KLR needs new luggage

[KLRchickie]

The time has come to make ZED's KLR into a 685 street 'tard like mine is, and take some trips on the pair next year.

In checking out our current stash of motorcycle luggage, we find that we need some new pieces to be able to pack in an efficient (non-frustrating) fashion.

One is a new tankbag:

The Oxford Humpback series is a good product, but after many years of use & abuse the bag to base zipper starts to fail.  Also, he would like a bag that doesn't impede standing on the pegs quite so much, so more of a shape like the red line above is preferred.  Any recommendations?  One of the challenges is the already really sloped tank of the KLR...

All he really needs to be able to carry in the bag is his DSLR camera, though a spare pair of gloves would be nice - so a reduction in volume from the current bag wouldn't be a problem.  Since this tankbag would be mostly a camera bag, unzipping from the "top" (green arrow) rather than the bottom would be a bonus.


The other thing we need is a second set of soft saddlebags.  

We have what I think would be a previous incarnation of these.
http://www.wolfmanluggage.com/Expedition/expd_dry_saddle_bags.html
Excellent bags & we'll purchase another set if that is what we need to do, but something cheaper is always preferred  
Waterproof is a nice touch, but we can cope just fine with a set of bags that isn't, for the right price.  The set we have started leaking a while back, so I'm quite accustomed to the zip-lock packing method already.

Any recommendations as to brands of bags to look for?  We need something by spring, so we can look about for a bit before having to choose what to get.

[Lawn Dart]

It's a KLR, right?

Step 1:  Go by salvation army, get a milk crate.  Direct bolt it to either a luggage rack or just drill through the seat.
Step 2:  go by walmart and get either two clearance "My Little Pony" or "He-Man" backbacks, stitch the shoulder straps together and slap 'em on Killer there.
Step 3:  Go Ridin'.

You should be ashamed of wanting to put Wolfman gear on a KLR.  Ashamed I tell you.

 

[KLRchickie]

Step 1:  Go by salvation army, get a milk crate.  Direct bolt it to either a luggage rack or just drill through the seat.

  Poor reading comprehension
He needs a new tank bag, not a new top case.
 

You should be ashamed of wanting to put Wolfman gear on a KLR.  Ashamed I tell you.

 

 
What kind of poser bike does it take to rate Wolfman luggage?
 

[sleazy rider]

Wolfman for the win.

http://www.happy-trail.com/Wolfman/Enduro-Tank-Bag-Wolfman.aspx

Absolutely rock solid bag and last like iron.  I had one on my GS and it was perfect.  When it sold, I moved it to my Daytona.

[KLRchickie]

The problem with that bag is the shape at the rear.  He finds the bag he has too in the way to comfortably stand up, and the Wolfman looks a lot worse...  You'd also never get into a comfortable "lay down on the tank" position on it, as far as I can tell.

[Lawn Dart]

Well, Wolfman work best on a GS 800 if you're a poser...and KTM FTW poser-dom!  

KLRChickie:  

Just havin' fun.

I do have the Wolfman racks and bags on my WR250.  They are VERY solid kit, well built, well stitched, damn near bombproof.   I also have the Wolfman Enduro tank bag - small version.  I really like it for the WR.  

For that matter I also have their enduro bag, wolf-tail, tank panniers and express tankbag.  I use that set up on the Ducati Monster.  

Wolfman stuff is all very well made and they are a "Made in the USA" company - that's a big win for my money.

 

[KLRchickie]

KLRChickie:  

Just havin' fun.

I quite enjoyed your first response  

I do have the Wolfman racks and bags on my WR250.  They are VERY solid kit, well built, well stitched, damn near bombproof.   I also have the Wolfman Enduro tank bag - small version.  I really like it for the WR. 

I refuse to put anywhere near that much luggage weight (or a tank bag at all for that matter) on my WR - I prefer to keep it light and nimble.  I do know Wolfman makes good stuff though, we have a well used ginormous tailbag as well as the old saddlebags.  We've decided we prefer separate luggage compartments on the rear of the bike to that enormous bag - otherwise we'd only be having a tank bag discussion here!

For that matter I also have their enduro bag, wolf-tail, tank panniers and express tankbag.  I use that set up on the Ducati Monster.  

  My own thread.....

How *do* you manage to ride a Monster with any bigger of a tank bag than the tiny little Enduro Pocket that Wolfman's selling?  I couldn't stand to restrict my capability to lean over the tank by that much.....

[sleazy rider]

   I had the small one on my XR600 too.  But, I'm not a lean on the tank guy.  Standing up on the pegs was no problem.  It was big enough for a spare face shield, phone and a small camera.



Check out the Rapid Transit stuff too. They're a slightly different shape, more forward sloping.

[Andrew]

The Wolfman works great no a KLR, if done right you can carry almost way too much on a mule ... KLR

[KLRchickie]

But, I'm not a lean on the tank guy.  

We're both very much lean on the tank riders a lot of the time.  One of the main reasons I removed the large windshield from my KLR after a while is that as my riding style developed, the windshield was capable of whapping me in the face in some corners .  Very annoying!

So, for both of us, the big rear "corner" of the Wolfman bag poking us in the belly/chest is just a no-go.  Looking at bag *width*, I can see that standing up may not be such a problem with it though.

Check out the Rapid Transit stuff too. They're a slightly different shape, more forward sloping.

Thanks, I'll take a look.

[bomber]

   I had the small one on my XR600 too.  But, I'm not a lean on the tank guy.  Standing up on the pegs was no problem.  It was big enough for a spare face shield, phone and a small camera.



Check out the Rapid Transit stuff too. They're a slightly different shape, more forward sloping.

I use the same bag on my KLR . . . . standing isn't impacted at all, and it holds what I need it to hold (thought eh map pocket is a lil small) .. . .

as for soft bags, I'm got a 10 year old (or so) pair of Ortleibs that work great, tie down nicely, and are waterprrof enough to act as a personal flotation device . . . . . .. highly recommended.

[KLRchickie]

I use the same bag on my KLR . . . . standing isn't impacted at all, and it holds what I need it to hold (thought eh map pocket is a lil small) .. . .

We looked at things a little more and it may be the width of the current bag that is causing the major problem with standing.  However, the further problem with the shape of the Wolfman is that "corner" at the rear impacting leaning forward over the tank ability...

as for soft bags, I'm got a 10 year old (or so) pair of Ortleibs that work great, tie down nicely, and are waterprrof enough to act as a personal flotation device . . . . . .. highly recommended.

Got any pics to share?  It is always nice to be able to visualize the solutions that others have implemented.

[bomber]

I installed the tank bag as far forward as humanly possible . . . ..

Pic? No ma'am, not here -- the bags are viewable on Ortleib's site, or on Aerostich's

[Breaker19]

Dirt Bagz by moto-sport panniers. Great product. They def have the brackets for the KLR.

http://www.dbzproducts.com/