ride like you would unloaded - don't
take risks that would ruin your holiday before you have even began. There's
plenty of time for your normal style of riding when you have unloaded and
arrived !
If you are using soft luggage - take extra bungees, infact take a couple
even if you've got bolt on luggage - you never know what you might buy which
needs strapping on somewhere - and if the soft luggage slips - you can make
mid ride adjustments in the nearest layby.
Where to buy
Online or by mail order from Busters, M and P, Demon Tweaks - or visit your
local motorcycle accessory dealer. See BIKR-UK the
UK
Motorcycle Directory.
