My latest project! Panniers on the KLR.

[MICRider]

I've been wanting a set of hard panniers for my KLR for a while, but the cost always scared me off! I finally just bit the bullet and bought them. Mounted them up today, here's a pic

They're trickier to mount than I thought they would be... Not perfect by any means but "close enough" for me!

[SpudRider]

That's wonderful, Stew! You did a very nice job. Where did you get the panniers?

P.S. The J.C. Whitney Travel Trunk looks great, as always.

Spud

[SpudRider]

Go away snow! :evil: I eagerly await the arrival of spring!

Spud

[MICRider]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

That's wonderful, Stew! You did a very nice job. Where did you get the panniers?

P.S. The J.C. Whitney Travel Trunk looks great, as always.

Spud

Thank you Spud
Truth be told, my right side pannier is tilted up a little in the front... I really don't know how I did that as I measured it and mocked it up very carefully. I think maybe my bracket moved a little when I was marking it for drilling and I didn't notice. It's just a little out though so I don't think I'll worry about it. Lol, might level out the first time I drop it!

I bought the racks off of ebay from a guy in BC that makes them. Quality is very good and they fit perfectly right out of the box .
I got the panniers from a local outfit (in Calgary). They are branded "Dirt Baggs" and the fellow sells them on Kijiji as well as from their store. They seem very well made and have latches front and rear that accept a padlock for security. I'm hoping my son and I can get away on a few weekend trips and that the panniers will function well for carrying all our stuff and camping gear .

I'm with you on the summer thing as well, winter came a couple of weeks early here and it's been a very snowy one. I've already used way more gas in the snowblowers than I did in the lawnmower all summer!
Oh well... Only 3 more months of this to go? :roll:

[SpudRider]

Your KLR650 has never looked better, Stew. Let's hope for an early spring, and a long riding season! I certainly hope you and your son enjoy many camping trips this summer.

Spud

[MICRider]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

Your KLR650 has never looked better, Stew. Let's hope for an early spring, and a long riding season! I certainly hope you and your son enjoy many camping trips this summer.

Spud

Thanks Spud, I've got my fingers crossed for an early spring as well!

[Weldangrind]

Those look like skookum bags; nice job installing them. Do you have a link to the guy who made the racks?

[FastDoc]

I love KLR's in general, and your's in particular Stew.

I hate snow though :evil: . I am grateful for it's nearly complete absense here, but the winter is far from over... :roll:

On one of my KLR's I had fitted Givi panniers. Lovely units but pricey.

That particular bike also had a Rifle touring windscreen, Metzler Marathon tires, and a few other long distance goodies. I rode that bike all over the West and it never gave me any trouble.

Enjoy your ride! :P

[MICRider]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

Those look like skookum bags; nice job installing them. Do you have a link to the guy who made the racks?

This is the place I got the racks from, great price! The identical racks from the guys I bought my panniers off of are $100 more. 8)

http://www.dirtracks.com/

Not really sure if they make them in house though, they might be getting them from somewhere else and reselling them? The ebay listing was much different than the website.

[MICRider]

Originally Posted by FastDoc

I love KLR's in general, and your's in particular Stew.

I hate snow though :evil: . I am grateful for it's nearly complete absense here, but the winter is far from over... :roll:

On one of my KLR's I had fitted Givi panniers. Lovely units but pricey.

That particular bike also had a Rifle touring windscreen, Metzler Marathon tires, and a few other long distance goodies. I rode that bike all over the West and it never gave me any trouble.

Enjoy your ride! :P

Thanks Doc!
I gotta say, the KLR just feels "right" to me somehow . Now I just need to pick up the crash bars for it... Probably the first thing I should have done but I don't take it off roading really so I just try to keep it upright

[FastDoc]

If you are not offroading I don't think you need crash bars/guards. Spend to money on gas and motels when you go riding this Spring.

[SpudRider]

I agree with FastDoc. Avoid the guards and their extra weight; pocket the money your save and spend it for fuel, tires, et cetera.

Spud

[MICRider]

I like the way you guys think! 8)

I do have a shiny new tire waiting to be put on in the spring

I'm really looking forward to summer, been a loooong winter so far!

[Weldangrind]

Planning a long distance trip this summer? To BC, perhaps?

[MICRider]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

Planning a long distance trip this summer? To BC, perhaps?

BC is definitely on the short list :wink:

I'm going to do the ice field parkway with my son as well, love the mountains! 8)