Triumphrat

IainG · 01-05-2006

I'm doing a 10 day trip to Italy in May and can't decide what to do about luggage. I'll also be carrying a tent etc.

I've got a high level can so that rules out throw overs I suppose.

What do you do to carry the most you can?

Cheers

drainbamage · 01-05-2006

Well... these days I'm stuck with a bagster ~30 litre tank bag, a water-proof back-pack and a saddle-bag on top of the passenger seat... it's gonna be the 3rd time I mention it here in the last few days but check this out. You may also like to read this thread.

Cheers!

TripleThreat · 01-05-2006

I use the Ventura Luggage System on my "01 Speed Triple and have been very happy with it. I took a 10 day trip last year and the luggage worked fine!

You can find info on the Ventura Webpage.

TripleThreat

Legman · 01-05-2006

I have the Ventura system on my 05, similar toTriplethreat. Mine holds about 80 litres, whereas Triplethreat has over 90 litres (plus the tankbag). That is a lot of space.

FelixLeiter · 01-05-2006

I saw a guy and his girlfriend on a kawi gsxr along the Banff Jasper highway with a bit of a unique rig... he had fastened some angle iron crossways to the tail end of his subframe and another piece near where the rear shock was at the front of the undertray. the ends were tied together with another piece of angle iron to create a platform that was angled down from the rear to the front of the bike. On top of this frame were a pair of backpacking packs (one on each side). I wish I had taken a picture as this setup was very peculiar. He had Saskatchewan plates so that might explain a few things...

01-06-2006

I run the 30 litre tank bag plus a andy straps 18 litre bag. The andy staps bag has it's own tie staps and is great to use and cheap too. check them out at andystraps.com.au

cheapbastard · 01-06-2006

Quote:

On 2006-01-05 20:38, FelixLeiter wrote:
I saw a guy and his girlfriend on a kawi gsxr along the Banff Jasper highway with a bit of a unique rig... he had fastened some angle iron crossways to the tail end of his subframe and another piece near where the rear shock was at the front of the undertray. the ends were tied together with another piece of angle iron to create a platform that was angled down from the rear to the front of the bike. On top of this frame were a pair of backpacking packs (one on each side). I wish I had taken a picture as this setup was very peculiar. He had Saskatchewan plates so that might explain a few things...

I wished you would have gotten a picture too, I've never seen a kawi gsxr, I'd like to see one of those! :-D

crashmasterd · 01-06-2006

Quote:

On 2006-01-05 20:38, FelixLeiter wrote:
I saw a guy and his girlfriend on a kawi gsxr along the Banff Jasper highway with a bit of a unique rig... he had fastened some angle iron crossways to the tail end of his subframe and another piece near where the rear shock was at the front of the undertray. the ends were tied together with another piece of angle iron to create a platform that was angled down from the rear to the front of the bike. On top of this frame were a pair of backpacking packs (one on each side). I wish I had taken a picture as this setup was very peculiar. He had Saskatchewan plates so that might explain a few things...

I did something similar to this on my Trident for a long trip I did about 8 years ago. It worked okay, but it gave the impression that you were headed up to the Klondike to pan for gold.

After that experiance I've gone minimalist. I have an Axio Swift Hardpack that I bought specifically to protect my laptop. I can stick a few other odds and ends in there too. Now, if it doesn't fit in the pack then it doesn't go.

What this means is that I can take my laptop, a light change of clothes, my camera, and an optimistic condom. When you resign yourself to this and no more, it makes everything a lot simpler. When I find a small tank bag that I like I might add that for other bits and bobs like munches and a second pair of shoes. Oh, and the heavier rain gear.

This works for me. I don't do the camping thing much anymore. Hostels are cheap.

RedNeck-Rat · 01-07-2006

Legman, How do you turn the bike with that bag on. Seems to me the front wheel would never be on the ground. :wink:

TripleThreat · 01-07-2006

RedNeck-Rat,

The luggage system looks a little odd, but when you consider that it positions the weight of the luggage over the center of the bike, rather than hanging off the side, it really handles quite nicely fully loaded. It's like having a light weight pillion on the back, except that the weight always stays centered with the bike. When I travel I carry the small grab handle with me so that when I arrive I can remove all the luggage to ride the twisties.

They attach to the bike with L brackets...

Then you have three options for completing the back end.
A standard rack...

A sport rack...

or the grab handle...

Then you have several luggage combination options. You can connect one bag to the standard rack...

It is usually best to have the bag sitting on the pillion seat to keep the weight as close to the rider as possible. You can also zip two bags together and slip them over the standard rack...

For shorter trips requiring less storage capacity you can install the sport rack and then just put the smaller sport pack on the bike...

Here is a picture of my '01 with the sport pack installed...

And another with a single standard pack installed and sitting on the pillion seat for the best weight distribution...

All of these options and the ease with which you can change the configurations (two thumb screw locks allow you to change out the various racks and the grab handle) have really made me like the system quite well.

The only disadvantage I have come to realize is that with all of the luggage mounted up for a long trip...

There is no way to carry a pillion. That limits my ability to take long trips to going by myself. Right now that's not a problem since my wife stays home with our two little girls when I choose to take long motorcycle trips. Once they are grown, I'm sure she will want to take those trips with me so I will have to look for another option. That will come most likely in the form of another bike. Perhaps a Sprint ST with hard bags and a top box, a Tiger with full luggage or that fully dressed Rocket III I keep hearing rumours about.

In any case, if you travel alone and want some flexibility, this system is great. IMHO

TripleThreat

[ This message was edited by: TripleThreat on 2006-01-07 10:00 ]