Our Gear - Luggage & Bags - Notier's Frontiers

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PANNIERS & TOP BAG

Ah, the eternal motorcycle debate of hard panniers vs. soft panniers. In the end, which is truly better?

Honestly, they both have their pros and cons, but I started off with hard panniers, and all it took was one drop of the bike to crack the pannier. I know that some hard panniers are easily bent back into shape, but the Hepco & Becker Xplorer panniers would no longer close properly, and were no longer waterproof.

So for our trip, we decided to go with soft luggage, and we haven't regretted it once.

Our right, left, and top soft cases are by Mosko Moto, and I love these bags! When the bike falls, they act like airbags and are able to survive the impact unharmed. We have taken some nasty falls, at speed, and on pretty sharp rocks, but they have held up fantastically. Best of all, they are seriously waterproof!

It was only a few years ago that people had barely heard of Mosko Moto, but now it's one of the leading adventure motorcycle brands. And they don't just make bags anymore, but riding gear too. Mosko Moto is one of my favorite brands that I would never give up on and I recommend them to everyone.

But you can't lock soft luggage, can you?

You can't lock soft luggage in the same way that you can lock a hard pannier or top box, but there are alternative ways to do so.

Mosko Moto has worked hard to make it extremely difficult for anyone to slash through their outer bag material, and we've never had any problems. Plus, we paired our Mosko Moto bags with their recommended SteelCore Locking Security Strap, which have worked perfectly for us. They lock tightly, and are very durable. Mosko's newer models have a steel lock incorporated into the design.

I've heard horror stories of people having their hard panniers pried off their bike, but Mosko Moto bags may actually confuse people. Even at a Chilean border where the customs officers were digging into everyone's luggage, when they saw ours, they gave us a bewildered look and waved us along without even an attempt.

TANK BAG

A tank bag for an adventure motorcycle is essential. It's the perfect place to keep all those easy-access items and valuables.

Unfortunately, our tank bag is only ok. We went with the KTM Tank Bag which matches the bike, but it didn't take long for the zipper to break. The clear plastic on the front part cracked in the intense Central American heat, and we had to purchase a giant rubber band to keep the rainproof cover on in the ferocious Argentinian winds. But amazingly, the bag has held up and is still in use. It's not great, but definitely good enough.

What are those bags at the front of your bike?

These KTM 1190 specific crash bar bags made by Rumbux are awesome, and have become the perfect place to put our rain gear so we can easily access it on the road.

Unfortunately, they don't make them anymore. But if you can find some crash bar bags like these for your bike, I'd recommend them, as it's a great way to get some extra storage, and bring some weight from the back of the bike to the front.

DRY BAGS

We use a Leader 30L Drybag to hold our food and keep it all dry, but this durable bag can be used for anything. It's not just waterproof, but the vinyl material is so thick, it can take serious abuse from the weather and daily use over the years. We've found that it's particularly useful for hanging up food in trees to keep away from bears, raccoons, jaguars, and hyenas, but it can be also folded down and used as a bucket for washing dishes or carrying water. It's a great purchase that has never failed us.

We also carry a 20L Mosko Moto Drysak, which is not a typical drybag in that it's not durable enough for the wear and tear of being strapped to the bike on its own, but it's not meant to be (Mosko sells other drybags for that).

This Drysak is super thin and lightweight, perfect for dirty laundry, dirty shoes, or food that you're putting into another bag and you don't want it to leak or stink up the rest of your stuff.

BACKPACKS

Backpacks are by no means a requirement for motorcycle travel. In fact, we've only met a few other travelers who had them. But we love them. Why?

First of all, we can have our water pouches in there so we can stay hydrated while on the road without having to get off the bike and take out our water bottles. Plus, we can keep important personal items on us at all times without having to stuff our pockets. For example, Marisa keeps snacks in her backpack, along with toilet paper so that if she finds a bathroom, she's ready.

We also use our backpacks as small day packs for hikes or site-seeing when we're not on the bike. We can pack lunches, our rain coats, cameras, everything we'll need for our day's adventure.

And finally, Marisa actually prefers it when I wear a backpack while riding so that if I brake hard, she doesn't slam into me. She says it keeps her firmly in place and more comfortable.

There are zillions of affordable backpacks out there. These are a few of our favorites.

HIP BAGS

A lot of people see our Hip Bags in photos and ask, “Where did we get those from?" We bought them cheap on Amazon, and there are plenty to choose from. I have one, and Marisa uses hers as a purse around her shoulder, and then strapped to her leg while on the road.

When Marisa first started riding, she complained that she didn't know what to do with her purse. And then she discovered the hip bags which can covert from a piece of riding gear into a purse. She loves it.

STRAPS

Straps may not be the first thing you think of when purchasing adventure motorcycle gear, but I have never known a motorcycle traveler who had not invested in straps. In fact, besides having a motorcycle, straps are pretty much the only other item that unites all adventure motorcycle travelers.

For extra odds and ends, we use buckled Rok Straps to tie things down to the motorcycle. This isn't breaking news to anyone, but they're just awesome ways to secure loose ends, and they have never failed us.

We also use a pair of Cargo Nets to hold down items to the top of the panniers. To be fair, the plastic hooks of our original cargo nets all broke (but nothing a few good carabiners can't fix).

To avoid snatch-and-grab would-be thieves while we walk around markets or leave the bike unattended, we have two Big Pantha Carabiner Locks with a metal bungie. We use them to secure our helmets, boots, and jackets to the bike when one of us can't be there to watch it.

And finally, some people have noticed that we carry rope. It's wound around our right crash bar just in case we need it, and we actually have needed to use it three times - in Ecuador, Bolivia, and Namibia. It's not a strap, but rope can be very useful when you need a tow.