panniers or tail pack
 

off to france towards end of July.

Will try to travel as light as possible.

So now I need to get some soft luggage, so my question is what do people prefer?

Been looking at the Oxford humpack tail pack or some oxford throw over panniers.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

I got an oxford sports tail pack off ebay, its ace, fit a load in it and it feels very secure on the bike.
http://www.bikebone.com/miva/graphic...xeTailpack.jpg
the only thing i dont like about it is the flap at the top is only held down by velcro and the two zips at the sides, sometimes find myself checking it along incase its flown open, although im sure it'll be fine...but its easy enough to wrap some bunjees around the whole pack.
I bought it to head off to europe with also! along with the sports tank bag

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

FWIW I prefer panniers, it makes getting on and off sooo much easier. It also leaves rear seat free to bungy on waterproofs / chain / bottles of water and other odds n' sods that need to be to hand. I'm off on Wednesday and my waterproofs and chain are on the rear saet. Clothes in panniers. 'Stuff' is in the tank bag (tool kit / spare visor / maps / documents)

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

tailpack.

a few times i have been away i pack everything into the panneirs but never seem to get them to fit right, so i always unpack them and use a tailpack instead

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

Depends whether you're taking tent and sleeping bag etc. You need to leave space for that.

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

Tail pack, if you can afford it Kriega US-40 ( a US-20 with two US-10's attached to it.)

see here:
http://www.kriega.com/pages_uk/us20/...pframeset.html

I have the US-20, brilliant bit of kit!!

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

I've got one of them, really nice piece of kit.

I dont like panniers I dont like having the width of the bike restricted for filtering etc.

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

Thanks for the response all.
I'll look at getting the Kreiga US20 or the Oxford Humpback.

Think I'll take a small back pack for any of the stuff I'll need at short notice.

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

I'm not a fan of back packs due to the effect they can have in a crash. I use a tank bag for 'stuff needed at short notice'. Most can be converted to a rucksack for use off the bike and is a more comfortable solution IMHO.

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

Tail pack and tank bag - I thought panniers slowed down multi-cornering ability...

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

i got panniers, the oxford sport basic ones, they do the job good with their little waterproof covers. Must be able to fit more in them than in one tailpack

never had any troubles with them in cornering or blowing off (as i often feel they should be falling off at over 70)

never had any problem with filtering either, although i dont do it as much as some, and this is mainly because i forget theyre there and happen to luckily fit through down the line!

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

having said that, i always ride with a massive backpack aswell when i need to carry gear from wolves to cardiff or vice versa

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

<shameless plug>

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=111602

:-dd

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

I drove down to the South of France a few years ago, two up on a curvy and used Oxford sport panniers and a tank bag (can't remember the make of tank bag but it was squarer than the humpback Oxford one) I prefer the larger squarer tank bags as they are better to lean on.

I tend to avoid tail packs as they make getting on on and off a pain.

I sat the panniers pretty high and tight as they always sag a little and then I bungied and strapped them firm, they never moved and I never found any added width a problem.

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

Just noticed that M & P are knocking out the Oxford Humpbacks with either tank or tail fitting for less than 40 notes.

See here: http://www.mandp.co.uk/productInfo.aspx?catRef=901935

Get 'em while you can.

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

nice one VP thanks for the heads up.

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

Bit late I know but for me theres no doubt on this one - tank bag cos I support my chest on it and can ride for hours n hours. Without it the wrists go n my back kills me but maybe Im just getting old. :(

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

I have nothing to add to the tailpack vs panniers debate - I own both (M&P offer) but have used neither. I would recommend some bin liners and a roll of Gaffa\Duck tape if you have space. For my trip to last years AR the combination was awesome for additional waterproofing and fixing of random kit to bike. Try to avoid actually sticking the gaffa to the paintwork though. A bungy net and or cords are also very useful.

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

You've done the trip now but I'll add for anyone else interested...
I really like the Nelson Rigg gear... that and tourmaster's Cortech

I'm not sure if they are available all over the place in Europe but you can order them from NewEnough.com (great customer service and if you review your product they give you a $10 gift certificate too and no I don't work for them, they are just a good company out of Texas)

I got a full set of saddle bags and a trunk bag... I don't often use the saddle bags but they are great when I need a lot of luggage but most times it is enough to just go with the trunk bag.. and this system will work alone or in conjunction with the trunk bag... or other Nelson Rigg bag sets if you add others later

The ones I goe were the CL-950 deluxe expandable saddle bag and the CL-150 Expandable Sport Tail Pack they are super easy to get on and off and have straps for carrying when you are off the bike

Even before I expand the trunk bag I can fit a helmet inside.. they are great because they are sporty, aerodynamic, and expandable.. and as they join together you can have any one on its own, or join them all, or if you have the high mount pipe, just mount one side bag and the trunk bag.. they are water resistant but they also have waterproof covers you can slap over them to keep them dry...

Here is what got and the price was right.

http://nelsonrigg.com/images/Product...-07/CL-150.jpghttp://nelsonrigg.com/images/Product...-07/CL-950.jpg

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

+1 (although I only have the US-10).
Like someone else mentioned, I don't really like panniers as they restrict the spaces you can filter into. Of course, it's all a matter of preference

My advice with soft luggage is this: Borrow a complete set of luggage from someone (or alternatively buy a comprehensive kit of cheap stuff like the oxford "first time") and also use a smallish rucsac. Try out the various bits and work out which type of luggage strikes the best balance between:
What interferes with your riding the least,
What is easiest/quickest for you to fit/remove,
What's easiest to carry,
How much they can carry (capacity).

Rank the various bits in order of how good for you they are for you. You can then buy a good quality "best" bit for you and add others over time as the cheaper stuff wears out/you find yourself using it.

EDIT:
As Zokambaa says, the Nelson Rigg stuff is well built and little know/often overlooked in the UK. You can occassionally pick it up very cheap indeed.

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

I've got the Oxford Humpback tail pack and highly rate it, however it makes getting on and off the bike a bit of a pain and takes up the back seat. I plan to buy the magnetic base and put it on the tank. So I'd go panniers on the rear, good tank bag on the front, cargo net for rear seat and/or rucksack...

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

I have a Oxford tail pack.
Not sure what model, but velcro's under the seat.
I find it very useable, use it to store my bottoms and helmet(tight squeeze) when i am at college.
Can fit a small padlock through the zips, no someone cant open it.
But anyone with a knive could easily tear it open, but the padlocks just to deter the oppertunist theive.

Find it a bit of a pain getting on and off the bike when fully expanded, but better than not having anything to put my gear in.
Rate it quite highly for £30.

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

Well it's comming up on the year since doing the trip.

Panniers were useful, but a total pain in the fitting department.

Plus, the oxford rain cover seam ripped on one, half way down the A1, so a total of about 3 hours riding in fine weather. NOT IMPRESSED.

The Mini magnetic tank bag with map pocket was excellent. For £19 an absolute bargain.

After leaving London, halfway down to Limoges, I found my back was starting to get really sore. The trip back was a one day shot from Chalus to London. Just in time for a pint at my brothers local in Dulwich. Best pint ever!

We went the north road across out of Calais along the coast towards Dieppe, then to Fecamp and on to Le Havre. Cracking route, great roads. Brother was on his R6, the SV was so easy in the twisties by comparison to the Jap-4.

Would I do it again...... absolutely. I reckon I might just split the journey up some more and take my time. All in it was about 1100 miles each way.

Brilliant!! :mrgreen:

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

Par for the course I am afraid. Most who own Oxford panniers have experienced a loud flapping noise behind them and discover a shredded cover when they stop

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

+1 cant moan at the price, and does store quite a bit

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

My oxford panniers are great, but the rain covers were useless. Water got in thrown up from the back wheel, and soaked all my stuff-not ideal on a 3 day camping trip.

Am doing the same trip again this year and have invested in a topbox.

Re: panniers or tail pack
 

Shona

Highly recommend a Paisley Briefcase liberally accessorised with sticky tape!

:)