Getting Ready For A Long Ride

Discussion in 'Bonneville' started by LeezRyd, Jun 11, 2021.

  1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.
  1. LeezRyd

    LeezRyd Noble Member

    Nov 16, 2019
    369
    303
    Left side of the pond
    Once a year my son and I take a long ride. Last year my bags turned into aquariums because of the rain we ran into. So for this year, I've decided to get some hard luggage and a new top box from Givi. I chose a 33L box so that it wouldn't look like I was carrying a house, but big enough to hold my XL Shoei full face helmet. The side bags you see, are Triumph soft bags and they will be swapped for Givi Trekkor hard panniers when the time comes

    DSCN0576 (2).JPG
     
    • Like Like x 4
  2. joe mc donald

    Dec 26, 2014
    13,874
    1,000
    slough / burnham
    LeezRyd
    Yes can't beat the hard luggage. The other Sunday coming home from Liverpool we got absolutely saturated. My triumph bags were like paper and everything soaked. The gifts I purchased in Ireland have now gone in the bin. You know I got back to Warwick services and just wanted to dump the bike and get Tracy to pick me up. She brought me dry clothing and a few sugared coffee's and I decided to get the bike home. Then it stopped raining.
    Joe
     
    • Like Like x 1
  3. andypandy

    andypandy Crème de la Crème

    Jan 10, 2016
    4,083
    1,000
    Shaw
    The only problem I ever had with soft panniers was not water but heat. I was very careless one day and the right hand pannier got burnt on the exhaust. There was a hole but my wife managed to find some suitable material and stitch things back together. I still have the panniers (Oxford) somewhere in the loft and although I tour on a Yamaha Tracer with hard panniers, the Oxford one's are always there as a back up if needed.
    Just in case they ever let in water, which they never did, I always used to wrap my gear in plastic bags anyway.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  4. Smilinjack

    Smilinjack Guest

    Buying a few stuff sacks might be money well spent. Waterproof and flexible, available in loads of sizes. :)
     
  5. LeezRyd

    LeezRyd Noble Member

    Nov 16, 2019
    369
    303
    Left side of the pond
    We were fortunate enough to stay at a place that had a clothes dryer, so was able to get dried out for the next day. So even though the hard luggage is supposedly water tight, this year there will be several trash bags along for the ride!
     
  6. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
    2,932
    800
    Yorkshire
    I use a couple of FT Cargo soft throwovers and an Oxford holdall, both must be 20 yrs old now and never had leakage problems. If heavy rain is forcast with Motorway riding involved I usually do as andypandy has suggested and put everything in plastic bags first for insurance. I've ridden long journeys through torrential rain on the M6 numerous times and never had water get into the luggage. Good waterproof clothing is also essential and while not making the journey pleasurable means you can shrug off even the worst downpours.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
Loading...

Share This Page