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majland · # 1 06-03-16, 23:45

A friend have made aluminum panniers for years. I've also liked them very much but had difficulty committing to buying a set.

On my XT600Z i had hepco+becker junior (40+30 liters) and when i got the XTZ750 i just got a rack and continued to use them. According to the mold marks they were from 1996 and i got them used in 2003 and rode over 100.000km with them. But the side opening is *beep* - especially on the sidestand side where everything just falls out.

So i was happy when i found the xt660z with the original Yamaha/Shad panniers.

+ They look good
+ The rack is nice and almost invisible without the cases
+ The size is about right
+ They can fitted / removed with just the key

- The are just plastic pieces put together with self-tapping screws
- The alu. is just very thin sheets put in the plastic frames
- The locks are very flimsy and you have to be careful to operate it without breaking it.
- Had to take them apart to lubricate the inner plastic arms to keep it working
- They are ridiculous expensive for what you get.

So when someone asked about recommendation of them i said that i would not recommend them but had considered selling them ... He then asked what i wanted for them and a bit later i had sold them.

So instead i got a pair of custom full welded 2mm aluminium boxes. I ended up with 46x22x40 = 40 liter each which is just a bit longer and a bit wider (inside) than the oem ones. The surface was then anodized to make sure it would stand up to the danish weather.

I also decided that i wanted to use the original rack.

See the pictures for the result. The fitting for standard 20mm tubes and has nuts in the backplate. The plastic is sanded down a bit for it to fit behind the tube and to get the box closer to the rack. Each box is fitted with four 6mm bolts so it takes a 5mm hex driver and 5 minutes to undo them.

I have one of the yamaha inner bags and usuallymy backpack with computer etc in the other so don't plan to take them on/off much.

When i sold the panniers i also swapped my grey top case for a black one. Now that better panniers i migh switch to that from the old hepco+becker that is pictures.