Packing gear on the R - A tip

MIXR · Post by **MIXR** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 6:58 pm

Thought I would pass on the benefit of organising a method for carrying gear on the R. I have side cases (full size both sides) and a 45 litre Givi top case, but need to carry a bit more for a BIG trip in May.

Tried everywhere here for a long but skinny soft bag to sit over the pillion cargo plate behind my bike swag (bedroll). Finally stumbled across a baseball bag - Mizuno and Easton seem to be the only ones available here. The Mizuno Gamer Bat Bag is 34" long, 6-3/4" wide, and 10-1/4" high. Damn near perfect!

Fits nicely across the pillion seat and side cases, and allows a lot of gear to be stowed without ending up with a great lump of 'stuff' piled up on the pillion plate. Really good fit, sits low, very stable and easy to tie down using some s/steel rings (like bungee buddies) that I have fitted to the side cases and front of the top box.

I'll post a pic when I set up for a trial run (loaded) in a week or so. They are probably common for you USA guys, but it was a nice surprise to 'discover' what a great bike bag they make because of their shape.

As for the trip - It's finally my big one that I missed doing this year. 15,000 km around Oz following the coast road all the way, visiting (passing through) every major city in the country. 23 days, including a day off in Darwin and a day off in Perth. That's 21 days riding averaging 715 km every day.

That will be the last trip for the R. Time for something new (like a 1200GSA).

Post by **Biff's R** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 7:53 pm

That sounds like a heck of a trip Mick.

I found a Helen2wheels bag that has similar dimensions, and fits well across the rear seat.

Have fun.

Lion_Lady · Post by **Lion_Lady** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 10:10 pm

I use Seal Line drybags... waterproof and the right shape. No worries about wet stuff either.

The yellow tube shape. They come in different sizes.

P

MIXR · Post by **MIXR** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 10:45 pm

You guys seem to have the benefit of accessing stuff that is simply not easy to source here. All the dry bags I looked at (many brands and materials) just got bigger as they got longer. I couldn't get a long skinny one. The 'yellow' ones are pretty much what I was after, but alas it wasn't an option. I considered having a canvas or herculite bag made, but the cost was the same as for two baseball bags.

My compromise also gives me the benefit of handles, zip entry, some extra pockets for small items, and separate areas for shoes and sleeping bag. I'll wait for my next trip to the US and then stock up on a whole heap of stuff that's hard to get here!

Thanks for the pics Lion_Lady. Nice set-up.

Post by **NoRRmad** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 11:30 pm

I was looking for a bag to hold a large ThermaRest self-inflating mattress. Found this from Campmor.com. I think they ship worldwide. (It's 34" long.)
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/store ... d=39181610

MIXR · Post by **MIXR** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 11:59 pm

Yep - Nice bag and I've been to the site. Problem is that postage from the US is a real killer these days. You buy a US$30 item, factor another US$30 (or more) for postage, then check the exchange rate and it's suddenly AUD$100 and a couple of weeks away.

Makes even little items too expensive. I've been burned too may times on getting stuff over that it's just easier to source something here. Never used to be that way. Years back I purchased a lot of fishing tackle at very reasonable shipping rates based on $$ spent. Now its all 'volume weight' or just weight that drives the price, whichever is the greatest!

Oh well, serves me right for living in this great big sun-drenched land that has little pollution, bikini girls everywhere, great roads all around and excellent pubs to stay at!

MIXR

Post by **Boxer** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 7:36 am

Makes even little items too expensive

This might be a worthwhile effort for some of us here. Maybe we could put together some kind of shipping "club" for our fellow Beaksters down under.

It might be cheaper than having them order things shipped from here by the stores. They could order it on line and have it shipped to a central location here someplace, then a big community package goes to a central location in Oz where a member there could disperse it more conveniently.

I dunno. Just a thought. Would there be a customs issue here?

Any comments?

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 7:46 am

Maybe we could put together some kind of shipping "club" for our fellow Beaksters down under.

Now we're talkin'.....and what custom's don't know wont hurt'em..

DJ

R4R&R · Post by **R4R&R** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 8:28 am

This sounds like a good opportunity to start a business! You can be the Aussie distributor for the bags, and anything else that you want.

Boxerboy · Post by **Boxerboy** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 8:42 am

http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resou ... xport1.pdf

Be better off buying one in, copying it, then going to Vietnam for manufacture.

Everyone else is doing it.

MIXR · Post by **MIXR** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 3:47 pm

Nice thoughts about group packages and much appreciated, but it's not a function of customs duty. It's just plain old postage costs. Anything bigger than a lightweight stock envelope from the States you pay up big time. The shipping places (DHL, UPS, FEDEX) are worse than the US Postal Service for costs, but have the benefit of tracking and insurance. It's a real killer on the bargains off the for sale board.

Anyway, this is getting off track from the thread I started about carrying gear on the R. I'm happy with the baseball bag - But man did I have trouble finding a supplier in Aus. Baseball is not a mainstream sport downunder!!!!!!!!!!! Cheers all.

Est51 · Post by **Est51** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 5:37 pm

Je*us wept, 400+ miles a day for 21 days! You must have an a*se made of steel. I've just bought a Sargent so that I can just manage the tank range in one go, let alone that distance! I'm full of admiration .

MIXR · Post by **MIXR** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 6:16 pm

Est51 - Funny, but I've never had much of a problem with the stock seat on my R. Could be even better with a Sargent I guess, but just not worth the money. Only thing I've done is fit some barbacks last week as I find I tend to slide back and have to reach forward when I get tired after a few long days in the saddle. Barbacks take the stretch out of the arms.

The distance is not all that daunting as the trip will mostly be upright (not too many corners on this run). Also, we have unlimited speed zones in some areas and long stretches of nothing much in others, so there will be times when we will cruise above 140 km/hr, subject to fuel stops. Longest gap with no fuel is about 320 km. Makes the distance go pretty quick.

I've often done 1,000 km days, and most day trips are over 500 km, so averaging 700 is no big deal. Remember, we are on the road and hitting 110+ damn near all day. I will use my sheep skin this trip. Not so much for the backside, but to give a slightly increased distance between bum and footpegs. The longest planned day is just over 1,000 km, with lots of 700 to 800 km days and a few shorter 500-600 days where the towns are more of a nuisance (low speed limits) or we expect to hit bad roads.

Hmm - Maybe this needs to go over to the trip section.

Post by **scottybooj** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 1:49 am

maybe we could trade for some of that aussie wine that (due to exchange rates) should only be $5.00 a bottle but they're charging $40!!!!!

i'll get a list together and we'll swap!

GeoffJ · Post by **GeoffJ** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 2:04 pm

I use a Seal Line drybag. It works great. I rode through 150 of rain en route to the Sturgis rally last year and nothing got wet inside the bag.