Go Big and Ride Small

[ErikGustav2]

Erik if you are doing trips like Sweden to Portugal with camping gear, I think the 650 is a better choice,
the 250 would do it but if you are a heavy guy like me and you load it up with lots of gear it does knock the performance esp on overtakes.
Look forward to hearing about the new Benelli project

I did a trip from Portugal to Sweden in spring last year. Using a Kawasaki GTR 1400. Via Italy.
7 000 km
That bike does not fit into Ride Small. So it is off topic here.

I still have pictures and diary from thatvtrip Maybe I wii edit it into a travel story some day,

[Godspeed]

I was working out that when I take full camping gear on the Innova it usually goes on the back seat, totally awkward as you have to remove it all to lift the seat to fill up with petrol, and with a 3.5 litre tank that’s every 100 miles.

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I had a couple of 36 litre panniers but was always annoyed at how everything fell out of them when they opened, so not really very practical.

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I could spend 500 on some new panniers, but 500 gets me to the Alps and back

I started by moving the restrictors so the box didn’t open so far, and then bolted on some more strapping points on the inside, and then stitched up some new straps to hold a bag, the result looks like it’ll work well and one bag should hold all my camping gear.

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Thankyou Sainsbury’s for the bags, I might make my own at some point but for the time being these are the perfect size.
Hoping for a dry weekend soon to test it all out

[catcitrus]

Ex army drawstring waterproof bags (in green) are excellent for gear in panniers--but I agree--Lidl bags are very robust to. On the strap front BMW do provide straps on both the inner and lid just for that purpose. They are elasticated but could be a little more robust--and could be replaced if I have a mind to do it at some point--they are just pop riveted on the inside. One thing about my Burgman 400 was that the fuel filler was between your legs, but still a PITA if you wanted a roll bag across the back seat. I have now swapped to a R1100RS and taken all the foam etc off the removable pillion seat and fitted 4 tie down loops so that a tent etc can be mounted really low down (the seat was a slightly ripped secondhand one--I have the good original). Gear carriage and placement takes care and thought to get right.

[92kk k100lt 193214]

As Catcitrus knows I ride old BMW K bikes.....they made pannier inner bags for those and I have a few sets of them for mine. The panniers come with retaining elastics to hold them in.

I agree 100% about stuff falling out, bag or liner is absolutely essential espcailly for the left side ones. On a wet decamp you can pack bags in the dry and pop them straight in.

Pocket on the outside makes a very useful safe and accessible place for travel documents.

[Magnusson]

I love practical solutions like this. Maybe an old t-shirt can be sewn up to make similar bag. Put loops put on the t-shirt and hooks inside the cases to keep them steady.

Putting lots of stuff in all that storage space can lead to a lot of weight far back on a lightweight bike. Care must be taken when loading to keep balance reasonable.

[Godspeed]

Putting lots of stuff in all that storage space can lead to a lot of weight far back on a lightweight bike. Care must be taken when loading to keep balance reasonable.

I’ll just grow a massive belly to counteract the rear weight.

Fortunately I’ve managed to mount the holders to the rear pegs so quite a lot of the weight should go down that way, rather like a pillion. Stelvio Pass May end up slower that last time though

[Magnusson]

Or just get used to pulling a wheelie all the time.

[92kk k100lt 193214]

I love practical solutions like this. Maybe an old t-shirt can be sewn up to make similar bag. Put loops put on the t-shirt and hooks inside the cases to keep them steady.

Putting lots of stuff in all that storage space can lead to a lot of weight far back on a lightweight bike. Care must be taken when loading to keep balance reasonable.

Brought back memories of travelling as a teenager in the 70s on a 125. I loved bike camping even back then....not to mention the frequent wheelies if you took off too vigorously.....the tank bag is actually an effective counterbalance and to this day I still use one for this reason.

[92kk k100lt 193214]

Ex army drawstring waterproof bags (in green) are excellent for gear in panniers--but I agree--Lidl bags are very robust to. On the strap front BMW do provide straps on both the inner and lid just for that purpose. They are elasticated but could be a little more robust--and could be replaced if I have a mind to do it at some point--they are just pop riveted on the inside. One thing about my Burgman 400 was that the fuel filler was between your legs, but still a PITA if you wanted a roll bag across the back seat. I have now swapped to a R1100RS and taken all the foam etc off the removable pillion seat and fitted 4 tie down loops so that a tent etc can be mounted really low down (the seat was a slightly ripped secondhand one--I have the good original). Gear carriage and placement takes care and thought to get right.

I can't quite picture you on a R110RS......

[catcitrus]

Just for you Olaf (its not small though--I have a 250 Yam though).