you're doing a very good job with your channel and actually trying to make good videos! compared to a lot of other people who clearly dont put effort in. Keep it up man!
If you are in the US, security is the key choice. Soft bangs means your stuff is stolen in your first week or less. Hard lockable cases means you get to keep your stuff. It out weights all other choices. Otherwise, you have to unload your bike at EVERY stop (lunch break, etc.).
Correct. Even in low crime areas I travel with my panniers packed with everything while my top box remains relatively empty. When I stop for gas or food my jacket, helmet, gloves etc get thrown in the top box and I go into the restaurant not carrying armfuls of stuff. Hard cases and top box and small tank bag for sunglasses, wallet and phone. Those items can be grabbed before going into the restaurant leaving the tank bag empty of value. Thus even in low crime areas I have 100% peace of mind that a opportunistic event will not happen even if borderline folks might be tempted. Inner bag liners make carrying things into a hotel a breeze. Soft bags just look sloppy and disheveled whoch is insightly. 😁 Hard case vote from me.
@@sunrisejak2709 U're wrong. Every burglar opens every hard pannier in a few seconds. The only tool you need is a srew driver or a 15 inch crowbar. The locks of boxes are about 1,5 to 2mm and will be openend easily. Soft bags aren.t sloppy at all, maybe some use bad ones. The real goods ones are extremely persistant, more than boxes. If you crash boxes on stony raods, they are done. Soft panniers maybe a little scraped. An accident on gravel raods (Central Asia, Mexico, Alaska) is the death of alu boxes.
@@henrygerwien186 Yes, you're right about the ease of breaking into some hard panniers. I think it deters the "casual or opportunistic" thief. I'm 70 and have been riding for over 55 years. Owned around 35 motorcycles. Had stuff robed off my bikes 3 times. A helmet that was locked to the bike by way of a "D ring" hook under the seat. A nylon tank bag, and a soft pannier. All had the nylon straps cut with a knife. With my hard luggage I've never had any theft or attempted theft. But I rarely leave my bike parked out of sight for any length of time. We all have different experiences. In my case it's 3 - 0 against soft luggage in favor of hard luggage. 😊
@@henrygerwien186 Here in Central Asia, I had soft panniers on my Africa Twin. Within the first month, the panniers and their contents were gone while I was walking around the city. I’ve had aluminum panniers since and it seems to deter people from breaking into them. The only thing stolen since have been my iPhone cable which I left plugged in.
Good video. Truth about the kickback issue...I was crossing a paved surface with water running over it and my wife on the back. I did not know the water had been running over it for weeks and algae made the road slick. I'm talking ice like slick. I was almost across at about 8 MPH when it started to fishtail. I didn't want to go down with my wife on the back, so I put my left foot down. The forward motion of the bike trapped my leg under the hard plastic side box. It pulled me down causing me to accelerate sideways throwing my wife off as well. I broke my fibula in two places. Fortunately, my wife buggered up her knee a little, but she was able to walk. She won't ride on the vstrom anymore, and I won't go off road with the side boxes on either. Maybe soft is the solution.
Love this story and insight. Also love your set up. The top box Pelli case, was that made for the rack? What brand is it and the red water/ petrol can too?
Ha, yeah I love them and they perform great. On the highway at high speeds (higher than posted), they get a little wobbly. Thanks for watching and commenting.
My injury didn't include any broken bones, just a lot of bruising but I am positive I injured joints and tendons. I was able to walk, though it was painful for almost a year. I still stretched it, walked, and ran as much as the ankle would tolerate. Today, I am almost 100% recovered.
@@riddlerrides I feel like we must have had the same injury (no more hardboxes for me) regardless I appreciate the reply and will anticipate a similar recovery.
Security is a def, sure, soft in safe areas and back country. Any sort of real long distance and stopping in big cities. Hard. Guarantee my stuff would have been hit a few times with soft. No way would I be running soft in Mexico or across Europe to Australia.
I don't ride a steel horse but if I did, I would ride it with the intend of not dropping it at high speeds to where it would brake my side boxes because if my side boxes brake I don't think I would be able to pick them up with my brocken ribs and ather various bricken bones. I would just leave it there and if I survive I would buy me something with as many airbags and metal cage as posible. If you're saying right now that I can also get hurt in a steel cage sorriunded by airbags, then I challenge you to a game of chicken!
Thanks for watching and commenting. We all ride with the intention of not dropping the bike. This video is referencing riding off road in the dirt. It is very common when riding off road to have a slow speed drop in sand or on a very challenging trail. Experienced riders learn to wear the right gear and how to “bail out” from the bike while it’s going down. Off road motorcycle courses spend time teaching students not to try to stay with the bike when it’s going down and also how to correctly pick the bike up. There is no doubt that it is an inherently dangerous sport but it is also very fun.
U can't repair hard panniers in the outback, if they are deformed or the brackets are broken. A soft pannier won.t damage totally, and you can help yourself with belts, wire or ropes. A journey on tarmac is ok with hard panniers, but aside the normal streets s.p. are the choice!
I’ve been touring across Eastern Europe and Central Asia for the past two and a half years and started off with soft panniers. Within 4 months, I switched to hard panniers because of the problems with theft - mostly in broad daylight 😔 My bike was broken into 3 times in 4 months. Since I got the hard panniers, not a single issue. I guess safety is the trade off though.
you're doing a very good job with your channel and actually trying to make good videos! compared to a lot of other people who clearly dont put effort in. Keep it up man!
you watch nate from channel makers?
Thank you so much Michael! That means a lot.
@@michaeldelarm1630 I haven’t. I’ll check it out.
If you are in the US, security is the key choice. Soft bangs means your stuff is stolen in your first week or less. Hard lockable cases means you get to keep your stuff. It out weights all other choices. Otherwise, you have to unload your bike at EVERY stop (lunch break, etc.).
Correct. Even in low crime areas I travel with my panniers packed with everything while my top box remains relatively empty. When I stop for gas or food my jacket, helmet, gloves etc get thrown in the top box and I go into the restaurant not carrying armfuls of stuff. Hard cases and top box and small tank bag for sunglasses, wallet and phone. Those items can be grabbed before going into the restaurant leaving the tank bag empty of value. Thus even in low crime areas I have 100% peace of mind that a opportunistic event will not happen even if borderline folks might be tempted. Inner bag liners make carrying things into a hotel a breeze. Soft bags just look sloppy and disheveled whoch is insightly. 😁 Hard case vote from me.
@@sunrisejak2709 U're wrong. Every burglar opens every hard pannier in a few seconds. The only tool you need is a srew driver or a 15 inch crowbar. The locks of boxes are about 1,5 to 2mm and will be openend easily. Soft bags aren.t sloppy at all, maybe some use bad ones. The real goods ones are extremely persistant, more than boxes. If you crash boxes on stony raods, they are done. Soft panniers maybe a little scraped. An accident on gravel raods (Central Asia, Mexico, Alaska) is the death of alu boxes.
@@henrygerwien186 Yes, you're right about the ease of breaking into some hard panniers. I think it deters the "casual or opportunistic" thief. I'm 70 and have been riding for over 55 years. Owned around 35 motorcycles. Had stuff robed off my bikes 3 times. A helmet that was locked to the bike by way of a "D ring" hook under the seat. A nylon tank bag, and a soft pannier. All had the nylon straps cut with a knife. With my hard luggage I've never had any theft or attempted theft. But I rarely leave my bike parked out of sight for any length of time. We all have different experiences. In my case it's 3 - 0 against soft luggage in favor of hard luggage. 😊
@@henrygerwien186 Here in Central Asia, I had soft panniers on my Africa Twin. Within the first month, the panniers and their contents were gone while I was walking around the city. I’ve had aluminum panniers since and it seems to deter people from breaking into them. The only thing stolen since have been my iPhone cable which I left plugged in.
Agreed!!
Good video. Truth about the kickback issue...I was crossing a paved surface with water running over it and my wife on the back. I did not know the water had been running over it for weeks and algae made the road slick. I'm talking ice like slick. I was almost across at about 8 MPH when it started to fishtail. I didn't want to go down with my wife on the back, so I put my left foot down. The forward motion of the bike trapped my leg under the hard plastic side box. It pulled me down causing me to accelerate sideways throwing my wife off as well. I broke my fibula in two places. Fortunately, my wife buggered up her knee a little, but she was able to walk. She won't ride on the vstrom anymore, and I won't go off road with the side boxes on either. Maybe soft is the solution.
Love this story and insight. Also love your set up. The top box Pelli case, was that made for the rack? What brand is it and the red water/ petrol can too?
Its a petrol can but you can get both or just one : amzn.to/3PodZjd
damn i hate it when im 100 Mies/kilometer out in the woods/greens/dirt and someone just comes in the night stealing my stuff off of my softcase
Those anakee wilds look very cool.
Ha, yeah I love them and they perform great. On the highway at high speeds (higher than posted), they get a little wobbly. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Very informative.....thanks for the info.......S.F.A.
I bolted a couple of plastic ammo boxes to the sides of my small cruiser motorcycle
I love those sort of mods. My top case is a modified Pelican Case.
I was injured very similarly to you but I was wearing some decent gearne boots, any advice on your personal recovery?
My injury didn't include any broken bones, just a lot of bruising but I am positive I injured joints and tendons. I was able to walk, though it was painful for almost a year. I still stretched it, walked, and ran as much as the ankle would tolerate. Today, I am almost 100% recovered.
@@riddlerrides I feel like we must have had the same injury (no more hardboxes for me) regardless I appreciate the reply and will anticipate a similar recovery.
Hi There… can you do a video on your top case?
Good suggestion. I can.
Please do!
You are not the first I see with something like that but I‘m not creative enough to imagine how I could construct something like that!
Security is a def, sure, soft in safe areas and back country.
Any sort of real long distance and stopping in big cities. Hard. Guarantee my stuff would have been hit a few times with soft. No way would I be running soft in Mexico or across Europe to Australia.
I don't ride a steel horse but if I did, I would ride it with the intend of not dropping it at high speeds to where it would brake my side boxes because if my side boxes brake I don't think I would be able to pick them up with my brocken ribs and ather various bricken bones. I would just leave it there and if I survive I would buy me something with as many airbags and metal cage as posible. If you're saying right now that I can also get hurt in a steel cage sorriunded by airbags, then I challenge you to a game of chicken!
Thanks for watching and commenting. We all ride with the intention of not dropping the bike. This video is referencing riding off road in the dirt. It is very common when riding off road to have a slow speed drop in sand or on a very challenging trail. Experienced riders learn to wear the right gear and how to “bail out” from the bike while it’s going down. Off road motorcycle courses spend time teaching students not to try to stay with the bike when it’s going down and also how to correctly pick the bike up. There is no doubt that it is an inherently dangerous sport but it is also very fun.
Even a fall at slow, or no, speed would dent a aluminium hard case beyond the point of usefulness.
dropped a bike on a gravel road that slid and ripped my soft luggage to shreds. Making DIY top load panniers from HDPE jerry cans.
Sound nice idea...do you have video how to make it ? I got few jerry cans but didnt have proper concept
hard paniers will be broken into , even when they are empty !
There is no doubt about that. Thanks for watching!
Nederlandse nuchterheid!
I put a pair of coolers 🤙🏾$40 bucks
You forgot the most important one: weight. I saved 7KG dead weight by switching to soft panniers.
And they are much lighter 😊
Everybody has their own opinion.
Serious long-term riders would disagree with you
You mean people like Noraly (Itchy boots) who's riding with soft panniers around the world?
U can't repair hard panniers in the outback, if they are deformed or the brackets are broken. A soft pannier won.t damage totally, and you can help yourself with belts, wire or ropes. A journey on tarmac is ok with hard panniers, but aside the normal streets s.p. are the choice!
I’ve been touring across Eastern Europe and Central Asia for the past two and a half years and started off with soft panniers. Within 4 months, I switched to hard panniers because of the problems with theft - mostly in broad daylight 😔 My bike was broken into 3 times in 4 months. Since I got the hard panniers, not a single issue. I guess safety is the trade off though.