Long distance preparation q's and new bike Tiger 800!
Discussion
No tubes if they are alloy wheels.
There’s loads of phone mounts, Givi do a decent waterproof one with a simple mount that will fit, quick release system, security lanyard and cable entry for charging.
Get a decent battery in it and check it’s charging ok.
Fill up with petrol and ride to Italy.
There’s loads of phone mounts, Givi do a decent waterproof one with a simple mount that will fit, quick release system, security lanyard and cable entry for charging.
Get a decent battery in it and check it’s charging ok.
Fill up with petrol and ride to Italy.
In terms of top boxes and panniers, Triumph offered two types - Explorer, which are re-branded Givi Trekkers and Adventure. My bike came with a full adventure set but I've never used the panniers, and recently swapped out the top box for the Explorer, which is lighter, has a little more capacity and in my opinion looks better. One benefit of using the OEM systems is that you can fit your spare lock barrels and use one key for everything; they're also fairly secure. Luggage comes up for sale fairly regularly on www.tiger800.co.uk, which as wa16 says is a great resource. The new prices are very steep. There are a few third party options depending on whether you want hard or soft luggage such as Touratech, SW-Motech and Hepco & Becker. Each option comes with it's own mounting system. There's lots of discussion of experience, pros and cons of different systems etc on the forum.
You've got a RAM mount above your instruments - this is a fairly standard system supported by lots of manufacturers. I'm not familiar with phone mounts, but if you have (or purchase) a TomTom Rider for example, the mounting kit is compatible. I'm not aware of a method of securely attaching a car-specific TomTom; the mounts are very different so it probably wouldn't be secure, and of course car sat navs aren't waterproof.
Definitely worth checking the voltages, I had a reg/rec fail some years ago and cook the battery. Easy to follow the first part of this
https://nsr-world.com/workshop/wiring/electrex-fau...
https://nsr-world.com/workshop/wiring/electrex-fau...
I've got a 2013 Explorer which came without any boxes or mounts so I've had a similar journey.
I decided to go the GIVI route so I could move them to something else if I wanted to in time.
I needed a mounting plate for the top box (new about £90 or plentiful secondhand).
Top box was new, from memory about £170.
Pannier frames couldn't be sourced second hand so I bought new, again about £170. These are the quick release so don't have to stay on the bike.
A pair of Givi Dolomiti panniers found second hand at c£300. New, they're about £550!
I've done one trip abroad so far and wasn't short of space. I went this route as I like to lock stuff inside.
There you go, the full on road-captain look!
I decided to go the GIVI route so I could move them to something else if I wanted to in time.
I needed a mounting plate for the top box (new about £90 or plentiful secondhand).
Top box was new, from memory about £170.
Pannier frames couldn't be sourced second hand so I bought new, again about £170. These are the quick release so don't have to stay on the bike.
A pair of Givi Dolomiti panniers found second hand at c£300. New, they're about £550!
I've done one trip abroad so far and wasn't short of space. I went this route as I like to lock stuff inside.
There you go, the full on road-captain look!
Triumph offer the Adventure Tail Bag for these if you don't want a solid type top box:
https://shop.lind.co.uk/products/triumph-adventure...
To give some idea on size the main section will take one full face lid with some space around it, would be a struggle to get a jacket in aswell though. It's no where near as secure as proper panniers though.
Triumph have accessory sales so if you want new check Lind and World of Triumph websites.
https://shop.lind.co.uk/products/triumph-adventure...
To give some idea on size the main section will take one full face lid with some space around it, would be a struggle to get a jacket in aswell though. It's no where near as secure as proper panniers though.
Triumph have accessory sales so if you want new check Lind and World of Triumph websites.
I decided to fit soft panniers (3 x Enduristan tornado bags) to my KTM Adv bike using a motonaut strap system. This despite my bike having a pretty decent, but expensive integrated hard pannier system.
A couple of reasons.
Firstly, lightness over security/protection. I don't carry anything fragile in the bags when touring, and they are abrasion resistant enough to outweigh the weight penalty. Hard panniers seem extraordinarily heavy and even big adv bikes have pretty low luggage weight capacities.
Secondly, capacity over size. I thought the hard panniers were too wide without offering much more in the way of usable space. The bags take about 80 litres in total and compress.
Finally, I don't have to worry about filtering. When attached, the bags are narrower than my handlebars. And even if they do touch something at low speed, they won't damage other vehicles.
A couple of reasons.
Firstly, lightness over security/protection. I don't carry anything fragile in the bags when touring, and they are abrasion resistant enough to outweigh the weight penalty. Hard panniers seem extraordinarily heavy and even big adv bikes have pretty low luggage weight capacities.
Secondly, capacity over size. I thought the hard panniers were too wide without offering much more in the way of usable space. The bags take about 80 litres in total and compress.
Finally, I don't have to worry about filtering. When attached, the bags are narrower than my handlebars. And even if they do touch something at low speed, they won't damage other vehicles.
Edited by stamper on Monday 20th June 18:52
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Apparently causes the bike to weave too at high speeds. Too high for it to be a factor for me.That's pretty much what I'm carrying to the South of France in a couple of weeks. Tent goes nicely into one of the roll bags along with the sleeping bag.
Wrt puncture kit, and this is a contentious issue as I've heard arguments for and against, but I use this stuff after it was recommended to me.
https://bikeseal.co.uk/
Will help in all but severe/unusual punctures. Heard some say it perishes tyres from the inside out. But I've not had problems and the site offers plenty of evidence to refute that.
Otherwise, a portable compressor running from a cigarette lighter port (pretty sure Triumph's have those) and a kit like this
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/163702493325?epid=26028...
Although I would definitely have a practice on something with it first. They can be a pita. Especially the cheap ones.
If you use one of those compressors off the 12v socket check it doesn't blow the fuse before you go. Wasted space if it goes when you try and inflate a tyre and have no spare fuses.
Spare fuses
Depending on milage I'd also take some chain lube and the right tools to adjust the chain when away. I did a 2000 mile weekend last week and had to adjust the chain even though it was done before setting off.
Quadlock with a vibration dampener for mounting your phone but get the cover for it as it will rain and even if your phone is waterproof it will go mental if water gets on the screen.
I use a garmin zumo 346 as my satnav hardwired to the bike.
Spare fuses
Depending on milage I'd also take some chain lube and the right tools to adjust the chain when away. I did a 2000 mile weekend last week and had to adjust the chain even though it was done before setting off.
Quadlock with a vibration dampener for mounting your phone but get the cover for it as it will rain and even if your phone is waterproof it will go mental if water gets on the screen.
I use a garmin zumo 346 as my satnav hardwired to the bike.
Edited by HairyMaclary on Monday 20th June 19:21
+1 for Quadlock, unless you already have a ram socket for your phone/GPS. In which case I'd wait for it to break, which it inevitably will (RAM Mount = bad experiences + bad customer service for me).
Earplugs? I use these. Really like them, and they've lasted longer than motorcycle focussed ones.
https://www.flareaudio.com/collections/earplugs/pr...
Earplugs? I use these. Really like them, and they've lasted longer than motorcycle focussed ones.
https://www.flareaudio.com/collections/earplugs/pr...
Don't fall for all the pannier/top box added soft panniers and accompanying towed trailer. I have just done 3 weeks and 4000 miles in Spain. Everything I needed fitted easily into a Kreiger US 20 and a US 10 on top. Good breakdown insurance and a decent credit card with a few pairs of shorts
, tee shirts some floppy shoes and underwear will do the job. So a decent rack on the back and some sort of roll bag or proprietary luggage system may well suffice. Could not believe the bikes parked on the santander ferry with huge side panniers top boxes and other stuff strapped on top. They must have been prepared to do at least 100,000 miles and away for 6 months. It surely is all about riding the bike in its purest form not trying to outwit any eventuality that fate may throw at you. OTHER OPINIONS ARE AVAILABLE
, tee shirts some floppy shoes and underwear will do the job. So a decent rack on the back and some sort of roll bag or proprietary luggage system may well suffice. Could not believe the bikes parked on the santander ferry with huge side panniers top boxes and other stuff strapped on top. They must have been prepared to do at least 100,000 miles and away for 6 months. It surely is all about riding the bike in its purest form not trying to outwit any eventuality that fate may throw at you. OTHER OPINIONS ARE AVAILABLE
Regarding your phone mount, I was in the same boat. The previous owner had installed a Ram Mount. There are loads of options for fitting as it is is a generic item now on ebay, etc. I went for a Quad lock to Ram kit, which you can build your self, over on their website. About 100 quid with the wireless charger, case, damper, etc.
As for the panniers, unless you know you're going to be doing a lot of touring, save yourself some money now. For the money, get your missus to fly out with your "there" and "way back" kit. The cost of the extra luggage will be a lot less that a set of panniers.
Then just get yourself a bunch of pants, socks and t-shirts from Primark and a decent rucksack and just use that out. You can wash them out there, or ditch them as you go.
If you like it, then get yourself some panniers, later when people are selling off their kit at the end of season, etc.
stamper said:
Firstly, lightness over security/protection. I don't carry anything fragile in the bags when touring, and they are abrasion resistant enough to outweigh the weight penalty. Hard panniers seem extraordinarily heavy and even big adv bikes have pretty low luggage weight capacities.
I have a set of Givi E22's and a set of old E36's and they really don't weigh much at all, although I accept that the metal ones that no GS seems to be rideable without are probably a lot a heavier, although I suspect also lot more secure..I like to stop on route and visit things so prefer to have hard panniers I can lock. I also have a Pacsafe wire mesh bag that's big enough to put all my bike kit in and lock it to the bike, and my tank bag has rucksack straps to carry it around.
The key thing about riding with panniers and topbox though is never put too much stuff in your topbox. Partly because you don't want too much weight high up and far back on the bike, but mainly because you should always have space for a baguette, cheese and a bottle of wine!
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Tuesday 21st June 11:34
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