Clothes wise, the Andy Strapz soft panniers have the same usable capacity as the Hard cases cos you can squish the clothes down into the bag...

Yeah that's true.....and something to consider.

Do you have the andy StrapZ Pannier frames or do you just strap them to your Givi frames? I'm thinking you do the latter....how do they sit? any movement or they're easy to strap real close and snug to the frame? Would I be better with andy's frames as apposed to other frame sets such as Givi/S&W Motech etc etc?

Thanks for your input to my query PiJiL

Cheers

wobbly_boot

Givi racks but i pull the pannier locators off the bottom so they dont puncture the bags...

Cheap"Black Box" panniers on the WEE are OK but--------?
Andy bagz on the KLR are great.20lt water jerry can liners(with the top cut off & rope handle)make the bags even more versatile.
Andy bags are waterproof & tough as nails.
Haven't had them on the Wee SWM racks as yet but easy to do if required.
Andy bags aint cheap but they are excellent value in the long term.
Tried various top bags/boxes and keep going back to the cheap China replica Pinnacle pack(the real one just wore out from years of use,no longer manufactured)Maybe one day spend the $ and get a decent Pinnacle copy sewn up.
Only my 2c worth

.
Also, if planning on soft panniers, consider the Dan Vesel "soft luggage side guard" which is a single curved bar for the left side of the Wee, which stops the pannier wobbling about & rubbing on the wheel.

Strong. Cheaper than side racks.
And a cleaner look when you are not carrying the panniers.
(Need to keep the right pannier hitched high so it doesn't curve down under the stock exhaust shield ~ and a bit of tape to prevent abrasion there.)
.

+1

But I wouldn't need to think about it at that price comparison.

__________________
Ock. in Oz
Australia, NSW, Windsor
ockerstrom@rocketmail.com

Member of The McGrath's Hill Mob.

Shiro Nakama Ju San

White '09 V-Strom DL650ABS, Blue '87 Kawasaki KLR650 [Sold]
Green '94 Kawasaki KLE500

"Normal" is only a cycle on the washing machine.....

If you wait, all that happens is that you get older.

I previously had soft panniers but upgraded to givi mounts and cases due to traveling with the wife. They are good, but make the bike wide. Wider than the bars by two inches each side. I looked at those prices and went searching flea bay. I got the side racks from the forum and the cases on the bay for $420 (3 cases including a massive top box). Just back from a weekend ride with a couple of mates who had the strap down packs on their seats, and I just took my Bestem topbox and was able to squeeze their stuff in as well. I do like the idea of some protection if I drop the bike, but the downside is that they work like a large parachute that rips the fuel out alot quicker.

__________________
2008 DL1000 - Two Bros cans, ProTaper Bar, Oxford Grips, PC111, Givi crash bars, MCA screen.
1977 BMW R100S - SOLD
1984 BMW R80RT - ON LOAN
1984 DR185 - In need of a few carbon credits to keep up with burning oil

Hello Wobbly,

I would suggest if you are commuting and touring only then hard panniers are the go for security and ease of access but if you plan to ride any sort of dirt rougher than roadwork’s then soft panniers are the go IMHO.

You asked about the wolfman brand... I have layed down my Strom on my wolfman bags you mentioned and they are tough as nails and remain waterproof, I only pack things in side panniers that I think will survive getting crushed and they also act as pillows for my Strom when it takes a nap on the track.

All the other brands suggested here are good too.

As mentioned if you do slide out on the dirt then soft bags are safer as having the weight of the bike on my leg with a soft bag did no damage to me and I could also reach the clips to partly remove the contents and the bags to help me get out from under it.

cya somewhere near Newie one day Dave.

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2010 DL650A - black

G'day ML,

Yeah mate, another new motorcycle mate of mine who also has a Wee-strom but doesn't own a puter so he's not a member here, he has recently purchased a set of yellow Wolfman exp dry bags with the wolfman racks and I must say, I was very impressed when I seen them on his bike (same colour as mine by the way) and after speaking with him on the phone yesterday, he's pretty much convinced me that is all I need.
I agree with him on this and since I'm relatively new at touring, this will let me know if I really need to go bigger or harder in the luggage dept.
Actually, reading reports from those who know here about the large hard panniers sucking a fair bit extra fuel or gives you the wobblys (well that's my user name after-all) when passing a truck or on crosswinds kind of scares me a bit...so yeah..I'm about to bite the bullet and get the Wolfmans in Yellow coz I want the buggers behind me to see me better after I was shunted at a round about the other week....just a small shunt but enough to make me shake in my boots.I'll get their brackets too..they look the goods

To everyone who answered my querie and gave their input and advice..I thankyou very much...just what I needed to make me come to my senses and tip the scales towards the softbags.....cheers for that!!

wobbly_boot

Dave

I use the Happy Trails pannier system on my bikes.... With their racks you can use either hard cases or soft bags. They have both hard & soft applications in various capacities. HT is very well made & priced reasonably when compared to similar quality.

__________________
KJ

2012 V-Strom 650-ADV, 2011 Versys, 2008 TW200, 2013 CRF250L (SuKaYaHo)

Ad-ven-ture: 1. an undertaking involving risk, unforeseeable danger, or unexpected excitement. 2. an exciting or remarkable experience. Trav-ell-er: 1. one who seeks to experience their world. 2. one who seeks to be immersed in other cultures.