Hi Ducatisti. Wondering if anyone has experience of Touratech and/or SW Motech Trax panniers. Can't decide between the two for my 1200 MTS Any views/experience of the two would be appreciated. Ta in advance.
Hi Malc, Just joined today and saw your post regarding luggage and thought that my recent trip to from Ireland to Russia should at least give you a good road test report on my Touratech Zega Pro Black luggage. My 2011 Ducati Multistrada 1200s Touring (fully kitted with Touratech Luggage) was my mount for this trip and it proved to be a fantastic all-round/all roads bike that never missed a beat on every road type and in every weather condition that the trip threw at me. I booted the Multistrada with a set of Michelin Pilot 3 Touring Tyres (based on a test ride that the MCN guys did going to Jerez last year on a Multistrada) and they performed flawlessly over the 5860 mile round trip in a mixed bag of wet, torrential rain, dry and even gravel track roads over the mountains in Ukraine. The solo trip (Johnny no mates) saw me leave Northern Ireland on 16th August through Dublin, Wales, England, Channel Tunnel, France, Belgium, Germany, CZ Rep, Slovakia, Ukraine (rest day in Kiev on 21/8), Russia (off the bike in Moscow 23-27/8 for sight seeing and WSB) then returning home via Finland, Sweden (rest day in Kalmar), Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, finally back into Belgium from where I left Spa on Saturday morning (F1 Friday in Spa was a washout so I called it a done trip) riding straight through arriving back home in Northern Ireland at 3 am on Sunday 2/9, stopping only to get the Tunnel, Ferry accross the Irish Sea and fuel of course. I have to say that the Touratech Zega Pro luggage system was first class, robust, totally waterproof and very secure, meaning you can walk away from your bike with complete peace of mind. I purchased the "And Black" version because it has a special coating inside and out, inside means you don't get the aluminium discolouring the contents of your luggage through rubbing, which basic aluminium will do and i personally think the black looks good on the MTS as it loses itself with the swingarm etc, much like Ducati's own luggage does with its lower section being black. I fitted the 31litre panniers and top box (big enough for Arai Tour X4 fitted with helmet cam and my gloves and maps) and had more than enough capacity for my trip, but then up to this year i have been touring Europe on a 2000 Fireblade with a soft 40litre tailpack, so i know how to pack light anyhow. I took a decent amount of tools, spares and the likes on this trip, so i bought one of the Touratech seat bags which i also used for my waterproofs & wet gloves, so just locked it with a padlock (to keep an honest thief out) and didnt have any bother. The added bonus with this soft bag was that it was a fantastic backrest which was useful on a couple of the 800 mile days at the beginning and end of my trip. The overall bike width with the 31 litre panniers fitted is 2 inches narrower than with the standard Ducati panniers, and obviously being metal, i figured they would give the bike more protection should i have an unfortunate low speed off or drop, plus if you do you can aluminium weld or hammer them into shape, beats the heck out of trying to glue the plastic ones together or hogging your strewn luggage home in a newly purchaded foreign rucksack. The panniers sit slightly higher than the standard Ducati ones so the weight distribution is a little higher but not enough to make any difference. The position of them doesn't affect the comfort or leg position of a pillion, however the topbox does, it sits further forward on the bike so not really suitable. I will probabley just fit my Ducati topcase when i go 2 up because it hold 2 full helmets anyhow. I can't comment on the Trax luggage as i have no experience of it, although i was at a bike show in Leipzig in Feb 12, and both Touratech & SW-Motech were on show so i spent most of the day between the two and i felt the Touratech was best suited to the MTS. After Russia, I believe i made the right choice. I will send you a couple of real world pics of my bike in standard touring trim for UK & Ireland and then in its adventure trim for the Russian trip, and hope my reply has been of some help. Ride safe, Ógie
Thanks for the info. Looking forward to the pictures. Impressed by your trip! Still undecided as yet. No rush to buy anyway. One question. The mounting frames for the panniers. Are they easy to remove or do they look ok left on without boxes on? The GS Adv I had previous suited the frames left on but am unsure about the MTS. I know its a bit of a tarts question
Ogie, that is one hell of a trip! djeezes... iwas to say that the alu panniers are ment to go round the world - long way wherever - hardcore - trips and then U discribe that one! for the more civilized trips, Trekkers should on a MS motech rack should do very well.... i would now go for the 52ltr Top and 46 lter sides... the 52 will handle huge volume... grtz Koen
Hi Malc, Havent got round to taking the panniers off yet since i got back, infact havent touched the bike lol. I think the frames will look ok, thats why i bought the frame in black too. I will take a couple of pics and you can judge for yourself. The frame is about 20 mins to install so will be quick to take off too. Going to try to upload some pics here for you below, if not i may have to upgrade membership or something. Koen, That certainly is a large capacity luggage set you are running on your MTS.
Malc, Pic loader seems to work, I have attached a couple more to give you a bit more of an allround view of the luggage. These pics were taken on route between Uzhgorod on the Ukraine/Slovakia border going over the mountains and the last in the town square of Lviv Ukraine Hope they give you a good idea of how the luggage looks on the MTS, and i can tell you it works every bit as good as it looks (tarty as that may sound) lol. Safe biking. Ógie.
Koen, any pictures of the SW side pannier frames for the Trekker boxes (with the boxes off)? I just fitted the 52L on an SW rack and am very pleased with it - as you say, it swallows loads of gear and doesn't seem to be adversely affected by not having the under supports? Could be interested in the 46L side boxes to complete the set after seeing yours? EDIT: Just had a hunt round on the Internet and it looks like there is a fixing at the number plate - no good for me as I have an R&G tail tidy and don't fancy putting the "whale tail" back on
Ogie Great pictures I think Touratech have an order coming soon :biggrin: May try and get a deal at the NEC:wink: 31 litre panniers I reckon will be a proper job for me! I see you put a TT front exhaust guard on,I got one from Altrider. Really cleans that part of the bike up. Also are those SW Motech crashbars? Do you think there just more for looks or would they really protect in a drop? Sorry for extra Q`s Cracking looking bike If your ever round about Rutland drop me a message I`ll get you a beer:biggrin: Cheers. Malc.
here are some... they can be taken off in 15 seconds... even i could install them ( for me , changing a light bulb is quit an adventure! ) Koen
Ogie, Waw, great pics and very good looking setup! looks perfect for 1+L riding... 2 up, the extra volume is welcome ... Even on a 11 day sleep in hotels tour, every liter of luggagevolume was welcome... and only carrying 1 tiny toothpaste tube but the msss did carry a hairdryer
Hi Malc, Yes the exhaust guard does tidy the bike up in that area, and it was the first piece of bolt on kit that i bought, infact i had it sitting in the garage before my bike arrived. To me that part of the bike was the only bit that you could argue looked like it was still work in progress on the Ducati designers drawing board. The crash bars aren't SW Motech, they are infact Ducati, you can get them on the Ducati Online shop or through your local dealer as I did. I reckon they will stop damage to the bodywork and engine in a low speed spill but silly or otherwise i only choose to have them on the bike in adventure trim, the rest of the time i will run the bike as clean as possible. Hopefully i will not have to find out if they do the job, but hey shit happens sometimes. Thanks for the offer of a beer, if i'm every down your way i will give you a shout. Ógie
Ogie. Re: exhaust guard. That's exactly what I did. Had it as well as R and G rad guard and bungs sitting in spare room a whole 2 months before I took delivery. Could say I was excited about my Ducati Re: crash bars. Good to see the Ducati bars on a bike. Saw them on website but wanted to see 'em on a bike. Look good IMHO . Thanks for your help . Mal.
I have the SW Motech 45 litre Trax panniers on mine. (They make filtering interesting!) The quick release frames are on and off in seconds and don't spoil the look. I did have to modify the mounting bracket on the exhaust side slightly as it doesn't fit with the full Termignoni system.
Yes, Malc! I carry the tent, sleeping bags, mattresses, camping chairs, clothes etc. My wife rides an 848 and takes her toothbrush in her bum-bag! LOL!
:biggrin::biggrin: Yeah I know exactly what you mean. My bike is always loaded to the gunnels when me and my wife go off on bikes for a weekend/week. My mates always laugh as well when we fuel up as she usually pulls up alongside and we share the pump and I go and pay
There is a picture near the bottom of the attached thread. The 52L is a bit better looking than the 46L imho, slightly less "boxy"? It does look huge, but I soon adapted to it. http://ducatiforum.co.uk/f6/givi-monokey-boxes-4610/
So got myself a set of used trax boxes and fitted them this evening! Fairly simple, good solid construction, looking forward to useing them! Will have to modify this screw as there aint much space between the Ghibli and the frame. Placed some thick plastic liner ontop of the alu rack and adaptor plate to prevent squeaking...
