The registration plate number choice was accidental... ::angel4:

This is a very interesting set and with a great price!
What are your experiences so far with it? I'm particularly interested in a water-proof set that can take some beating. (I guess that's what we all want!) :003:
Thanks!

I was supplied with Givi frames when i bought my G&G panniers from germany. I think the Givi rack looks nice....but is not very strong as i think its 10mm as opposed to 12mm like most racks.

I also wish racks would not attatch to the pillion foot peg hangers as i want to get rid of mine. But i guess that makes them strong?

The pannier rack that Heavy duties supply looks very nice!!

Personally wishing i had of gone with soft luggage mind you :sad3:

Overall I am satisfied with them. The rack is strong, fastening of the panniers firm and solid. However, they are not (yet) waterproof. This is due to open corners that are not welded. They are just covered with black protective plastic from outside, and between the plastic element and pannier there is trace of silicone.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-f...306_211531.jpg

My first solution to this problem was --> duct tape (or gaffer tape):

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-z...306_211444.jpg

After talking with Alex from Heavyduties, he has sent me some silicone glue, that I am planning to press from inside to completely fill the gaps.
When I asked him, why he does not simply weld the corners completely, he said that there are some technical difficulties. However, this is small, brother-based company and they are constantly developing their products. I have spent lots of time talking with him on Skype cuz he is also a huge motorcyclist enthusiast.

I also dropped the bike twice on both sides (almost at zero speed), and it had no affect neither on the panniers nor the rack. Long term test is still to come, because last year I did not have much time to use them. In June I am leaving for three months, direction Mongolia, so after that I would be able to write something more about their durability.

Summing up
Am I satisfied with the product? Yes I am.
Can I recommend it as 100 % waterproof? No I can't.

However, from the info that I have gathered on different forums, every pannier is sooner or later leaky. Solution with duct tape works perfectly for me. :-) That is why, I decided to keep them, and just make them waterproof myself. Maybe I am wrong.

I am not sure if I wrote this clear enough, but if you have more questions then do not hesitate to ask. :-)

@ phil ten
I am still not entirely convinced by the soft luggage. I see the pros - weight, safety by accident, but still have decided for hard luggage. I don't know, maybe with time I will evolve, get more experience and also switch to soft luggage.
For now, I have this two huge boxes - each 48 L, and I can easily pack everything what I need for 2-3 weeks of travelling. Of course travelling with tent, cookware and I also usually take enough dried food for this period of time which takes up half of one of the panniers. I usually travel alone, and big advantage for me while riding in Europe is that I can lock 'em up and leave the bike without worrying to much whether I will still have my camp gear when I come back from sightseeing or hiking.
But as I said, maybe in time and experience (especially riding off road) I will change my mind. As I said in my previous post, at the beginning of June I am going for three months to Mongolia, so this will be a good test for me as well as the panniers. Cheers, Greg

Hi,

You've not posted for a while, how are the panniers and frames shaping up? Looking at getting a similar setup, but not sure which brand to go with.

What's your thoughts on the whole set-up, any recommendations for them or any options to tick/not tick?

Thanks,
Penfold

@penfold,
No idea if it is still relevant for you, but the panniers did not survive my last 3.5 months long trip to Mongolia. I switched to soft luggage :-)

@ phil ten
As mntioned above. Last trip convinced me about advantages of soft luggage. ;-) I bought the Andy Strapzz bags.

Cheers,
Greg

PS. C u soon guys on UK roads. I am moving to Oxford on 1st of July!