How many litres of luggage space for a week away?

[Miles]

I'm off to france for a week camping on the GSXR and need some luggage.

I've already got myself the Ventura pack bag rack, but need a bag for it.

Anyone used a Bathurst Classic? Its the cheapest bag (£70) in the range and holds 63L. I could use that with a tail pack.

Or I could splash out and get a pair of the nicer Ventura bags, to give me 100 L, and not have to worry about a tailpack.

How many litres of luggage have you used on your trips?

[davepreston]

just a quick example for you a 100ltr burgen carry's enough for 6-9 months for a squadie so for a week its more than enough
me a weekend is tankbag and poss small tailpack
week tank and medium tail
2 weeks tank and panniers
up to a month tank tail and panniers
to be honest the last one would do far longer as well

[Miles]

http://www.ventura-bike.co.uk/products/bikepack.aspx

This is the ventura range.

[Jamiebridges123]

Yeah 100L + normal backpack should be enough mate :)

[Miles]

just a quick example for you a 100ltr burgen carry's enough for 6-9 months for a squadie so for a week its more than enough
me a weekend is tankbag and poss small tailpack
week tank and medium tail
2 weeks tank and panniers
up to a month tank tail and panniers
to be honest the last one would do far longer as well

I guess you're expanding your tankbag then? A pair of trainers takes up most of an unexpanded tank bag, let alone any trousers etc.

[Hockeynut]

Yeah 100L + normal backpack should be enough mate :)

Hate riding with a rucksack on.... even for just 30 minutes. Can't imagine it for a week!

[fizzwheel]

20 Litre Kregia tailpack and a 20 Litre Oxford tank bag, was enough for a 5 day trip away to france.

If your careful over what you pack you can manage with a surprising little amount of space.

[mr.anderson]

Girlfriend and I went away for 6 days with:

Oxford Humpback tankbag - 20L
Oxford Sports panniers - 30L (up to 40L if needed, but we didn't)
Kriega R20 Backpack - T-shirts only

So if you're taking 63L on your own - that shoudl see you through quite a while.

[Luckypants]

I never ride with a back pack if I can help it. A weekend away I can manage with just a tankbag / tailpack. For a week or more I have two 30L panniers. For a long trip abroad I also pack a tankbag with essential stuff like maps/toolkit/documents/drink and anything I need handy. If camping, I pack tent etc on rear seat.

You really do not need a lot of stuff. Take camping clothes washing stuff (comes in tube like toothpaste) to wash socks / pants so you only need a few. Just pack light and think hard about if you really will use what you are packing.

[custard]

i have just got hold of some ventura bags for a similar trip. aeros spada and the other that zips onto it.

it swallowed enough clothing for two people for a week (5 pairs kecks, socks, t-shirts and jeans) including shoes and jumpers and still has room left in it...

if you can get them they are well worth it.

[sunshine]

i found a cargo net, tank bag and underseat was enough for a week where as my mates are there with all there tail packs and panniers. travel light always the best

[Miles]

Thanks for the advice all. I think i'll go for one bag, then if I need more I can always strap stuff to the rack.

By the way, if anyone is after Ventura luggage for a Curvy, then this is an absolute bargain at the buy now price!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SV650s-2002-Ventura-Luggage-System_W0QQitemZ300318244387QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_ Motorcycle_Parts?hash=item45ec5cbe23&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1689%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

[yorkie_chris]

2 up, I'd use panniers. On my own I'd strap a bergen to the back seat. 82 litres or something daft like that without the side pods. Room for months worth of stuff and waterproof enough to chuck in a canal. Also a sight tougher and cheaper than bike based stuff (needs to be so daft paddy grunts can't break em... :-P)

[Zen Beetle]

M&P are presently doing a 50% sale (platinum only) on their sport, sprint and humpback panniers.

[Ed]

I've never taken my bike to France but I would take next to nothing, enough for 2 days maybe, and buy cheap stuff in Leclerc which could then be binned when they get smelly. Trainers? Crocs are much lighter and squash up well.

[yorkie_chris]

But you look like a spastic? I've got some everlast trainers that pack down to nothing.

To AR I wore my para boots, lovely dry feet all the way, and comfy to wear around. Plus you get to make anywhere you are look untidy.

[Miles]

Panniers are a no go due to the rear fairing on the GSXR.

On the SV its fine because the rear seat is virtually as wide as the bike so that takes the load, but on the gixer there is those white fairings that stick out either side of the seat. Paint damage asisde they are only clipped on so would break with any load, and make the bike as wide as a small car!

[sunshine]

packing to go on a bike holiday, up to primark 3t-shirts - £1 a few packs of them, not much space taken in the tank bag, a pair of jeans and nice t-shirt incase you end up somewhere posh, you can where bike boots all the time so no need for other shoes. a tent which fits under the seat, mrs you load on the pillon seat and she has the sleeping bags behind her. then its living off cafe food all the way :) so all you need for two people on one bike is a tank bag and cargo net!

[Miles]

You have a tent that fits under your seat? And more to the point a misses that wouldn't want to pack different shoes?!

[DMC]

Panniers are a no go due to the rear fairing on the GSXR.

:rolleyes:

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii13/dcoats23/France%202007/IMGP3539.jpg

[G]

I'm planning to get away with a 20ltr Kriega US20 for 10day with other stuff strapped around it if necessary. A change of under wear, a spare T-shirt and shorts, sandals.

Then buy the rest out there (antiperpirant, soap power, soap etc)

[Miles]

:rolleyes:

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii13/dcoats23/France%202007/IMGP3539.jpg

Nice. How did you avoid the panniers taking out the fairing?

You must be some kind of giant to be able to ride with a tankbag, I'm guts down on most of the tank!

[G]

You must be some kind of giant


:smt043

That is an impressive amouth of luggage on a gsxr though

[Miles]

:smt043

That is an impressive amouth of luggage on a gsxr though

Sorry if that comes across wrong, I am a particulary small person myself!

[DMC]

Nice. How did you avoid the panniers taking out the fairing?

You must be some kind of giant to be able to ride with a tankbag, I'm guts down on most of the tank!

The pannier straps just lay ontop of the rear seat/plastics, put some wonder-web underneath to protect the paintwork tho.

Bit of a midget actually, you get used to the tankbag & it provides something comforable to rest on :D

[carty]

Panniers are a no go due to the rear fairing on the GSXR.

Not true mate, I've used Oxford Humpback sports panniers a few times, they're fine.

On the SV its fine because the rear seat is virtually as wide as the bike so that takes the load, but on the gixer there is those white fairings that stick out either side of the seat. Paint damage asisde they are only clipped on so would break with any load, and make the bike as wide as a small car!

The tail fairings are strong and are not just 'clipped' on. I know as I've had to have them off following a crash. It's worth protecting the paint with a bit of rubber matting but they certainly wouldn't come close to breaking through using panniers, even if you filled them with bricks. :)

However, back to the question in hand. 20-40 litres should be enough for a week or so. I'd recommend a Kriega US-20 and a US-10 or two as these fit very nicely on the gixer and are easy to get on and off when parking up for a bit.

[sunshine]

You have a tent that fits under your seat? And more to the point a misses that wouldn't want to pack different shoes?!
a tent that fits under the seat is easy to get hold of you know the right people to get it cheap enough.
shoes take up alot of weight and space so just wear small bike shoes rather than boots you kinda get used to living in them for the week, and if you want your feet to get some fresh air just sit at your camp site barefooted and if you get too hot ust drill some small holes in them and hope it doesnt rain.