+1 ! I've got the same 52 liter Givi on my FJR and had stuff buzz till open, including a can of Diet Pepsi. Even just having a shop rag on the bottom of the box is enough to kill the buzz so I don't have to clean the thing out again. And yes, pulling up to an overlook with beer in the box is splendid!
I found the best way to carry a large quantity of beer across county lines is to have your good buddy drive a semi truck carrying the beer, while I attract all the police cars speeding around in my blackTrans-Am. At least it worked for me back in '77. Just watch out for cute chicks built like dancers; they tend ot slow you down a bit.
I once carried home a 5.5 gal pony keg strapped across the top of my panniers. That got some looks on the street! The bike handled fine with 45lbs of beer on the back, but for long distance it would be a pain to get cold again. Also took a while for the keg to stop pouring foam.
I love my Polar Bear cooler. http://www.polarbearcoolers.com/polar-bear-coolers/navy-12-pack-polar-bear-coolers.html
My brother had this one in the pannier for about 100km, last year on our trip round the baltic sea. Of course it "exploded" and he ended up with a wet sleeping bag The KTM vibes machined a neat collar for the can though... I had cans in a soft bag - that leaked too!
With many years of 4x4 adventure driving, kayaking and now motorcycle adventure riding I think I have it down 100% First, if you want to get drunk... don't bring beer. A plastic bottle of what ever 40% beverage you want to drink is better - else it just takes up too much space especially in a bike where I only have two 30L panniers. For beer, always cans, never bottles. Cans of beer float... learned that kayaking ones - and it only takes once to learn that lesson! Cans are lighter than bottles, don't make as much of a mess when you do break 'em (people and critters won't cut their feet) and when empty, they can be made really small to haul back to civilization. Bottles are just a PITA - even though I agree beer tastes better from bottles. I have taken beer up the Dempster and Dalton which is vibration city for hours on end - if a can of beer touches another can of beer - it takes NO TIME to make a hole in the beer due to vibrations - that's smelly bad news for the stuff in your pannier. I put my socks around the beer to isolate them from one another. Don't usually have more than a six pack so that works out well. The only thing I don't have is cooling of the beer. Where I go it doesn't get too hot and after a long day of riding ANY beer tastes good.
+1 For several trips I carried beer in one of my Jesse bags padded by Barley's kibble (Golden retriever sidecar copilot) without a problem. As I neared my destination for the day I'd pick up some ice and transfer a few bottles to a softsided cooler. But on the last trip a few bottles of Dogfish Head Ale popped their caps and that fine brew was absorbed by the kibble. Oddly enough, Barley had no complaints. :huh
River Rat swears by this cooler that he bought. He only buys high quality material stuff. I saw the cooler and it is a really nice one. How many times has your foamy, flex cooler cracked on the inside? Well this one probably will not. RR, what's that brand name and model number? Pic? SS
On long trips I get beer at the last town I go through before I camp. Just pack it in wherever it will fit (I have a large tank bag) It can be a problem in remote areas, some towns on the map dont have any stores, and some states and counties have weird laws, so the pint of whiskey in an aluminum flask is the emergengy backup, to be had neat or with water. I do prefer a good IPA(or 6) any day though. If there is a creek nearby, put it in there while you set up camp and it will be nice and cold by the time you are done. The pot idea works well too, but may cause a problem with LE and employers, I sure do miss that stuff sometimes.
In my many years of experience; the Fosters 25oz "Oil cans" are much more durable than standard "aluminum" cans. If you are going to carry more than one, and I suggest you do, tape then together so they don't rub holes in each other, and wrap them in a fleece sweater or something and they stay safe and cold for a couple of hours. Cheers! Q~
In most states (except Utah :fyyff ) liquor stores sell plastic mini-bottles. They travel very well, and mixers are always available.
Mini bottles don't hold enough to get you to forget you're in Utah. Think of it as a free "upsizing".
a 12pack fits nice on my pelicans..plus ice, the beer can hold pretty cold up for some 3 or more hours of ride. stuffed the rest of the pelican with other things to eliminate the shaking.. worked nice.
I travelled with a couple of german overland bikers, Peter and David, through malaysia and australia. They were on honda Africa twins, and when in malaysia had bought little wire baskets that are on the front of every honda scooter in asia...they bolted right on too. Well it was really hot in the Flinders ranges of Australia, and we decided to get some beer for camping that nite. Peter put the six pack in his front basket as we only had 20 kms to go. It was a fast gravel road and with the setting sun behind us we were having a blast racing to the campsite. He was just ahead of me when he veered of the road with what appeared to be an exploding bike. When we got to him about 100 feet off the road he was upright and ok. It turns out he never crashed at all but four of the six cans had exploded in the basket and soaked him in beer and covered his glasses so he could not see. Since Peter had most of the beer on him David and I drank the remaining two on the spot to prevent further accidents. Since then I rarely transport beer. Now I try to drink it on the spot. just trying to prevent accidents you know...
For the highest level of durability, transfer your favorite foamy beverage into a Sigg bottle and leave the original container behind or fill direct from the tap. They will hold pressure for many days, don't change the flavor, and will take more abuse than you can. They come is sizes up to 1.5 L so they're more appropriate for liquid refreshment than a full-on party. A Sigg bottle comes in handy if you like better beers and want to hang out a beach or pool that prohibits glass containers. You can always fill them with fuel in emergencies.
+ 1 .... Though a cold carbonated beverage goes extremely well with J.D. ..... They kind of go hand in hand .......
I can put a case each in my panniers, and regularly carry 6-12s in my top box without problems. But I always get it locally, and I ride even more like an old man when there is beer is on board.