View Full Version : Panniers or tail bag?
What is better a set of panniers or a tail bag? Looking at a few day trip. I don't need to carry lots. From my trekking/mountaineering experience I'm very happy with very little anyway. I will also be taking a rucksack in any case too.
How easy are they to remove if you need to stop and say, run to the loo en route or something? Don't want to come back and find the bike sans luggage...
yorkie_chris
18-06-12, 07:23 PM
Anywhere outside london it will probably be fine :-P
Re. rucksack, load the bike not the rider. It is more comfortable and less dangerous.
Depends on the luggage system. A rucksack and 2 bungee cords, pretty easy, a topbox probably easiest but hard to carry, panniers can be a bit of a faff to take off and put back on.
maviczap
18-06-12, 07:29 PM
Why not a tank bag? Gives something to lean on on the motorway bits.
Will you be riding with a rucksack?
I wouldn't personally and a lot of tank bags have have integral rucksack straps.
So tail pack + tank bag or just panniers would be my choice
I will use the rucksack when I go for walks etc
I don't like the idea of a tank bag. I think it would really get in the way. I'm only 5.6 so I think it would obstruct me. I'm not sure I could see anything sitting with it in front LOL :)
widepants
18-06-12, 07:44 PM
get a tank bag that has straps so it can be used as a rucksack . Then simply fasten it to the back seat with a bungy cargo net.
All depends how much stuff you need. I prefer a tailpack over panniers, but you might run out of space. But you could use a tank and tail bag combo.
I'm 5'6 and I liked a tankbag over long distances (rest your belly on it). Try avoiding a heavy backpack for long rides.
Some other options to consider:
1) suzuki make a topbbox which replaces the pillion seat:
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk16/RhysWms/P7200002.jpg
2) a 50l (3 compartments) Jofama tailbag, they started doing a 40l now:
http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/200708054409?var=lv<yp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&adtype=pla
http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/1922/p5260360.jpg
How easy are all those things to remove? Is it fiddly? I like the look of panniers or tail bag the most. A top box is handy and safe but last time I looked I'd need to shell out on a rack to stick it on as well and I need an inexpensive option.
Have a look at Kriega tail packs, US10 & US20. Can take as little or as much as you like. Clip off pretty quick. Only downside is the price but quality is excellent. Search on here for reviews. Infinity motorcycles are good for all Kriega stuff.
Tailpack - 2 bungees and a securing velcro strap,
Tankbag - magnetic, throw on tank and you're done,
The Jofama bag has 2 straps, very easy.
You don't need a rack for the Suzuki topbox. You fit the baseplate instead of the pillion seat and the top box goes on that. See here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suzuki-SV650-top-box-case-luggage-/290729810716?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item43b0d8db1c
Looks like this:
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/s4.jpg
Oh they look interesting... not many on ebay tho :D
Hmmm... food for thought... I will probably be taking my trekking boots or trainers on the trip so need to fit those in...
Bluefish
18-06-12, 08:20 PM
I'm in the tankbag camp, fot you though a tail pack might be best.
Is tail pack better than panniers?
SoulKiss
18-06-12, 08:36 PM
Is tail pack better than panniers?
I'd go for tail-pack and tank-bag - you don't increase the width of the bike that way.
Mrs DJ Fridge
18-06-12, 08:42 PM
I would go for anything that I could just fit on the v-strom. I cannot find any bungee points on it at all, which leaves me with having to spend a fortune to get a top box, I know I will have to do it, I just prefer soft luggage. The only bonus I can think of is that a top box will at least hold slightly sleepy child on back over longer trips.
soft panniers scratch hell out of the pointy rear plastics.
i use a kreiga US10 tail pack every time i'm out. i can get my waterproof, spare socks, spare gloves, visor cleaning stuff, fags, satnav, camera and nicknacs in it but it's full to the brim.
good points:
1. they are waterproof
2. they are well made
3. you don't have to take a bag off your tank when filling up
bad points:
1. they slide downwards towards you on a pointy
2. its a 4 point fixing but you soon get used to it
3. i don't like the way the buckles are on the top
i cut the straps that come with them then melted a hole on each one with a soldering iron then permanently affixed them to the bolt points under the rear seat so i can leave the straps and not get pinched but i'm looking at doing one better with velcro.
Jayneflakes
18-06-12, 10:39 PM
I have a tank bag that spends most of the time on my rear seat. It only goes on the tank when I really am carrying a lot. For long trips, I use this lot.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/260260_10150225840451519_5889851_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/260260_10150225840466519_6259774_n.jpg
femaleacid
18-06-12, 10:41 PM
We have both tank bag and panniers.
We use the tank bag for near enough every journey we do just to carry a few drinks and snacks but if we're on a long journey or up for camping we use panniers too.
The only thing I recommend the most is that if they don't already have a rubber underneath on the panniers, buy some and sew/stick it on them because it will scratch the sides like it did with us! :(
rictus01
19-06-12, 01:17 AM
they all have their pros & cons and it's which suits your needs the best, I have or have had virtually every luggage solution out there.
the best for riding is a tank bag, the best of these is a baglux harness type and clip on bag, over that, hard rear luggage, panniers over a topbox (as long as they are balanced or close enough), then soft panniers, then tail pack on pillion seat, then tailpack/other bag on a rack.
most secure, hard luggage, then soft panniers with a cable lock.
best for weight distribution, tank bag, soft panniers, pillion tail pack.
all those are in order of my preference, I do have a modified seat with the pillion foam removed and topbox base plate fitted, which is very useful and can be left on the bike locked, on the SV you only need get another pillion seat off ebay (or ask if anyone has a torn one going cheap) and you can fix any topbox to it with bolts to achieve the same result.
Cheers Mark.
Mark's hit the nail on the head... it depends completely on your needs - but you may not know what they are yet.
My advice is to start off with a tank bag - a "hump-back" type will probably offer the best balance between comfort and capacity. They usually have the ability to double-up as a ruck-sack, and have a clear cover into which you can put directions/maps/phone/sat-nav etc.
Tail packs are fine, but like panniers, are a more permanent fit - that is to say, it's not something that you'll want to be putting on every morning and taking off every night (or worse). However, if you're heading off for a few days of touring, then the combination of tank bag, tail pack and panniers is pretty much essential.
Panniers are pretty impractical, unless you go for bolted-on hard luggage. They do however offer the greatest capacity for sticking your belongings in.
Finally... there's the subject of top-boxes... which is fine if you want to become an outcast on this forum. They're not cheap, and are probably best left to the scooters and couriers of the two-wheeled world.
Small Clanger
19-06-12, 06:43 AM
Mrs DJF, if you've nowhere to tie anything to, Hein-Gericke do some bolt-on d-ring bungee anchors for £4.99 per pair. Their catalogue shows them bolted to the licence plate fixings but with some longer bolts they'll fit anywhere, i.e. seat/tail fairings/grab-rail bolts etc.
I found some blanked-off 6mm bolt holes under the seat/tail unit of the Ducati (for the option grab-rail) and fitted a couple of pairs of them. Ideal for the straps that come with the Kriega stuff or for the Rok-Straps and big bag. The SV650 also has a few assorted fixing options around or under the seat/tail. :o Possibilities-endless.
Lots of good advice. Cheers guys. I need to sit down properly and look slowly through everything
SoulKiss
19-06-12, 08:04 AM
Where in London are you?
I have an old beat-up set of Oxford Sports Panniers, tank bag and tail-pack that I never/hardly use.
If you want to borrow them to see what combination works for you, then let me know.
missyburd
19-06-12, 10:00 PM
I went away last year with one of those large hiking backpacks bungeed to the back seat and rack, with a tankbag...
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/184157_10150751240180553_3578859_n.jpg
all those are in order of my preference, I do have a modified seat with the pillion foam removed and topbox base plate fitted, which is very useful and can be left on the bike locked, on the SV you only need get another pillion seat off ebay (or ask if anyone has a torn one going cheap) and you can fix any topbox to it with bolts to achieve the same result.
We have a scooter topbox (for example) that's bolted to a spare seat. I use it daily for work cos my shoulder complains if I use backpacks now. Having just come back from another Scotland trip with a bike loaded up the proper way, the topbox was fantastic and everything fitted round it perfectly. Racks are worth every penny.
With topbox and humpback tankbag
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/s720x720/285751_10151859447395553_1511002839_n.jpg
With all the kit (bungees on the topbox were a safety precaution, can never be too cautious :-) )
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/s720x720/540506_10151859376785553_321082778_n.jpg
Just to give you an idea anyway. I had two weeks worth of gear on the above pic, including tent and sleeping stuff, wellies, boots, clothes, visor stuff, oil, chain, footpump and more! All fitted snugly :D
Oh and re: Soulkiss' comment about not wanting to affect the width of the bike, with panniers on the width is the same as the handlebar width (unless you need to expand them I suppose, I didn't so can't comment). I filtered in traffic the same with no problems.
So the general consensus is panniers are a bit fiddly and scratch your bodywork and tail packs are much better
SoulKiss
20-06-12, 02:43 PM
Oh and re: Soulkiss' comment about not wanting to affect the width of the bike, with panniers on the width is the same as the handlebar width (unless you need to expand them I suppose, I didn't so can't comment). I filtered in traffic the same with no problems.
True - and I filter at flowing motorway speeds with mine on :)
However it can be a bit fiddly when filtering through heavy Londonshire (as I understand you Northerners call it) traffic, especially if you forget they are on the bike.
Spank86
20-06-12, 03:04 PM
A few of the guys and I filtered most of the way up to the AR and I can confirm that panniers don't increase the width past the handlebars so SHOULDN'T slow you down... only we're humans not machnies so they do at first, theres something about squeezing through a gap when what your on gets bigger behind you that is harder to be confident about than when the width is in front of you.
The brain just doesn't like it.
maviczap
20-06-12, 08:10 PM
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/s720x720/540506_10151859376785553_321082778_n.jpg
Just to give you an idea anyway. I had two weeks worth of make up on the above pic, including hair drier, PJ's, lippy, nail polish
.
Now tell the truth :D
Mrs DJ Fridge
20-06-12, 08:54 PM
Mrs DJF, if you've nowhere to tie anything to, Hein-Gericke do some bolt-on d-ring bungee anchors for £4.99 per pair. Their catalogue shows them bolted to the licence plate fixings but with some longer bolts they'll fit anywhere, i.e. seat/tail fairings/grab-rail bolts etc.
I found some blanked-off 6mm bolt holes under the seat/tail unit of the Ducati (for the option grab-rail) and fitted a couple of pairs of them. Ideal for the straps that come with the Kriega stuff or for the Rok-Straps and big bag. The SV650 also has a few assorted fixing options around or under the seat/tail. :o Possibilities-endless.
Thank you, I have asked DJ to read your post, he will understand it. Oh apparently he does because he is now talking at me about it, I say talking at me because I understand that although all the words are English I do not really get what he is saying. He says thanks for the advice, he seems very excited to do something with my bike now.
I've done every single trip with just a tank bag, I pack (very) light and bungee the tent and the sleeping bag onto the pillion seat.
I've recently invested in some panniers as the small person wants to go away with me so need a bit of extra packing space.
missyburd
20-06-12, 10:21 PM
I had two weeks worth of make up on the above pic, including hair drier, PJ's, lippy, nail polish
Now tell the truth :D
Erm, you don't know me right well do ya? :p My makeup consists of liquid eyeliner and that's it. I certainly didn't bother with a hairdryer but I may have taken my sheep fleecy pj bottoms, I gets cold at night without my human hot water bottle. I ended my fortnight wild camping on an island for 3 nights being vomited on by seabirds, not your average holiday on all accounts :D:smt023
What about straightening irons, rollers, hair spray, flat brush, round brush, hair serum, detangling spray.... oh I forget... HELMET HAIR! :D
I rather like helmet hair actually. Keeps the frizz at bay LOL
missyburd
21-06-12, 08:33 AM
oh I forget... HELMET HAIR! :D
Tis definitely the "in" look :cool::D
Helmets are sooo handy! Normally I have to blow dry, then iron blah blah blah... but when I'm on my bike, wet hair - helmet on - by the time I get to my destination - dry, straight hair! Presto! :D :D
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