mac-d mounts and pelican cases

[Zachariah Mully]

I am thinking of picking up a MAC-D pannier rack and a set of Pelican cases for my soon to be purchased '00 KLR. But I haven't seen/heard much about the cases on the list or in the FAQ. I have been debating between soft and hard luggage, but being a former BMW owner, and having hard luggage on every single bike that I have owned, I simply can't see myself buying soft luggage. So I am left with several options (unless, that is, someone has a particularly persuasive soft luggage argument) as I see it, hard luggage from from Pelican, Tourmaster, Jesse and Happy Trails (?). Simple cost rules out the Jesse and the Tourmasters, and the HT and Pelicans both seem to be well made and rugged and moderately priced. I am wondering if the list has a preference for either. I think the Pelicans are substantially smaller than the HT's, but having to commute in traffic with them, the size might be a critical difference. What I am also wondering is if anyone has devised a quick disconnect system for either of these bags. My old kausers saved themselves in the several times I had to lay my old bike down by snapping out of the mounts on impact... Some may not think that advantageous, but I would rather have them sliding under their own weight rather than under me and my bikes weight. And being that they weren't BMW bags, they didn't pop open on impact either (sorry about the needling any BMW hard bag owners out there, had them, hated them). I am expecting that I will drop/lay down my KLR at some point and having big-ass metal panniers permantly attached to my bike scares the living crap out of me. Also my brother lives in Sao Paolo Brazil and we're planning a trip out of Brazil into the States for 2002, so I would rather not leave my bags on my bike if at all possible. Then again I do live in DC, so I guess I have to worry about them here too Anyone designed anything of the sort? Anyone have pictures of the Pelicans mounted on their bike? I would love to hear more about your experiences with either set. Thanks, Zack