On the Road Again!

It's not an essential purchase, but when on a trip a set of luggage can be more than just useful.  With Vera probably going to be my solo touring bike, the need for massive panniers as I had on the BMW aren't going to be needed. I don't think that Touratech even make a fitting kit for their Zega panniers for the V-Strom. Maybe they do, but I don't want to go down that road again. I was considering soft luggage and was checking out Lomo panniers, but they are out of stock in UK,  expect they are stuck on a ship on its way from China! But there are so many differing makes, all with a range of reviews from 1* to 5*.  Plus, would they fit with the high exhaust? I had contemplated using the Oxford luggage that I have in the garage. But when I cleaned off all the cobwebs and muck off them, they won't fit across the V-Strom seat. The over seat straps are too short and when on almost full extension they still hang badly.  They will have to stay in case I use the GT750 for a...

I was looking back to see all the posts I have made containing "Touratech" as the label. I was surprised how far back they go. As for Zega Bags.  Wow. May 2007. I bought them as I had the Zega panniers on the 1150GS. They were so enormous and packing was all too easy to lob stuff in, that interior bags were required. Although the panniers were removed and sold way back in 2013, I still have the bags.  They are used every so often when I need to take soft luggage with me. Usually in the car although they did squeeze into Dora the Explorer's panniers. In fact they were used on our staycation in Norfolk last month. As I currently have the option of the ancient Oxford expandable panniers or the even more ancient Swagman panniers, they won't get used on any bike trips soon. They still look pretty new too!  Qualität.

Unfortunately, the Touratech part didn't come up to the spec I need. The central bar for the RAM mount is way too thin to be any use so I need to send it back. They have agree to take it back but of course it will cost me the postage, both ways.  Touratech UK very efficient and same day as the return they refunded the money to my PayPal account. So back to square one of where and how to fix the RAM mount so that I can get full right lock when required. C'est la vie.

I have been toying with this item since the Scotland trip. The natural seeming place on the left of the cockpit for the TomTom was less than perfect. It was okay before the handguards were fitted and then on almost full lock to turn right, and you'd be surprised how often you do that, the handguard clashed with the Satnav. Dangerous a few times until I made allowances. The obvious place is the handlebars, but Döra has 1" bar in the centre and the Ram bracket won't fit. So enter the Touratech solution . Not cheap. But it looks like it will be effective.

Although a GS Weekend, it was mostly to do with getting rid of some parts and accessories that I have assembled. Last week I took off the Touratech Zega pannier rails and prepared to sell them. I looked out the MRA screen, still in its packaging. That went to a local rider, Mike, for £75.  The panniers are packed in bubble wrap and will be dispatched tomorrow on a truck from Claire's company to their depot in Coventry to be collected by another guy from the R1150GS FB group. So, some money coming in to offset the cost of the Explorer.

An electrical fault somewhere in the loom is proving a problem for Steptoe to locate so it looks like the GS is not coming home any time soon.  Too late to be taken to Laguna Triumph at Ashford and used part-ex on the Explorer.   The guy in the shop said that given the huge mileage and the age that it is was probably worth £1500. Possibly about what I was expecting I guess. Yesterday I took the Touratech rack and panniers off and replaced the BMW System case rails. I still have the System panniers and they can go back on.   I advertised the Touratech kit complete on the R1150GS Facebook page and if there are no takers by the end of the week I'll put them on eBay.  I have a Touratech tankbag that will go that way as well. Might as well recoup some of my investment from over the years.   The TT Zega panniers on the TT website, with mounting hardware and rails come out at nigh on £800.  In good nick I was hoping to get £250 or so or maybe more.   Once it comes ba...

I checked the bike out the night before we were to leave. The tyres were perfect and I had to give her 250ml of 20w/50 to take it back to the full line in the sight glass. Then I checked and double checked the maps and routes were in the Garmin SatNav. On Friday morning all I had to do was load the Touratech Zega inner bags into the Touratech Zega panniers - German panniers for a German bike! We left home a little late for the Shuttle, but only 3 minutes! We checked in and were given the next train after our booking. A little bit annoyed but that’s the way the Shuttle does it. In front were loads of Harley’s on a trip across for the day. They went off onto the 0820 and we had to make do with the 0843. It left late. Superb. The 50 minute wait at Folkestone makes it as long as the ferry to make the crossing, except of course we have to sit on the floor and no coffee, unlike to ferry! Once on French soil it was evident that the hurricane that had been crossing the Atlantic had arrived...

My  My name is Paul Devall and I am a Tosser. More information from UKGSER.

Sunday, we should have been out with the Kent Centre but no one could make it, so we went to Rye anyway.  Since the last time we went they have modified the entrance to the quayside at the Strand. Not for the better for me on the GS with the Touratech Zegas  fitted.  The gap seems much narrower! Why they simply don't open it for the bikes is hard to see. Okay, in the summer the town is teeming with coach loads of Japanese and other more home made tourists, but the bikes keep the Strand Cafe and Kettle of Fish chippie in business.  Some exchange for keeping the cash registers chinging might be in order. It's not going to happen.  Anyway, we had a look in a pine shop that Claire likes. All very modern with a CD instead of a paper catalogue. And then a long walk up the hill to have a look around and a coffee. The weather was so warm and dry. Good job we had the vented jackets on instead of the heavier jackets.   Paul Devall - sent from my Black...

The first trip with the Zegas fitted was a one night stay in France. It was a chance to see how easy it was to fit the panniers and how easy they come off. Plus a chance to use the expensive, but rather nice looking Zega-Bag inner bags. Apart from the weather taking a complete change between Friday morning and Saturdau morning, from summy and warm to cold and miserable the trip was a great success. See "Giverny for May Day Weekend" posting.

After a rather strange exchange of emails with TT Germany where they directed me to TT UK despite ordering for delivery in Germany I had a call from Claire that Rudy has called from Germany to say a Touratech package would be on the overnight truck tonight. Now need to check that we can get up to Lympne and recover them to use them for the trip to France this weekend!

Okay, I know that it was an extravagance, but the Zega-Bags look so good! I showed the pic on the TT website to Claire and she liked the look of them so I ordered them on 25th April. I had been expecting them by now as I am sure the website said that they would be despatched in 24 to 48 hours. I'll email TT Germany later and see where they are.

I wheeled the GS out into the morning sun. Then pulled the first of the Zega panniers from the box. The air full of expectation... Removing the lid then loosening the knurled wheels that act as the locking mechanism, then easing the pannier into place. bloody tight fit. The left one is so tight it touches the end of the foot rest bracket where the System panniers fit. It was also hard to get the front fitting off, in the end had to use a rubber mallet to get it to move to get the pannier off.... The right ones goes on much more easily to the rail, but ensuring the lumps of metal that hold it to the rails is a bit tricky as there is little clearance for fingers, or to even see where they are, and whether they have fitted into the slots in the pucks properly. Boy are they wide.

Today at the 36000 mile service, Neil aka Steptoe, fitted the Touratech Zega pannier rails. By the time i got home from London via his place in Kingston (to pick up my bike) it was getting late and so I didn't get a chance to fit the panniers to the rails.. a job for tomorrow. I just had time to get a pic of them with my phone.

Don't they look lovely.... all shiny..... mmmmmmmmmm . The TT Zegas arrived at Claire's work today after the overnight journey from her company's partner in Germany. Can't wait to get home and get them out. Have already got a back up plan for Steptoe to fit the pannier rails to the bike when it goes for its 36000 mile service next week. Just in case! Update. Here they are. Shiny and new and on the floor in the lounge! They came extremely well packed in boxes, bubble wrap and big airbag packing plus loads of cardboard pieces to pack it all in tight. Many thanks to Rudy at BTG International for handling them and putting them on a truck to Hythe to Laser International where my wife, Claire, works.

Today I have ordered the Zega Boxes and I also opted for the additional expense of the four-padlocks to lock them. Gulp. A total of €682.00. The basic kit price is €602 on the Touratech Germany Webshop, but I decided to pay the extra few quid and have them pre-assembled - part number 01-052-2020-P. It saves a lot of swearing in the garege when they arrive, although there will be plenty of that anyway when I have to fit the pannier rails! Delivery is planned for Week 15th, and that according to my diary is week commencing 9th April. On the German site if you have them delivered to a German address anything over €500 is delivered for free. So that is a bonus as well. Thank God that VISA has plenty of money to cover it out in the short term. Fingers crossed now and wait to see how long they will be.

After a lot of reading through UKGSer forums to get hold of the necessary information on what are the best buy, I have settled on the Zega Panniers from Touratech . I did toy with the more fitted set with the cut-out for the exhaust but at almost €300, more hardly worth it. I even looked at the "Street" option that fit to the BMW Pannier rails, but they were discarded as the "future proofing" wasn't there. At some stage in the future I might want a new bike and it may be a Suzuki V-Strom or other make, and then I need compatibility. I ruled out both Jesse and Metal Mule on grounds of price. Both at more like €900 to €1000 a set. Far too hot for my pockets. Working through the TT website shows that orders over €500 are delivery-free in Germany. The Zega 41/35 litre kit (01-052-0010-P) is €602. Enough of a pocket drainer but not that much different to a set of Givi luggage. I can get them delivered to a friend in Germany and he can pop them on the daily truck se...

Darnit. Being away for the weekend not conducive to winning EBAY auctions and I lost the Caja Sahel by £159. Looks like it is back to the drawing board. The winning bid came to near enough £480 with postage and according to Phil at Caja Sahel they are about £500 new.... so who would buy off EBAY for secondhand... must have been the spanish bull sticker on one that did it! I can leave the subject of luaggage now for a while. I'm not planning any long journeys on the bike apart from the occasional run to work (160 miles round trip door-2-door) and some club runs so none needing panniers! The next big journey will be a week to the Isle of Man in June for the TT, and I don't think we'll need much "civvy" gear for that anyway!

Touratech "Street" Panniers Still an option and today I had an email from TT in Germany to say that delivery would be two weeks and the price including delivery to a German address would be 697 Euros, about £475 at the exchange rate today. Caja Sahel Panniers Also still on the cards. I saw a set on EBAY and had a punt (no Irish joke intended). The auction doesn't finish until Saturday when I am in France so I'l have to wait and see. I've entered my max price and we'll see... Did get an from Philip at Caja Sahel ( philipmcgonagle@eircom.net ) and the price is quite compatible with the TT panniers at £500 or so Isn't it exciting?

Darned internet. Darned UKGSer! Just when I had made up my mind that Touratech "Street" panniers would be next Spring's wealth distribution project, someone mentions Givi! When I bought the GS, had it not come with BMW System panniers I would have kept and used the Kappa items I had on the Bandit. The K40's were not that old and big enough for weeks or even years away! The UK Givi people weren't all that much use as their reply to my email asking if the pannier rails (part no. PL189) would fit and leave me with the System box in place. They couldn't say but sent me a link to the fitting instructions. Better than nothing. Then... Caja Sahel came to the discussion topics again.... I thInk they look alright in a chunky sort of way, and perfectly good for my needs.... Now I need to see how much they are as the website is a little unspecific, okay, it doesn't say.