loud pipes... et al...

[Pete Wittstruck]

I'm interested in ordering the su rack and a set of aluminum panniers from Happy Trails. I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has experience with these. Any problems with installation? Whether or not to have them powder coated? Should I let them chose the location for the panniers to the rack? Will they fit with the Big Gun exhaust I've ordered? Thanks in advance. Pete Wittstruck A16 Turlock CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Chuck Benson]

If you would lke to see how it fits, we could get together somewhere. I am in Fillmore, CA.

> ________________________________________________________________________ > Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2002 06:43:32 -0800 > From: "Pete Wittstruck" > Subject: Happy Trails Panniers > > I'm interested in ordering the su rack and a set of aluminum panniers from Happy Trails. I'm > interested in hearing from anyone who has experience with these.

I have recently installed a set. Not a lot of miles on them yet. Indeed the bike is fairly new, only about 1000 miles and three weeks.

> Any problems with installation?

Yes, but no big ones. On te right side, the block used for the quick disconnect option did not clear the muffler until I removed the heat shield. This doesn't really matter as the plumbing will do a better job of preventing contact with the muffler. I did choose to install a set screw to keep the threads in the muffler clean. Also, the right side did not line up all that well, but pushing it into place and then pulling it the last little bit with the bolts was sufficient.

>Whether or not to have them powder coated?

I chose not to have to bags coated or painted. I figure that, since I bought the bike mostly for trail riding, it will spend some time on its side. Coating or paint wouldn't hold up anyway.

>Should I let them chose the location for the panniers to the rack?

Once I got into it, the only choice of location seemed to be vertical. I chose centered. This places the top about 1 1/2 inch below the seat top.

>Will they fit with the Big Gun exhaust I've ordered?

Not a clue.

> Thanks in advance. > > Pete Wittstruck > A16 > Turlock CA >

Chuck Benson 2002 KLR650 1999 BMW R1100RT

[Matthew]

> Anyone got a link to these? I'd like to take a gander. Matthew ===== For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. john 3:16 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/

[Kurt Simpson]

<> Anyone got a link to these? I'd like to take a gander. www.happy-trail.com

[twotaildog]

Pete - I just got back from a trip through Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize on a KLR650 with the Happy Trails SU rack and aluminum panniers. I was very pleased with them. Mine are powdercoated, I think if you leave them bare aluminum they would get that black aluminum oxide all over your gear all the time. The one bag did get scratch when the bike blew over while parked in a Pemex gas station, but what the heck, battle scars give it character. One of the nice things about the bags is that you can put a lock on them. So when you have to walk off and leave the bike, like at a border when you have to go arrange your permits, or when you stop at a restaurant, you can lock your stuff up. Tim usually makes the panniers 9" wide, but he will also do them 7" wide, which is what I got. The narrower bags were nice when going through large cities like Mexico City and Guatemala City because you have to be able to cut through traffic, split lanes, etc. to make any progress at all. If you don't split lanes with them in Guat City, they'll split lanes with you, so the narrower bags give you a little better maneuverability in the cities, and I would guess they also have less drag, which would result in better gas mileage. I was able to get about 50 mpg most of the time, even fully loaded. Your chioce of width all depends on how much stuff you like to carry, but my experience is, how ever much room you've got, that's how much stuff you'll carry, so having the smaller bags forces you to learn to travel light. I'm certain that I could live indefinately on the stuff I have in and on those panniers, along with my JC Whitney tail trunk and Aerostich tank panniers. Another nice feature of the panniers is that Tim rivets some little tie-down loops to the top of the lids, just perfect for threading some one-inch flat compression straps (the kind you get at camp stores) through, so you can strap on your tent, sleeping bag, etc., and the lids can still be opened and closed with the stuff strapped to them. The lids have a nice rubber seal, too. The bar around the back of the SU rack is handy when you're moving the bike around, scooting it over, etc., and I suppose it would also be handy if you are the kind of person that loads their bike on the back of a truck (God forbid). That's about all I can think of, soft luggage works too, and is cheaper, but for what it's worth I'm glad I went with the aluminum Panniers. By the way - you do have to drill the mounting holes in the panniers to mount them to the rack. This gives you the option of where you locate them by a few centimeters fore and aft and up and down. It isn't difficult, just take your time, and use a helper. I did it by myself but it would have been half the job with someone else to hold things while I mark them, etc. Once you get the holes drilled, you just have to loosen two allen screws on each pannier and they lift right off. And be careful - when you get a KLR really loaded down in back, it's a little wheelie prone off the line. I used some Aerostich tank panniers to shift a little weight forward. Good luck - I hope this helps. Kevin - 'twotaildog'

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Pete Wittstruck" wrote: > I'm interested in ordering the su rack and a set of aluminum panniers from Happy Trails. I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has experience with these. Any problems with installation? Whether or not to have them powder coated? Should I let them chose the location for the panniers to the rack? Will they fit with the Big Gun exhaust I've ordered? > Thanks in advance. > > Pete Wittstruck > A16 > Turlock CA > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Riley Harlton]

I ordered them last season. Fit up well, no real surprises. I chose my own mounting height and put them a little higher than most do. Never touches in the corners. I had mine powder coated since I have experienced the aluminum dust all over if you leave them raw. After I had it done I realized I should have just had the insides done. Very nice, strong and kinda ugly system. Riley Montreal A15 Pete Wittstruck wrote:

> I'm interested in ordering the su rack and a set of aluminum panniers from Happy Trails. I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has experience with these. Any problems with installation? Whether or not to have them powder coated? Should I let them chose the location for the panniers to the rack? Will they fit with the Big Gun exhaust I've ordered? > Thanks in advance. > > Pete Wittstruck > A16 > Turlock CA > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > Checkout Dual Sport News at > http://www.dualsportnews.com > Be part of the Adventure! > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > > Post message: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@yahoogroups.com > Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@yahoogroups.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[Norm Keller]

Dan Jones & I connected in Bellingham, Wash, (about an hour South-West of here) and I am the proud owner of a set of Happy Trails powder-coated panniers and mounts. Installation was a snap except that the rear signal light wires needed to be extended which added about 15 minutes. Since carrying objects in my Givi Flow trunk during off-road expeditions is akin to putting them through a continuous clothes dryer cycle, I'm wondering if anyone can advise as to how to solve the tumbling issue. The banana and cookie residue in the Givi from last weekend still need to be soaked loose. (VBG) To avoid drilling holes in the panniers, maybe a false bottom with wings might be secured by Velcro. Since the wings would be parallel to the vertical surfaces inside the panniers, Velcro would be subjected to shear rather than tension so it could be very strong in resisting movement. A wide band of Velcro around the inside of the pannier would allow the false bottom some vertical adjustment. I plan to carry some spares and tools under one false bottom and first aid kit, etc. under the other. Thoughts, advice, experience? Norm --------------------------------- Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2 /min or less. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Michael Silverstein]

Movement is your enemy. Movement leads to friction between items which leads to destruction. Pack things tightly to reduce movement. I like to keep related things separated in their own tightly-packed bags so the only things rubbing are the bags with each other. I am fortunate that I have lots of little backpacks and other small nylon bags from the many software conferences I've attended. Things like bananas that can't be packed tightly should be wrapped in something soft that can either be packed tightly or allowed to bounce around on top of the rest of the items without injuring the wrapped contents. Hard delicate things like cameras should be wrapped in soft things like socks and underwear. Footwear like sneakers or boots make great protective containers for delicate electronics. I hope this helps, Mike A18

> -----Original Message----- > From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Norm Keller > Sent: Saturday, May 06, 2006 10:26 AM > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Happy Trails Panniers > > > Dan Jones & I connected in Bellingham, Wash, (about an hour > South-West of here) and I am the proud owner of a set of > Happy Trails powder-coated panniers and mounts. Installation > was a snap except that the rear signal light wires needed to > be extended which added about 15 minutes. > > Since carrying objects in my Givi Flow trunk during off-road > expeditions is akin to putting them through a continuous > clothes dryer cycle, I'm wondering if anyone can advise as to > how to solve the tumbling issue. The banana and cookie > residue in the Givi from last weekend still need to be soaked > loose. (VBG) > > To avoid drilling holes in the panniers, maybe a false bottom > with wings might be secured by Velcro. Since the wings would > be parallel to the vertical surfaces inside the panniers, > Velcro would be subjected to shear rather than tension so it > could be very strong in resisting movement. A wide band of > Velcro around the inside of the pannier would allow the false > bottom some vertical adjustment. > I plan to carry some spares and tools under one false bottom > and first aid kit, etc. under the other. > > Thoughts, advice, experience? > > Norm > > > > --------------------------------- > Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US > (and 30+ countries) for 2 /min or less. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: > http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650> _data_search.html > List > sponsored by Dual Sport News at: > www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: > www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Member Map at:

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[Doug Krogel]

Hey Norm, The issue is more of a problem when you are lightly loaded because there is room for stuff to move around. It's similar to the problem in sea kayaking with a less than full hatch (except there it affects boat trim and capsizing). What a lot of us do is after the gear is in the hatch, we use a floatation bag (or a cheap beach ball) put it on top of the gear and inflate it. It holds the gear in place. cheap and easy. Those are nice bags, congratulations. Careful if you put a foot down while moving - they'll bite you on the ankle! --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Norm Keller wrote:

> > Dan Jones & I connected in Bellingham, Wash, (about an hour South-

West of here) and I am the proud owner of a set of Happy Trails powder-coated panniers and mounts. Installation was a snap except that the rear signal light wires needed to be extended which added about 15 minutes.

> > Since carrying objects in my Givi Flow trunk during off-road

expeditions is akin to putting them through a continuous clothes dryer cycle, I'm wondering if anyone can advise as to how to solve the tumbling issue. The banana and cookie residue in the Givi from last weekend still need to be soaked loose. (VBG)

> > To avoid drilling holes in the panniers, maybe a false bottom with

wings might be secured by Velcro. Since the wings would be parallel to the vertical surfaces inside the panniers, Velcro would be subjected to shear rather than tension so it could be very strong in resisting movement. A wide band of Velcro around the inside of the pannier would allow the false bottom some vertical adjustment.

> I plan to carry some spares and tools under one false bottom and

first aid kit, etc. under the other.

> > Thoughts, advice, experience? > > Norm > > > > --------------------------------- > Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and

30+ countries) for 2 /min or less.

> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

[Jim]

I'm jealous...those look like great panniers, but a bit pricy for my budget. For my Givi top box, I use a backpack with lots of compartments to hold all the small things. Large items fit in the main compartment. This would probably work for the panniers and still allow you flexibility. I'm against any "hard" separations that limit how you can store things. Jim --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Norm Keller wrote:

> > Dan Jones & I connected in Bellingham, Wash, (about an hour South-

West of here) and I am the proud owner of a set of Happy Trails powder-coated panniers and mounts. Installation was a snap except that the rear signal light wires needed to be extended which added about 15 minutes.

> > Since carrying objects in my Givi Flow trunk during off-road

expeditions is akin to putting them through a continuous clothes dryer cycle, I'm wondering if anyone can advise as to how to solve the tumbling issue. The banana and cookie residue in the Givi from last weekend still need to be soaked loose. (VBG)

> > To avoid drilling holes in the panniers, maybe a false bottom with

wings might be secured by Velcro. Since the wings would be parallel to the vertical surfaces inside the panniers, Velcro would be subjected to shear rather than tension so it could be very strong in resisting movement. A wide band of Velcro around the inside of the pannier would allow the false bottom some vertical adjustment.

> I plan to carry some spares and tools under one false bottom and

first aid kit, etc. under the other.

> > Thoughts, advice, experience? > > Norm > > > > --------------------------------- > Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and

30+ countries) for 2 /min or less.

> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >