Panniers/luggage... Advice please

[Ploppy]

Hi all,

Would anyone have some advice on the best budget hard luggage (top box and panniers) to fit a '97 VFR 750?

Planning on a trip to france next year but have never bought or even put any thought into luggage.

Any advice would be greatly appriciated

Thanks in advance :rolleyes:

[Tim in Belgium]

Go soft, it's easier for one off trips like this and generally cheaper, have a look at some of the Oxford range.

Or just get a tailpack, did me fine for a two week trip with a small tank bag, although I had no camping gear.

[Tim in Belgium]

1 week's luggage (too much stuff by far):

http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/8197/2897662180084392296S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2897662180084392296FKUMmd)

http://inlinethumb51.webshots.com/33906/2642671970084392296S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2642671970084392296qzuMYa)

http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/35397/2695201950084392296S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2695201950084392296yPsEMQ)



Two week trip, that's more like it (the tail pack was about 25 quid of ebay, an Oxford expanding jobby and better for the handling than panniers):

http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/16523/2821957220084392296S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2821957220084392296nbcTAr)

http://inlinethumb41.webshots.com/17256/2993062280084392296S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2993062280084392296APvHSo)

http://inlinethumb30.webshots.com/18653/2638850380084392296S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2638850380084392296MVPCDO)

Apologies for the pic wh0ring, but I just love Euro trips on the bike, where are you planning on heading off to?

[sv_rory]

wheres was that last pic taken?

i want to go there :cool:

[Tim in Belgium]

That's the Grimsel Pass, Switzerland according to my thread : http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?p=1294911#post1294911

Apologies for the derail Ploppy.

Anyone any more/different luggage advice for him?

[yorkie_chris]

Why are you thinking hard luggage? Soft luggage works fine and is IMO more versatile.

[DaveP]

i am off for 3 weeks next year and have just gone for the oxford soft.

[DarrenSV650S]

Watch your paintwork with soft luggage!

[Luckypants]

Would anyone have some advice on the best budget hard luggage (top box and panniers) to fit a '97 VFR 750?

Like this?

http://photos-c.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v257/214/80/677353213/n677353213_633522_9541.jpg

Not the best photo, taken on a timer 11 odd years ago, then scanned. That luggage is Nonfango and was great, waterproof and matched the bike perfectly. Stood up to a number of drops too :-dd

The rack was solid and could easily be removed from the bike. I sold the panniers on Ebay after binning the bike with the top-box installed.

My advice would be to look on Ebay for something, the most popular hard luggage for that bike was Nonfango, Givi or Kappa. You might also try the VFR site. (http://www.bikersoracle.com/vfr/forum/index.php?)

[Ploppy]

Hi all,

sorry for the late reply, ive been out of town for a short while, this is the first time i have had chace to get back on the org.





Apologies for the pic wh0ring, but I just love Euro trips on the bike, where are you planning on heading off to?

Im wanting to go to france for the le mans motogp round, this will be my first trip abroad on the bike, thought le mans as its not too big of a trip for the first time, and i get some racing to watch too, good times :D

Why are you thinking hard luggage? Soft luggage works fine and is IMO more versatile.

Ive been thinking hard lugage mainly for security, soft lugage you have the risk of some one kindly slashing them open for free goodies. but then again, how often am i going to be away from the bike on a biking trip.... ;)



Not the best photo, taken on a timer 11 odd years ago, then scanned. That luggage is Nonfango and was great, waterproof and matched the bike perfectly. Stood up to a number of drops too :-dd

The rack was solid and could easily be removed from the bike. I sold the panniers on Ebay after binning the bike with the top-box installed.

My advice would be to look on Ebay for something, the most popular hard luggage for that bike was Nonfango, Givi or Kappa. You might also try the VFR site. (http://www.bikersoracle.com/vfr/forum/index.php?)

Its strange seeing a viffer from back when that model was launched, she looks good:) still does :-D:-D shame to hear about the err... ahem... binning disaster. What you riding now? sv??

Thanks everyone for the sound advice, will take it all on board. Just got to weigh up the pros and cons. Versitility and cost on one hand and security on the other....

[Lozzo]

I had hard luggage on a ZZR1100 and hated it. At speed it made the bike more unstable than it was with fully loaded soft luggage and the width increase was significantly greater. It's only as secure as the flimsy locks provided or the even more flimsy hinges. On the other hand, I've never heard of anyone having luggage ripped open or broken into.

I've got Oxford Sports luggage now - tailpack, throwover panniers and tankbag. Somewhere is a Baglux Alpha bag which I use when I have a bike with a Baglux cover (I have one for the SV but never fit it). If that's not enough then I've also got a Kriega R35 rucksack.

[Luckypants]

Its strange seeing a viffer from back when that model was launched, she looks good:) still does :-D:-D shame to hear about the err... ahem... binning disaster. What you riding now? sv??

Had a curvy SVS after the Viffer 750, binned that after 6 years :oops: Currently riding a VFR800 VTEC A5. I have the Honda hard luggage on that.

I can see your point about security, but as others have alluded if they really want your stuff they will have it. I have hard luggage because it is more stable on the bike, waterproof, easy to handle etc. I have never had any stability problems with it fitted. Hard luggage is also much easier to lug about off the bike IMO.

If you going to Le Mans, soft luggage would be fine as it is a short trip and you will be camping near the circuit. Basically you just need to carry stuff there and back, so many the advantages of hard luggage are lost.

[Ploppy]

It seems like to senisible option would be for the soft luggage as this is my first trip. Only thing im concerned about now is firstly will soft luggage do anything unsightly to my paint work (with the throw overs or any of the bungies needed to secure them to the bike...) ???

and also i have an aftermarket high exhaust (below) and im guessing the heat from it will not be good for the panniers. The obvious way round this is the put the stock exhaust back on for any trip but my vanity is getting the better of me and i dont want to do this (the stock exhaust IMO sounds and looks crap :rolleyes:) or another way is not to bother with panniers, so my second question/queiry is will i have ample space in a tail pack and a tank bag (for me and the little lady) for the trip...???

[Tim in Belgium]

To avoid marking your paint work use insulation tape to cover up the body work, remove it when you get home and your paint work should be as good as new. If there are two of you I'd guess you'll definitely need panniers, you can get high level sporty ones that shoul clear the can, but I'd go to HG first to see if you can trial fit them and make doubly sure.

[walkaboutandy]

I prefer hard luggage as its waterproof, secure (lockable to itself and the bike), versatile and most importantly....cheap.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v689/walkaboutandy/P1010089.jpg

[samwilko]

i did the exact same trip in July this year. I used oxford soft panniers, tank bag and tail pack. Worked perfectly, but did mark the paint on the rear. I bought rolls of insulating tape in france and covered the bike after i noticed it was marking it.

[Luckypants]

To avoid marking your paint, tape up as recommended. You can also get some wonder web (or similar) non-slip rubbery mesh stuff that protects the paint and helps stop the panniers sliding around.

[Ceri JC]

To avoid marking your paint, tape up as recommended. You can also get some wonder web (or similar) non-slip rubbery mesh stuff that protects the paint and helps stop the panniers sliding around.

+1 you can get large sheets of it for £5- big enough that you could even go halves with someone else. It's easy to cut to fit your bike's tail end. Very effective at stopping bungee straps and fabric of tailpacks/panniers from rubbing and marking the paint. Takes up hardly any space when folded up (I keep mine under the rear seat when not in use).

[jumjum_0214]

I got some rubber stuff that goes in the bottom of the cutlery drawer.:-)

It was £4 from Wilkinsons.:-) :-)

Used it to stop my bungees rubbing from oxford tailpack and have ZERO scratches. Worth its weight in gold!!!!!

[Luckypants]

I got a big 1m square sheet from Aldi for £2.99 (they call it anti-slip mat), just used 'wonder web' name as something that is easily searchable. :D

[aarond]

em... to sort of derail what about tail pack with a hump? have you got to change it to the seat again?

[yorkie_chris]

Take the seat hump off, and cargo net the hump to the top. Aerodynamics innit :-P

HTH

[aarond]

Take the seat hump off, and cargo net the hump to the top. Aerodynamics innit :-P

HTH


:smt043 :smt043 :smt043 :smt043 :smt043 :smt043 :smt043

[Ploppy]

I prefer hard luggage as its waterproof, secure (lockable to itself and the bike), versatile and most importantly....cheap.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v689/walkaboutandy/P1010089.jpg

haha erm thats a suitcase.... :p not quite what i had in mind but i like it none the less.

To avoid marking your paint, tape up as recommended. You can also get some wonder web (or similar) non-slip rubbery mesh stuff that protects the paint and helps stop the panniers sliding around.

I got some rubber stuff that goes in the bottom of the cutlery drawer.:-)

It was £4 from Wilkinsons.:-) :-)

ahhh you guess are full of ideas :-D basically i need to nip down to the shops and see what the have for under a fiver :-D:-D thats like music to my barnsley ears, we like 'cheap' from this neck of the woods lol

If there are two of you I'd guess you'll definitely need panniers, you can get high level sporty ones that shoul clear the can, but I'd go to HG first to see if you can trial fit them and make doubly sure.

So panniers, tank bag and tail pack?? are the oxford ones a good buy or does anyone know of any other brands that do good soft luggage?

[madness]

The wonder web rubbery stuff is currently half price in the car section at my local Tesco. Now £3 for approx 4' x 3'. Bargain. And it's black, so goes with any colour scheme.

[Lozzo]

So panniers, tank bag and tail pack?? are the oxford ones a good buy or does anyone know of any other brands that do good soft luggage?

Oxford ones are easily the best, and the Sports range comes with a lifetime guarantee too. I've had brand new tankbag, and panniers in exchange for old well used ones when the zips went on mine.

Now and then Hein Gericke have a massive Oxford luggage sale, keep your eyes open for their next one.

[Ploppy]

Oxford ones are easily the best, and the Sports range comes with a lifetime guarantee too. I've had brand new tankbag, and panniers in exchange for old well used ones when the zips went on mine.

Now and then Hein Gericke have a massive Oxford luggage sale, keep your eyes open for their next one.

Cheers, im going to venture out this weekend to hein gericke and j & s and see if they have any deals on :)

[peterrose]

hik guys, has anyone got or know of any Nonfango side panniers going cheap ?

condition not too important as i'm going to re-spray them to match my bike anyway.

Cheers, Pete.

[Dicky Ticker]

As already mention any luggage changes the aerodynamics of your bike and may I also suggest hardening up your suspension to accommodate the weight increase.

[peterrose]

As already mention any luggage changes the aerodynamics of your bike and may I also suggest hardening up your suspension to accommodate the weight increase.

Don't worry about me Dicky, I am an old and seasoned traveller and I never go over 165 mph on my old SV1000s.

As I'm also an old and overweight pie eating chip shop owner, in fact I'm so over weight that my suspension is already set to " Over weight fat ******* " settings front and rear.

I've used soft luggage for the last few years for long overseas touring without any problems but one of our members on the SV-portal web site manufacturers his own rear rack and I've ordered one, ( they will fit the 650 also ) then I got a cheap £40 new top box and managed to get the nonfango side racks new on ebay for a £5 + £8 postage.

I've had to ordered the nonfango pannier carriers direct from nonfango at £86 delivered and now want nonfango panniers. There are some on ebay for £100 used but before I bid I wondered if anyone on here had an old set laying around.

Here is v2 shrek rack, he also does side pannier racks, pop over to www.sv-portal.com (http://www.sv-portal.com) and search v2 shrek + rack etc.

[mattSV]

Don't worry about me Dicky, I am an old and seasoned traveller and I never go over 165 mph on my old SV1000s.



Thought I recognised that user name, although I haven't been on the SV1000 portal for ages - welcome to the site Pete, good to see you are still about and enjoying the thou :thumbsup:

[peterrose]

Thought I recognised that user name, although I haven't been on the SV1000 portal for ages - welcome to the site Pete, good to see you are still about and enjoying the thou :thumbsup:

Yeah, I'm still about, 6 years and 12,000 posts on the sv site and 33,000 miles on the SV. Got an MZ with a 660 Yamaha engine in it for a second bike now, see below. Matt, you should come back over and tell us all what you've been up to.

I bit the bullet today and ordered a second hand set of panniers on ebay for £110 delivered so I'm all sorted.