Alternatives to Panniers?

twozzie · Feb 20, 2014

Wanted to see what other options are out there instead of fitting the panniers due to their width and lane splitting. The panniers are so wide I fear during lane splitting in the car parks we call traffic i will hit something, most bikes as you know have the panneirs = the handlebar width, all except Ducati's i think. Had I realised this I probbaly wouldn't have bought the bike but i digress.
Ok, I'm in CA so we know all about lane splitting laws etc. Thing is I want to start riding to work but carry a laptop / lunch / various sundries etc. The tail bag will carry a few bits but not all, it all fits in the panniers but there is the width issue. I dont fancy using a rucksack in case of a fall and the rucksack doing damage to my spine etc (I've heard a few stories).
So what's the alternative apart from 'take the bus', 'drive', etc.

R6chase · Feb 20, 2014

You're option pretty well is a top case, givi has options for the hyperstrada and there have been a few really nice custom options. I'll be posting my custom case in a few weeks, but since I just got about 4 feet of snow in the last two days I'm not in any hurry to get my bike ready for the road *sigh*

HyperPedro · Feb 20, 2014

twozzie said:
Wanted to see what other options are out there instead of fitting the panniers due to their width and lane splitting. The panniers are so wide I fear during lane splitting in the car parks we call traffic i will hit something, most bikes as you know have the panneirs = the handlebar width, all except Ducati's i think. Had I realised this I probbaly wouldn't have bought the bike but i digress.
Ok, I'm in CA so we know all about lane splitting laws etc. Thing is I want to start riding to work but carry a laptop / lunch / various sundries etc. The tail bag will carry a few bits but not all, it all fits in the panniers but there is the width issue. I dont fancy using a rucksack in case of a fall and the rucksack doing damage to my spine etc (I've heard a few stories).
So what's the alternative apart from 'take the bus', 'drive', etc.

A medium sized tail bag will do the trick without going for the full-on top case. You just need to be mindful that at some size/weight point (and I have no clue where it lies), you would need to add the support bars. The tail bag from SW MoTech I fitted is not large enough to carry my 13" Ultrabook, but then I did not want to fit the support bars, so I deliberately kept the bag small. I might up the size of the bag in future if the need arises (now having the rack and quick release adapter in place it is just a matter of buying a bigger bag), but I will also add the supports to ensure nothing breaks.

AJsarge · Feb 24, 2014

Bellevue Ducati designed/built a replacement for the stock mount points that can take other, narrower, bags. It's made of solid metal and bolts on. The pictures they have online are of the GIVI Trekker series, but it take other MONOKEY style cases.

If Ducati sold narrow panniers, where the outside half of the stock case was thinned to hold a few magazines or laptop and nothing else, I'd grab them in a heartbeat. Don't even need to change the mounting style and the zipper would hold better without the weight from the outside clamshell.

twozzie · Feb 24, 2014

I did find narrower easy on / off bags for the hyper using seperate mounts but it means removing the stock bag mount and the grab rail, then replacing the LH and RH covers ($130 each).
Given I've already removed the centerstand I might as well have bought a motard, not the strada.

trf · Feb 24, 2014

So, I've frequently thought of taking the bags off of the stock mounts (looks like 3 nut/bolts) and fitting them to some proper cases. It looks like it should be a fairly easy project. Is this what Bellevue did?

twozzie · Feb 26, 2014

trf said:
So, I've frequently thought of taking the bags off of the stock mounts (looks like 3 nut/bolts) and fitting them to some proper cases. It looks like it should be a fairly easy project. Is this what Bellevue did?

Given this light bulb post I decided to order some after market bags (GIVI XSTREAM 302) as they are the stiffest of their soft bag selection and open like a regular bag with a full all the way round zip. I'll create a template out of some stiff plastic, put this inside the bag, ad the Ducati mounting hardware and voila., I'll keep you posted.

gatdammit · Feb 26, 2014

I like them, but you'd swap a soft bag for a soft bag? Kinda tiny too.

twozzie · Feb 26, 2014

I dont use the bike for touring per se, so the bags are for other incidentals i cant get in my tail pack and i dont want to wear a backpack. Narrow bags help when splitting lanes.

These GIVI bags also extend too by 4" or so. If they turn up and they are too small as you intimate, I'll send em back and try others till i get it right.

Lets see how it goes

gatdammit · Feb 26, 2014

They might match up fully extended but won't look as good. It would be a totally different conversation if I could split lanes! Makes sense in that regard.

They will look good hanging off her butt fo sho.

zippy49 · Feb 26, 2014

The only time I've used my saddlebags has been for two-up touring. Perhaps y'all are packing too much schutff? Downsize a bit and use a tank bag. They have no effect on width or handling, and most can expand to a useful size.

gatdammit · Feb 26, 2014

Daily driver. Bags are a must. I pack work, food, gym gear, emergency kit and foul weather gear (used often in FL). I'm so attached (giggity) to the panniers that I get nervous leaving without them.

I do enjoy stripping them when I get to run an errand or just joy ride. But, the bags were part of the look I fell in love with and think they compliment it in a sophisticated way. Oh, and just a personal thing, but I really don't like being the guy that has to pull out a separate chair for his bulky jacket and helmet. I'd rather stow that junk than lug it around.

(Nice) Bags FTW.

jerdog53 · Feb 27, 2014

trf said:
So, I've frequently thought of taking the bags off of the stock mounts (looks like 3 nut/bolts) and fitting them to some proper cases. It looks like it should be a fairly easy project. Is this what Bellevue did?

I don't believe so, I believe Ducati Belview fabricated a completely different rack that the Trekkers attach to.

In my mind remove the 3 latches from the stock bags.

26d1361066397-first-impressions-luggage-details-img_0052.jpg

Match drill to the side of some aluminum panniers and install.

GTHawk · Feb 27, 2014

Was thinking of making a mounting late that can go between the stock mounting system and a givi bag. Problem is making it not be to heavy and bulkey.

Removing the mounting off stock and adding it to treckers to me damages the treckers.

twozzie · Mar 3, 2014

Well, its one of those Eureka moments chaps and chapettes.
My original thought and perception was the bags were wider than a wide thing thats the widest of all wide things, hence this thread. However, whilst trawling through the Ducati web site came across the specs for the Strada and see the bags are only ~1" or 30mm wider than the bars on either side. I was convinced it was more like 4" or so (Maybe this is why the wife is dissapointed all the time

)
So maybe its a mute issue and I should stick to the std bags instead of retrofitting the mounts to new thinner GIVI bags - hmmm.

Alternatives to Panniers?

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