klr so tall

[Martin Gunderson]

I recently purchased Wolfman Expedition Rear Saddle Bags and Tank Panniers for my 2008 KLR in preperation for a trip from LA to Honduras. My thinking was that they were advertised as water resistant to waterproof without the hassle of rain covers. My first question is does anybody have personal experience with this product at all, and how have you found them in general, and specifically in rain. My second issue/complaint is that they really do not mount very well to the '08. The saddle bags are OK, but the tank panniers are at the local shoemakers going through major modifications. In Wolfman's defense, they were very willing to take back the tank panniers, confirming that they were not compatible with the '08 My question now is to live with what I have, or is there really a complete solution that anyone feels strongly about. And yes....I want to stay with soft sided. I have a huge Givi Trunk up top for the delicate stuff. Look forward to your input and experience. Martin

[E.L. Green]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Martin Gunderson" wrote:

> I recently purchased Wolfman Expedition Rear Saddle Bags and Tank > Panniers for my 2008 KLR in preperation for a trip from LA to > Honduras. > > My thinking was that they were advertised as water resistant to > waterproof without the hassle of rain covers.

I probably would have gone with Ortliebs, which are advertised as water PROOF, not water RESISTANT.

> My first question is does anybody have personal experience with this > product at all, and how have you found them in general, and > specifically in rain.

I have the tank panniers and the tank bag. In general I'm not overly impressed by the mounting system for either even though they're supposed to work on my '02 KLR, to the point where I don't use the tank panniers anymore, I use non-waterproof Aerostich tank panniers with plastic bag liners. The 'Stich's tend to fill up with water in the rain so I don't put anything that would melt into them in case a bag liner springs a leak (generally my engine oil, WD-40, and chain oil goes up there in a big trip, along with a spare tube for the rear if it's a *really* big trip, and a bag of tools that I'd prefer not to get wet but it's no disaster if it *does* get wet). So it goes. The tank bag doesn't mount well, but it's a nice size for a dual sport and thus far hasn't gotten any water in it (but of course it is protected by the windshield too, even my old non-waterproof tank bags rarely got water in them). I'm not a big fan of tank bags but this one is a reasonable place to stash my camera and sunglasses on a big trip so it gets put up there every time I head off to put a couple thousand miles on my KLR. In general I'm not overly impressed by Wolfman's gear and prefer to use alternatives when available. The Aerostich tank paniers are larger than the Wolfmans and mount more easily, Ortlieb dry bags are guaranteed waterproof and lots of folks here like them.

> My question now is to live with what I have, or is there really a > complete solution that anyone feels strongly about. And yes....I want > to stay with soft sided. I have a huge Givi Trunk up top for the > delicate stuff.

A complete solution doesn't seem in the cards. I have a rather mix-and-match luggage system for my KLR. Craigslist here in the Bay area is a good way to get rid of stuff that doesn't work for ya without the hassles of fleaBay... -E

[manycan1]

Martin,, I am 5'8" and will have to lower my '08 at least 1.5 inches. And beyond that, might have to cut the seat. That sucker is way up there in the stratosphere! But the comments that I constantly get on the '08 looks are worth every Tippy Toe! andy They opened our spillway at NOLa yesterday, glad we have three of em! Katrina was enough!