Looking around a the luggage options I have noticed one main thing.

All the aftermarket pannier systems have a rear cross bar or brace. The factory panniers have no support at the rear and I think this makes them prone to damage in a get off.

Has anyone made a rear support bar?

The oem/shad luggage is just made of plastic, self tappeing screws and some thin aluminium sheets to look good.

Min survived a very low speed spill (dropped the bike after the i got stuck on a curb against the engine shield while leaning a bit)

I'll expect them to disintegrate if they hit anything above walking pace - no matter how you choose to support them.

I've had a mate make me some more solid alu ones but i still use the original fitting points. See pictures down this page: http://www.tenere.dk/forumnew/forum_posts.asp?TID=6488

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2011 Yamaha XT660Z ABS T�n�r�.

• Puig +8cm dark screen, Garmin Zumo 220, Scottoiler eSystem v2
• Barkbusters Storm with external weights, Noname 30mm bar risers & EzMoto alu. levers
• Kev's O2 Controller, Mccoi stepless controller with Hein Gericke heated grips
• TT +4cm seat, Pivot Pegs, Altech stainless sprocket cover

Thanks for that, they look much better. I might go that way when and if I wreck the OEM ones.

Kym

I think that the OEM looks very good - but that is also the only positive i can say about them. The key/locking mechanism is not good for daily use and you have to be very careful not to brake the key.

Mine a made of 2mm aluminum by a guy that welds cabinets for trucks for a living. They are anodized to protect them from corrosion (rather expensive) and hinges and locks are the same as used there.

Just like

I've known him for years and also been very keen on his boxes for a very long time and seen several people take them RTW. But I had some hepco+becker junior boxes on first my xt600z and then also just bought h+b rack for the xtz750. When I bought the xt660z (used) I got the shad panniers with it.

So when someone made me a very good offer for my used shad ones i took the plunge and had him make me a set to my own dimensions 46x22x40 - slightly larger than standard. The total weight on the bike is 90cm and my handlebar with barkbustes are ~95cm

They are jus mounted with pipe tube clamps and just bolted from inside the panniers. So just need a hex to remove the 4 bolts in each of them - not as fast as the oem

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2011 Yamaha XT660Z ABS T�n�r�.

• Puig +8cm dark screen, Garmin Zumo 220, Scottoiler eSystem v2
• Barkbusters Storm with external weights, Noname 30mm bar risers & EzMoto alu. levers
• Kev's O2 Controller, Mccoi stepless controller with Hein Gericke heated grips
• TT +4cm seat, Pivot Pegs, Altech stainless sprocket cover