I'm debating much the same thing Scottnet...

I think it depends how far you want to go 'off-road'... I'm sure it would hold up to the odd dirt road or trail to a campsite, but day in day out on washboard piste (for example) is hard on any luggage, and looking at the Yamaha boxes, the mounting system (and the main carcass of the cases) is plastic, and I reckon would soon start to wear and/eventually fail? or at the very least rattle like a ba*tard? I love the way it connects to the bike though, like you say...

Yes the Yamaha set is warrantied of course, but the warranty is of little use if the mountings fail a thousand miles from anywhere?

On the whole, overland travelers tent to use 'proper' aluminium boxes (ie. not plastic ones skinned in aluminium) or soft (and waterproof) Ortlieb style bags and panniers...

Having felt the weight (and seen the price!) of the Metal Mule pannier system, while I have no doubt it would hold up well overlanding (as opposed to primarily road touring), the additional weight and substantial cost really doesn't convince me... not unless security was of paramount importance.

Alternatively Touratech boxes are lighter weight (in both senses of the word), but as yet they don't have a rack for the new Tenere... likewise the Hepco Becker rack system doesn't seem to be available just yet?

Personally I'm going for soft bags for my next jaunt - keep it simple, keep it light...

JennyMo xxx

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