Here is an update from the Malster, our field tester. He has been using Expedition Pannierz since their inception and is tough on his gear. W
ho better to try and break them and report back.
I hope this email finds you all well and that your office/factory is back to ‘normal’ (define ‘normal’… ).
I thought I’d give you an update on how the ‘prototype’ Expedition Pannierz are holding up.
So far I’ve covered over 4000 kilometres with the bags on my KTM 640 Adventure. I’m mounting the bags over your soft luggage frames and these frames keep the bags away from the sidecovers, providing dedicated mounting points for the lower securing straps at the bottom of the bags. I also put most of the Andy Strapz stickers on the 640 and the rest on my KTM 950 Adventure.
I recently went on a long ride from Brisbane to Lorella Springs in the Northern Territory for the 2008 Off Centre Rally. The route I took was pretty easy, west from Brisvegas to Windorah, north through the Diamantina Lakes NP, Urandangi, Camooweal, Lawn Hill NP, Borroloola NT, Lorella Springs NT.
Taking Andy’s advice literally, I did my best to try and ‘kill’ the bags, loading them up with a small amount of clothing, fuel, camping gear and food. The bags weighed in at 10 – 11 kilos each. I initially used the over-seat extender straps to mount the bags but reverted back to using the standard over-seat straps as they allowed me to fit the bags higher (up to the eat height). I then strapped one of your blue dry bags(Stuff Sakz) across the seat, to rest on the top of each pannier bag.
I tend to ride my 640 pretty easy but quickly, covering a fair distance each day (generally 500 – 1000 kays a day), stopping wherever and whenever the whim arises. On the ride through the Diamantina Lakes there were a few deep sandy sections with some deep bulldust holes to keep you awake. I found the bike and I handled these sections best with plenty of speed, the more the better (120 kph + ) and was very happy with the way the bags sat securely on the frames, without any flapping or swaying about. Deep washaways could be confidently taken at speed, with both ends of the suspension bottoming out and the bags staying on the bike.
On the last Off Centre Rally I attended in 2006, I hit a big washaway at speed and tore one of the seat straps away from the top of one of the original Expedition Pannierz. I also had the right bag burst open its seams, necessitating me to strap up the bags with occy straps and rope.
I’m happy to say that the new bags mounting straps seem to be a lot stronger than the previous version.
On the ride between Urandangi and Camooweal I again attempted to kill the bags, crashing the bike heavily in deep sand at about 100 kph. The bags remained on the bike, the bags remained intact and sand/dustproof. The only damage to the bags was one of the extra straps you supplied (to mount around the bottom of the bags to the supporting frame) broke in the impact. I tied it back together and had no more problems with that strap. The bike only sustained a broken mirror and a broken indicator. The rider is nearly as bulletproof as the prototype’ Expedition Pannierz and the might little KTM (almost as bulletproof… ).
From Camooweal to Lawn Hill was fast and uneventful riding through dry open savannah country, leading into a few pretty valleys with some interesting creek crossings. The bagz proved totally waterproof and dustproof. I have no doubts about their ability to keep the elements away from the contents of the bags.
At Lawn Hill I did some maintenance on the KTM and checked out the frame and bag mountings – everything where it should be and secure, no wear or rubbing marks on the bagz or the bike. I spent a great day swimming in the river and walking to the small waterfalls through the National Park. This is a great place to visit if your ever up in the north west of Qld.
Lawn Hill to Borroloola was again fast and dusty with some big wash aways and creek crossings. Bagz again performed flawlessly.
On the last stretch from Borroloola to Lorella Springs I again encountered some long deep sand and bull dust sections, rocky creek beds and fast riding. I had the misfortune to collide with another rider who pulled in front of me in deep sand ten kilometres from my final destination, the collision resulted in his gear lever being pushed through the other bikes crank cases and the top triple clamp on my KTM being cracked. The left hand side pannier bag took the full impact of the bike hitting the ground and came away completely undamaged. Bloody tough bagz, these Andy. As I rode the KTM the last few kilometres to the rally site I was amazed to see the top triple clamp slowly open up and allow the fork legs to flop around. Steering was ‘very interesting’, to say the least ;-).
The next day I clamped up the top triple clamp and Cobb & Co hitched it with fencing wire in an attempt to get the bike ready to ride back to Brisvegas. Unfortunately I thought that the damage was to severe and that the repair would not stand up to the long trip home. I was able to get a lift for the bike and rider 170 kays to Cape Crawford, tying the bike onto the bulbar of a Toyota Landcruiser station wagon. The bagz and all my riding and camping gear went in the back of the cruiser and we had a bumpy slower trip out to the bitumen.
At Cape Crawford I met a trucky returning to Toowoomba who was happy to give me a lift with the bike. We had two great days travelling through the Territory and across western Qld. At Morven I met another trucky at the pub who was returning from taking a drilling rig to Kununurra with his long, low loader trailer. He took me from Roma to Brisbane, where my girlfriend picked me up in my ute. I felt like Charlie Boreman and Ewan McGregor with my support crew of trucks and four wheel drives, minus the big budget and film crew!
The entire trip was a fantastic adventure, catching up with some mates from across the country and as well made some more new friends. It’s the people you meet on the road that are the highlights of this trip.
The Andy Strapz gear worked flawlessly and contributed to me having a great trip by not giving me any problems as to their improved design, construction, materials and functional performance. I have a bit of a reputation among my mates across the country of ‘losing’ luggage as bags get jettisoned and straps and frames break. My mates were ‘amazed’ that I made it without breaking or losing any luggage on this trip and I made sure that they knew that this was due in no small degree to the new improved bagz.
Since that trip I’ve also used the bagz on my KTM 950 Adventure and they have performed perfectly.
These bagz are tougher, stronger and just as functionally practical as the original version. I thoroughly recommend that you consider putting them into production.
This weekend I’m going riding in the bush with Rob Turton of his crew from Overlanders Motorcycle Adventures. I’ll be taking the Andy Strapz gear along, for sure!
Footnote. We have made the changes permanent.
Unfortunately for Mal he now has the secrets and must be.....Oh, woops, wrong product.
Cheers
Andy