I'll be picking up my XTR on Saturday, and for a while I plan to use my soft panniers until I make up my mind on what longer-term luggage options I want. I don't like using soft panniers unsupported (exhaust heat, getting caught in rear wheel etc) and I was thinking of getting a set of lightweight pannier frames. And then I saw these on eBay. They are made by a firm called ATD and ship from Greece. Basically, it's a very light square frame that bolts to the pillion footrest hanger and frame (two mounting points per side). It wouldn't be enough to mount fixed cases on, but it might do the job of keeping soft panniers in the right place. It's very slim and barely noticeable on the bare bike, and at �60-odd delivered it's a lot cheaper than dedicated pannier frames. However, the tubing looks very light and I'm concerned that they may not be up to the job.

Has anyone used these, or have any thoughts on whether it would be a good buy?

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XT660R (2006)
XT600E (1994)
Triumph Trident 750 (1992)
My blog: http://goingfastgettingnowhere.blogspot.com/

I fabricated something very similar about 12 years ago for my Honda Dominator. Made them out of a aluminium push bike pannier frame which cost about �25 I recall. They worked really well in the task for which they were intended - keeping the bags off the pipes and stopping them flapping in the breeze. I did drop the bike on them and they bent (unsuprisingly), but bent back just as easily and quickly. �45 ain't bad really.

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Thanks for that. I have a couple of unused bicycle pannier frames lying around. Perhaps I will look at modifying those first. Good to hear the concept works, though. I wouldn't expect them to survive a drop without some damage, obviously, but if they do the job of keeping the panniers steady that'll do me.

__________________
XT660R (2006)
XT600E (1994)
Triumph Trident 750 (1992)
My blog: http://goingfastgettingnowhere.blogspot.com/

I use a GIANT LOOP on the DR650 but as yet not tried it on the XT , i know G/L do the heat shields that clamp onto the cans so mybe thats the way to go Black Dog
Phil

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"I'm here for a good time, not a long time"

Here you go
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Giant-Loop...item4abbcb9cba

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"I'm here for a good time, not a long time"

I too had a look at these soft racks as I like the price and the potential lighter weight than say a Givi, TT, MM rack etc. However, I have not found any user reviews on either the company or that product on the web other than other eBay buyers comments.

With the racks themselves, I don't mind if they bend when I fall on the non-exhaust side (I have the MM 2 into 1) but when (not if) I fall on the exhaust side, I think any amount of coin that I saved by buying these will be very quickly forgotten in my panic to recover the situation before burning said panniers!

I'm heading to Morocco for a couple of months to explore some pistes and I am not convinced that these racks would be durable enough with the impact of corrugations/vibrations over an extended time?

Unless I find out more on these racks, I'm leaning toward the Givi racks for the purpose. For my 2008 model, the Givi price is �139 delivered, which makes it a lot steeper than the �60 Greek product but for your model, the Givi is �109 delivered - which is lot nicer on the wallet.
http://www.chainspeed.co.uk/products...252d2006..html

Good luck with your choice and if you do buy them, please let me know how you get on with them as the tight-ar$e in me combined with the weight-weenie would definitely prefer to use the �60 option!

Cheers,
Dale

I can see how these keep the bags off the hot exhaust, but I'm not sure if they would be able to keep the bags stable at the same time. More pics in the listing would have helped. Thanks for the link.

I hadn't seen the Givi rack before, but that looks pretty much exactly what I am looking for. I had H&B chrome rack and frames on the Bonneville, and it looked like I was carrying the Forth Road Bridge around. For soft bags, that's way too much, but the Givi look light and fairly unobtrusive. For what you get, that seems to be better value than the Greek ones. I'm keeping an open mind for now, as I haven't even picked the bike up yet It comes with a rear rack, so I will have to see what that looks like and how it attaches so I can see if it would be compatible with either of the frames under discussion.

Thanks all for your thoughts.

__________________
XT660R (2006)
XT600E (1994)
Triumph Trident 750 (1992)
My blog: http://goingfastgettingnowhere.blogspot.com/

Phil,

These Giantloop heatshields are also available from Adventure-Spec for �2 more on base cost, however, there are substantial savings on postage through Adventure-Spec (UK based).

I agree with Black Dog - they won't secure the luggage, but I considered that they may save a potential loss of luggage from a fire, ie use in conjunction with the soft bag support or modified bicycle rack. This of course depends on whether you have standard exhaust, which, I think the standard shields would do a good enough job. The MM 2 into 1 has a totally exposed stainless can which gets quite hot, making the G/L shield attractive.

I'd happily go with a Giant Loop as my total luggage solution as well - no need for racks at all. The only problem for me is that SWMBO wants to be chauffeured around for a part of the journey negating this option for me!

Cheers,
Dale

I'm watching theses, perfect for my x ...

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