We all have baggage.
For what your psychoanalyst can't help you with you
will need luggage.
To tell a real
adventure rider look at the panniers. If there are no scratches they
are either a poser or just got them for their birthday. Maybe poser
is too strong a word. Maybe they like the look and comfort of an
adventure bike and are happy to stick to paved roads on weekend
rides. I'm not here to judge.
OK, maybe I can be a
little judgmental.
When I see a GS in full battle gear with extra lights and gear but no
dirt, I'm suspicious. When the skid plate is pristine without a
single gouge or dent, I'm pretty sure. And when I see the Hero Cam
mount, I'm convinced. DORK!! Adventure riding is inversely
proportional to bling and directly proportional to dirt. A clean bike
is the emblem of an unimaginative mind.
When most riders get
a new bike the first thing they think about is bags. It's the most
obvious symbol of being a serious rider. Serious riders need
stuff, and need a place to put it. The old cowboy saddle bags have
evolved into a variety of metal panniers, textile bags, and
rubberized, waterproof vaults.
Before I comment on
each type allow me to rant for a moment on top boxes. Top boxes are
great if you own a Vespa, deliver pizzas for a living, or live in a
third world country. Other than that - What were you thinking?
As high as possible and behind the rear axle?! Could there be
any place worse to add weight to a bike?
“Oh, but it's so
convenient. I can put my helmet in there when I stop” I hear them
say. If carrying a helmet is that much of a burden maybe they should
buy a Buick! Not only is it horrible for weight distribution, it's as
aerodynamic as a brick. The wind wraps around the body and then hits
this billboard for laziness. You'd better get that big bore kit so
you can keep up with the mopeds.
Side winds are
especially fun as they try to push the back end while the lightened
front end is less grippy. Gusty side winds make it feel like a sail
boat on the bay, and on rocky trails it feels like an inverted
pendulum is attached to the bike. Don't do it !!!
And now back to our
regular programming.
Metal boxes are
generally secure, durable, and waterproof. They look serious and
enhance the go anywhere appearance of the bike. The downside is that
they are heavy, expensive, and it's tempting to get one with too much
room. By that I mean that there is an addictive tendency to fill them
up. Horror Vacui –
Nature abhors a vacuum. First it's the rain suit in case it rains.
Then it's a couple of tools, and a flashlight, and a tire patch kit,
and a tire pump, and a sweater, and so on.
There is no end.
On an extended trip
they
can offer superior protection in case of rough terrain and an
unexpected trip off the trail. They also come with locks that keep
prying fingers at bay. Plus they are great places to put all the
cool stickers you pick up along the way.
Just as you can buy
a “fashion leather” bike jacket that will shred the first time
you hit pavement, you can buy adventure-ish metal panniers
that will fold up the first time they hit the ground. Luckily, it was
a friend's bags that exposed this fact to me. Before you buy, take
the lid off and try to flex the box diagonally. If it moves you
should consider just how tough you intend to get before putting down
your money.
An alternative is to
make your own boxes. This picture is of my Transalp with panniers I made
from Army surplus Mermite boxes bought on eBay. The cost was about
$100 plus another $150 for the rack. This thread on ADVRider shows how to do it. I have also seen them made
with Pelican cases and ammo boxes. If you are handy with a welder you
can make them yourself from scratch.
This picture points
out another great benefit of hard bags. The bike can't fall as far -
which
makes it much easier to pick up when it goes over. After a long day
on the road that is priceless!
Dry bags are a
relatively new alternative to hard bags. People have been adapting
kayaking and white water bags to motorcycles for a long time, but it
seems that only recently products made specifically for motorcycling have become
available. Their big advantages are light weight and lower cost - and
they're waterproof.
When I say
waterproof, I mean that they can stay 3 feet underwater for at least
30 minutes without a drop entering the bag. It can take that long to
pick up a bike that has fallen over in a river.
For bikes with only
a subframe in the rear, two systems come to mind. Dirt
Bagz with lightweight brackets to protect them from the
exhaust and rear wheel are great for small loads and short trips. My
friend Marty used them for a 10 day trip to Baja with his XR650R and
was very happy.
For longer trips and
more complete protection there are the Giant Loop bags. I used the
Giant
Loop Coyote bag on my recent trip into Mexico. By itself it is
water resistant but with the waterproof inner bags it meets my
requirements for motorcycle swimming. The capacity of the Coyote bag
might seem small at 30 liters but it is well organized into 3 fitted
pods that held most of my gear. Tools and parts in the left pod, cook
gear and food in the right pod, and clothes in the center pod. For
longer trips a 2nd dry bag can be added to the system for
a total of 100 liters. I used this one for my sleeping bag and other
stuff.
Perhaps the best
part of the GL Coyote is that it is solidly strapped to the bike. The
weight is kept low and there is absolutely no motion when the bike
starts dancing in the rocks. Between trips the entire system comes
off the bike and there are no racks left behind.
The bag, pods, and
extra dry bag come to only $590. They are less convenient than the
other options but the versatility and the solid mounting make it a
very attractive option for any adventure bike. Especially true if you
own more than one bike as it can be transferred without any
additional racks or adapters.
Whatever you choose remember,
Adventure travel is all about less. Less weight, less stuff, less self.
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