Heavyduties pannier system from Romania
 

Hi,
I am thinking about buying some kind of luggage system... I have read the whole thread about panniers for Ten but still can't make up my mind.

First of all, I still cannot decide whether to go with soft luggage or pannier system. Being honest, on my V-strom I had H&B Junior system and I have used it once or twice. Mostly, I travel with one big role on the back, where I can fit my camping gear, clothes and food for 2-3 weeks.

However, I am slowly starting to plan a longer trip to Asia next year (that's why I bought Ten), and was thinking that some panniers could be useful.
And of course in my case, the price of the system plays an important role...

If I go with soft luggage (like Ortlieb) I need a rack, because I have LeoVince pipes. I know that the best racks are OTR and TT (H&B do not work in my case because I have modified license plate holder), but as you know they cost quite a lot (over 200 Euro). That's why I started to look for cheaper version and I have contacted the guys from http://heavyduties.ro/ . In two weeks they will have rack ready for Ten with LeoVinces.

Quote:
Hi Greg,

Our rack for 660 Tenere is a bit diferent the the one in the attached photo. We have been in contact with someone who gave us the measures and it seems the standard one will not fit. I think that in 2-3 weeks we will have available the adjusted rack, at a price of 90 euro.
Please take a look here for some more photos http://www.heavyduties.ro/fgxtz660/xtz660r.html


Best regards, Alex

End of quote.

This seems to be a quite good option for me. And would work great with soft luggage which is good for offroad riding (light, in case of crash go easy on the legs), but maybe not so good security-wise... easy to cut/open/steal...

2nd option would be to go with the alu panniers - cons: heavy, may cause injuries of legs upon tipover (as far as I've read, but never met anyone to whom it actually happened), BUT secure (lockable, for example laptop inside).
Of course the price is higher, but from that heavyduties "company", everything should sum up below 400 Euro, which is quite acceptable. The question is - what about quality? Does anyone of you have any experience with that company?

And finally, from the pictures on their website it looks that their panniers are not completely welded, but pierce riveted (? dunno whether this is a correct term for it ?).
Are welded panniers really so much better in case of crash (anyone with experience ?). ;-)

That's one long post... Thanks for any advice!
Cheers,
Greg

One thing I've found with luggage, hard or soft, one persons view is often argued by another persons view.

I'm in the camp where there is no right and wrong, just the luggage that you need for the trip you are taking, sometimes a soft bag, other times a hard pannier. I have the TT Zega, which I like, I also have the Oxford panniers (as yet untested) as well as some HG throwovers and Kriega US20. All have their uses, and all have their faults.

Welded panniers will be tougher, but harder to have fixed, whereas riveted panniers can easily be fixed with some small bolts if needed. Welded will be (or should be) better at keeping water out, but then it depends on other seals too. What I'm getting at, it's down to the overall quality of the build.

If I were planning a long trip today, on rough roads, then I would take a look at the Magadan Panniers from Adventure Spec here -> http://www.adventure-spec.com/defaul...-panniers.html

I've rejected these over the Oxford panniers because of cost, I am unlikely to need the features of the Magadans and so the �230 difference isn't really justifiable.

I've just had a pannier rack delivered from Heavy Duties. All I've done so far is unboxed it and checked the contents, which look good, but I won't be putting them on the bike until the weekend. Hopefully the good weather that has been promised will happen, so look out for a report soon!

Great! Waiting for report.
I presume that you have stock pipes, do you?
I am still waiting for an answer concerning rack which fits with LeoVince.

Yeah, my exhaust is standard. I will fit the racks at the weekend and hope to get the report on here asap. There was no instructions in the pack as they were emailed to me before. It may help you to see them as they are very comprehensive, 34pics I think!! Maybe you could ask Heavy Duties to send them to you?

Hi,
I have mounted today the Heavy Duties pannier system. I have decided for 2 X 48L. Due to the fact that I have LoeVince pipes, the installation was very easy and quick. Panniers are well made, when mounted on the rack they do not move a mm. I do not have yet the locks but they will arrive soon. I went for raw aluminium without powder coating:
1. do not care so much about the looks
2. cheaper
3. figured out that they will be scratched soon anyways

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...83514323_o.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.n...86652146_o.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.n...97653198_o.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...66841208_o.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...33204316_o.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...16797140_o.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...94540614_o.jpg

They look very similar to the Holan ones?

A word of caution; the only thing with non-anodised or powder coated boxes is everything you put inside will get covered in black aluminum oxide marks. I found with my old TT Zegas the best solution was to buy some of that self-adhesive plastic bodywork protection film and stick it on the insides after a wipe down with wipe spirit (to remove any grease and oxide residue). Cheap and worked a treat, meaning you can indeed get away (like you have) with the cheaper uncoated ones.

thanks for the advice. I had the same concern, and prior to buying I asked the guy to put some neoprene inside.

Wys

:041:Just love your number plate Greg....

Very interesting!!! I have an X fitted with Leo Vince pipes and I recently fitted a Givi set of frames and also Givi Trekker aluminium boxes
see http://www.givi.it/Valigie-laterali/...TRK33N-TREKKER
My travelling is road and no off road, recently a 5 day trip round Sardegna for instance, the luggage system was great with plenty of capacity and I also bought the internal bags they sell http://www.givi.it/Bauletti/optional/T484 so when you arrive you leave the cases on the bike and just carry the bag which is much easier. Givi is not cheap, however!!!

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!