Luggage and Touring Advise

Am going to be going around France on the 1st of August for 2 weeks (ish) as have been invited to a house party near Nice (woohoo)

Anyway - I have a tail tidy and all the panniers (not sure on spelling) I have tried don't seem to fit.

Does anyone have any advise on what I should go for - Bearing in mind I will doing most of my driving on the twisties!

Originally Posted by george650

Am going to be going around France on the 1st of August for 2 weeks (ish) as have been invited to a house party near Nice (woohoo)

Anyway - I have a tail tidy and all the panniers (not sure on spelling) I have tried don't seem to fit.

Does anyone have any advise on what I should go for - Bearing in mind I will doing most of my driving on the twisties!

IMO mate id check out the oxford tailpack series of stuff, they are near enough a comfortable fit to most bikes as they are adjustable with them being soft packs they are very durable too. this is what id go for
Have a good trip too BTW

Cheers Matey - However, I believe I have tried these on before from my bros ZX-9 and the indicators are right in the way because of the tail tidy

Stick up a bigger picture of your bike/tail tidy, but I suspect the Oxford Sports will work just fine.

They work with high level exhausts, and are expanadble, so should be right as rain.

My setup has seen me do a good few thousand miles carting a lot of stuff about...including a 2 week trip with tent etc.

1) Expandable tankbag, can't remember the manufacturer.
2) Kriega 35 L rucksack.
3) Pillion:
a. Originally used my Dad's Ortlieb bags, they're made from some heavy -duty red plastic/waterproof stuff, watertight seals.
b. Now got myself a Pacsafe stuffsack, was recently tested in MCN or a Bike mag I think. Waterproof, carries 80 L if necessary I think, slash-proof wire mesh over it that also doubles as great for winding straps through to make it secure.

Rok-straps attached to pillion pegs, through the Ortielb/Pacsafe, other end attached to grab rail. Can carry an enormous amount of stuff this way, never had anything fall off. Last week carried stuff for a few days, 4 man tent, sleeping roll, sleeping bag, all in the tankbag and Pacsafe only. Didn't even have to take my Kriega with me.

Ok thanks guys. What do you think to the Oxford Deluxe Tailpack?
That would just sit on the back seat then and shouldn't affect the indicators at all.
Will look into the bits usggested above too. Thanks

check out the pacsafe tailsafe. Real qualiity piece of kit. Maybe a tankbag would help as they come with map holders

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

check out the pacsafe tailsafe. Real qualiity piece of kit.

Think that might be the correct name for the Pacsafe thing I mentioned in my above post.

I don't understand how "soft" panniers can't fit....

I realise that they may hide the indicators (that's a different issue) or that they get in the way with a pillion, but you didn't mention 2 up.

I have a set of panniers that I put on my Curvy SV and GSXR600, both of which had very small tail tidies and No. plates. It's just a case of moving them about a bit to make them fit...

As for tailpacks, I have both the sports and "full size" Oxford ones; they are both very good, and a Kriega 20Litre tailpack as well. For long distance touring I'd run with the larger Oxford jobby, the Kriega is great for a weekend, but that's about it.

Get a smallish tankbag too. Bigger ones can "dirty" the air and make it uncomfortable, you want one just for essentials (wallet, change for tolls, water etc).

HTH

Originally Posted by Jelster

Get a smallish tankbag too. Bigger ones can "dirty" the air and make it uncomfortable, you want one just for essentials (wallet, change for tolls, water etc)

Don't know if my tankbag qualifies as big, can't remember the capacity (guessing 25 litres) but I know that when it's full the extra height can sometimes be helpful...

Has occasionally been used as a chin rest for tucking in during high speed motorway cruising