Great review. I have the same bags and bike. Here are three tips you can consider. 1) I removed the rear pegs (will never use them), put the pin back in the bracket, and secured the bags lower strap around the pin. This provided a good angle on the strap. 2) I beveled all the edges of the mounting slots in the Tusk rack since they are quite sharp on the straps. 3) You do not need to pull the buckle of that side support strap through the D-ring. As soon as you un-clip it, it is fully loose.

I ride a Super Tenere 1200. I use the solid panniers. I'd heard about people getting "pinned" under them but that sounded to me like a dog whistle of sorts. Two years ago, was riding off road at Big Bend national Park and.............. yup, my left foot got pinned. It was forty-five minutes, by myself, in the desert, very uncomfortable, before I freed myself. I'm 72 now and that was my last "off-road" excursion. In short, good choice on your gear.

Very good video. I agree with you about metal panniers. They're dangerous...I had my right foot pinned twice. And, if one takes a fairly hard fall, the panniers can be tweaked, bent, and damaged.

I bought my T7 used and it came with Aluminum box luggage. I would never of bought it myself, but what a joy it has proven to be. Not only security ( lockable) but simple as pie weather proof and proves a couple of table tops at camp. I do 70% off road. At times it feels wide but it’s the width of the handle bars. Just careful cutting around trees. Slow and steady 😀. My riding buddies all have soft bags and seem to like them. My camp is packed in half the time - not a success measure but speaks to the simplicity. Especially when you are trying to find something and it’s always in the last place you look! If you plan to do a lot of trips and week long rides, I would spend the dough and get hard side luggage. For short weekends soft bags are more than enough. Thanks for making great content and I miss the T7.

Good solid information, thanks for the review! As I get older, if the right hip won't lift the right leg over a pile of gear, I find it easier to hold the left handlebar, face the bike, and slide the right heel across the seat and onto the ground while grabbing the right handlebar as it comes within reach. However, my seat height is shorter than yours, I imagine (TW 200).

Nicely timed. I’m researching larger capacity bags for my bike now. Thanks for the thorough explanation.

I use soft panniers as well and inner bags make a huge difference compared to the use of multiple compression bags. I only struggled to get enough tension to the back so I added a very small rack to my T7. Once used I don't get them really clean anymore on the outside. Have a great season 2024 with a couple of adventures.

Thank you very much my friend, I liked this Tusk system, it looks very good quality and seeing it mounted on my motorcycle helps me see its dimensions in reality. Mosko moto is good but extremely expensive in relation to the competition. I'm going to investigate the Tusk Highland x2, I hope they ship to Latin America. All the best

Great video and very well explained, thanks for sharing

Great video. Thanks for the helpful info!

I mount my loaded KTM 500 differently. I do everything the same as you, but step through it using my right leg first and just placing it on the seat. Then I just continue to slide over until my left leg makes it to the left foot peg. P.S. I’m 65 . 😅

I'm also rack less. I stand on the left peg and mount just like mounting a horse. RC

Great info. Thanks!

FWIW I used an earlier generation Giant Loop system for close to 20k miles in about 3 months of travel time over 3 long trips and ultimately decided that while it did the job, there were better options. The outer shell isn’t waterproof, and while I believe the inner bags are, loading and unloading things from inside the bag was more annoying than I thought it needed to be. Annoyances aside, it never gave me a lick of trouble over those miles and survived a 30 mph low-side on asphalt with barely any noticeable effect. But when the time came to replace it (some squirrels and/or raccoons chewed their way in after I failed to properly seal my food whilst camping one night), I opted not to buy their newer version. I’ll be trying a Mosko on my next trip and I’ll see what I think.

Thanks for that. I will rewatch as I plan on a similar setup on the Honda 300L Rally! Btw -you’re moving pretty well after your Mexican mishap. I am hoping that my limited flexibility makes mounting the bike possible with full bags.

I like your videos! Good perspective from a fellow senior rider. Aluminum boxes dent, deform and lose thier seal and most importantly can pin and break your leg. I use Mosko Moto backcountry bags. Love them.

Tried to buy this exact Tusk set during the Pandemic but they were completely sold out so I had to compromise! They've done the job but currently looking again and so far I like the Enduristan ones for the ergo shape to better fit the T7, but these would probably be fine as well! Thanks for the thoughtful review and I hope you are still able to get out a bit throughout the winter....all snow and ice here on Kodiak Island!🤕

Looks great and a nice setup! One difference I do when mounting I RECOMMEND you try is as long as I can remember in recent years, I always LIFT MY LEG STRAIGHT IN OVER THE SEAT VS swinging around. For two reasons. I always though it was better for the hips and when you have a loaded bike (stuff in the back) it's MUCH easier. Hope that helps!

Thanks for sharing. Enjoy the channel. Will take alook at the Tusk for my bike. 🙂😀🙃 I was wondering how you get on.

At the 13 minute mark you showed slipping the side bad top strap through the large D ring. That looked like a bit of a nusance. Perhaps putting a medium-size carabiner on the D ring so you can just clip/unclip the strap into the D ring? Nice video. Thanks

My biggest gripe about soft bags vs hard bags is security. I like to explore on my trips and will often leave the bike for hours in sometimes remote carparks etc and I like the idea of being able to lockup my stuff and not have to worry about it. If that issue were solved I would consider a rack less system myself because as you said they are cheaper, smaller and don't break you leg. rsm8

@noahrobin1941

6 ай бұрын

There are things you can add to soft luggage which make them /more/ secure; I think PacSafe still makes a wire mesh which can be locked over luggage, for instance. /As/ secure is a longer row to hoe, I agree. In addition to security, hard luggage is also convenient to sit on, however it’s difficult (or impossible) to repair in the field if I drop the bike on a jeep trail or low-side on a dirt road somewhere; it (and the racks) are also significantly heavier. Good soft luggage, particularly rackless setups, are significantly lighter which becomes more and more of a concern on smaller and smaller bikes. They’ll also generally handle an off with minimal damage without potentially tweaking the rear subframe, and hard luggage can and will snap ankles in the wrong situation; happened to a family friend. Lot easier (and cheaper!) to replace my stuff that to pay the ER a visit. :) IMO it just depends on what you’re solving for, and what sorts of risks you’re willing/prefer to incur is all.

Great job. You do a wonderful job of not only explaining the items, but the how and why. Are you still carrying your motorcycle jack?. I mount my 390 the same way, however it seems to be bending the metal at the sidestand connection. Anyway, back in Gold Beach after a several month visit to SoCal.

Stepping thru would be more efficient, easier than throwing the leg over the luggage when dismounting and mounting……

Thanks for posting it. This is great. Where/how do you carry all the parts to replace a tube? Your bike has tubes, right? That must be quite a large kit. How do you accommodate it? Cheers.

@MySeniorMoments

6 ай бұрын

I carry a spare tube, air compressor, and jack in my duffle. Tire irons and wheel tools are under the seat. A safety kit is also in the duffle.

Is there room for an auxiliary gas container? I'm thinking a 1 or 2 gallon can.

@MySeniorMoments

4 ай бұрын

I carry 1 or 2 extra liter gas cans. Adds only 30-40 miles extra for emergencies. I'm sure you could fit a 1-gallon gas pack on the rear rack.