Luggage, any recommendations

Hi Guys

We'd like to do some touring on the bikes and there seem to be loads of luggage options for loads of budgets. Any recommendations from your experiences would be good.

I was thinking of perhaps top-box and soft panniers but not sure if this is a good idea, and what options there are to fit the cat?

Something better than an old (non-waterproof) rucksack bungee'd to the back would be good.


Thanks, Ian

Rear rack and Kriega US packs.

I've recently discovered these and you'll never need another luggage solution. Totally waterproof, simple to attach/remove, expands or compacts to accommodate whatever you're carrying.
Transferrable from bike to bike too, I'm in the process of building a rack to fit them to my RC8R from a spare pillion seat.

I bought the US-40 combination and thats good enough for 10 days worth of kit for me.

I have used the bungeed rucksack, soft panniers and now a hard top box.  I find the topbox most convenient and can supplement it with the panniers for more space.

I would endorse the Kriega option; I have a US-10 which I sometimes use as a day tail-pack.  They aren't cheap though.

Another option is a waterproof roll pack on a rack.  Have a look, for example, at these.

I agree Weasley, compared to other soft cases they are pretty expensive. You can definitely tell where your money has gone though, they feel bulletproof.

The big plus for me are that they are a damn site cheaper than the topbox I bought for the Ninja, and the hard cases I bought for the 990 Adventure, and the new hard cases I bought for the 990 SMT.......

I've finally found decent, well constructed luggage decent I can stick with and I've been really impressed with them.

Only downside is I didn't find them years ago, I could have saved a fortune!

I can second the rollpack option too, I used to use an Ortleib for all the camping and sleeping gear. It has lasted very well and never let any water in at all. Fits LOADS in it too.

Thanks guys

Any recommendations for a rack then, since that seems to be a requirement regardless of which bag I go for?

Think I had Renntec on my Tcat, not up to speed on what's current available.

Dry bag and a cargo net, cheeeeeeep and dose the job perfikt  

Davie likes cheeeeeeep 

Ventura luggage was the only option I could go for.
I am well impressed with it. But it ain't cheap.

Dirt Bike Dave wrote:Ventura luggage was the only option I could go for.
I am well impressed with it. But it ain't cheap.

I've used Ventura luggage all the way, like Dave says it ain't the cheapest as a startup but all of the bags etc are interchangeable and sometimes the racks and grab handles etc. The L brackets that attach to the bike itself are bespoke but you can generally sell em on if you change bikes and get a good price as they are very sought after

I've used soft panniers (Oxford Sports) and a magnetic tankbag on the Cat, with the camping gear strapped on the Renntec carrier.  You can fit masses of stuff in there, but with the panniers fully extended it does make the bike a bit wide, so watch out when filtering!  A roll bag would have been better for stashing the camping gear, but I didn't have one at the time.

I've just got a Ventura tail bag - the Imola model. I love it! So neat and tidy when its on or off the bike. Great quality too - but as others have said it's not the cheapest but I wanted something that would come on and off the bike quickly for work. This is perfect - not very big but ideal for work or a weekend away.

Will