Triumphrat

samurye · 11-12-2007

I am looking into getting some hard luggage before I take a long trip. The triumph oem are expensive and I've heard not that great. I have heard good things about the givi e41 set, but haven't seen what the mounts look like when bags are off. Anyone got something they love (or hate) to share?

MickSprint06 · 11-12-2007

I'm going through the same processs right now. I've done a fair bit of research and yes the Givi's are good but IMHO they look terrible on the Sprint. The SW Motech mounting frames for the Givi's look even worse when the bags are removed (once again my opinion only) - I'm told the standard Givi mounting frames are crap hence the need for the SW Motech frames.

The OEM Triumph bags are by far the best looking with or without the bags mounted... BUT they are VERY expensive (overpriced) and they have some rumoured 'issues' like flying open when the bike is in motion. I'm still waiting for Triumph to assure me their OEM bags do not suffer from this fault, my dealer contacted them on my behalf some weeks back, so far no reply.

I'm currently looking at the 'Hepco & Becker' Junior bags, they look like they are pretty sturdy and come with a good reputation (no 'rumours') and if the on-line shop I visited is right they are remarkably good value. I'm still trying to find out if they supply a mounting system for the 1050. They look a bit like the OEM panniers I had on my BMW K1100, haven't been able to find any pics of them mounted on a Triumph. Good luck with your search, HTH.

Simmo · 11-12-2007

I bought second hand Givi E36 bags off fleabay. About half price for near new quality. SW Motech brackets from Norrus.net. The SW brackets remove from the bike very easily and other than the 3 attachment points the mounting system is very minimal and doesn't intrude for daily life. The Givi tubular rack is definitly visible on the bike. On either the rear blinker system looks crap and modified blinkers seem to be neccessary. Quite a number of posts on this forum about Givi sop have a look.
For what I have I am happy. I only use the side cases about 5 or 6 times a year and hence the minimal mounts left with the SW mounts suits me. SW I think allow mounts for Hepco & Becker bags.
Givi at least with the E36 bags have pretty flimsy lid catch's. I always use a tension strap to give a secondary hold on and to make sure the lids stay shut.
Cheers, Simmo

samurye · 11-13-2007

Thanks for the replies. I've had a look at how the givi's mount and they hang quite a bit off the side. These SW mounts don't hang so far?

Simmo · 11-13-2007

They probably hang off about the same as Givi. The E36 that I have are a squarer type design and don't look as fat and bloated as the larger ones, but they obviously don't carry as much. Three advantages with GIVI. They are a bit cheaper. They hold more. The cases at least can be used on another bike. They might not be as well 'integrated' as OEM but I reckon the 3 advantages outweigh that, at least for me. Probably depends on how you intend to use them. The guys on this forum that have them fitted all seem satisfied. It looks like those who choose to leave them on all the time seem more satisfied with carrying capacity. Again search this forum for GIVI.
Cheers
Simmo

MickSprint06 · 11-13-2007

It's all to hard (no pun intended) - I'm buying some throw-overs!

samurye · 11-14-2007

Have had the same thoughts about softies myself but I want to be able to leave my bike with all my gear still attached while I go for a little trek to see all that scenery I managed to blur quite magnificently on the way there. They don't need to hold my lid as I can lash it to the bike with a fat a5s cable lock I have, but I'm more worried about all my camping gear and clothing sitting there soft bags.

How much cheaper do the givi/sw motec option work out to, given the oem is about $1300?

denman13 · 11-14-2007

Unless you got the OEM bags with the purchase of your bike, I wouldn't recommend them for the price they charge. Although I've heard the rumors of the flying open on the road and what not, I've never actually heard that directly from anyone. My chief complaint is that they're bulky (stick out quite a bit) not super secure and mostly they just don't hold very much stuff. I never use mine but if I were going to do some serious touring, I'd look into other manufacturers first. They do look good matching the bike and all but I usually just throw a soft bag on the passenger seat. I don't even have the pannier rails or stabilizers on anymore.

Poison · 11-14-2007

I am new to the forum and the proud owner of a Black 07 Sprint ST since Sept 07.

Unfortunately my Sprint is living proof that the panniers can fly open and I wish I was not posting this story as I am extremely happy with my Sprint in every way except for the panniers.

Panniers story:

I was riding along the highway going over a set of railway lines at 100km/hr. There was a bump taking the dip of the railway crossing and both sides flew open simutaneously dumping my gear over the next 250m down the road. I could have accepted 1 bursting open could be my fault but 2 is just too coincidental, especially when it was my first long road trip and I was very pedantic. I actually weighed the panniers to make sure they were even and not overweight. I securely locked them, I have no doubt.

Unfortunately Triumph Australia don't see it that way after taking my panniers for testing and coming back without identifying a problem. After coming back I found by pulling up and then down they can be pulled open by hand, even when locked, which shows they can open. They reckon no one has reported this before, yet I can find other posts where the same pannier problem has been discussed.

My biggest issue however, is not that I lost some of my gear, it is that I have lost faith in my panniers and feel enough concern that I have to check them after any decent bump which is not fun.

I still consider they look great (rather than appearing to be an after thought) and I like them despite the fact I can't fit a helmet. Hopefully I can sort it out with Triumph as I want to use the panniers and regain faith in them.

Poison.

zuzka600f · 11-14-2007

Hi,
Poison, I've written the story of my panniers here. I reported problem of flying panniers to Polish Triumph importer and gave the panniers to a dealer who was to make some lock regulations or repair in the beginning of june. They haven't been able to do anything with my panniers for now. I was told that they'd try to change whole panniers, but they didn't know if Triumph would agree for that.

Funny is that my ST is given for long time test - I'll write it for one of Polish motorcycle magazines. But it's not my problem