The Official Micatech Luggage Thread

My cases arrived last week and were installed right away. The cases arrive packed very well, installation was completed in about 2.5 hours. Great product, awesome customer service throughout my order. Could not be happier than with my choice to go with Micatech

Here's a pic from my shakedown cruise down to Key West to test out the new gear

Great looking bike with a great parking spot
Thanks for sharing a photo!

From inmate bug67

Our friend Kevin has made a custom camping table from his <a href="http://micatech.net/products/pilot-cases">Micatech Pilot Cases</a>. Plenty of cup holders with those <a href="http://micatech.net/products/accessories/roof-racks">Roof Racks</a>!

<strong>Have you found any alternative uses for your Micatechs? </strong>Send us an email (info@micatech.net) and we'll share the photos on the Micatech Blog.

<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-496" title="Micatech Camping Table 1" src="http://micatech.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Table-Front-Right-600x398.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="398" />

<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-497" title="Micatech Camping Table 2" src="http://micatech.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Table-Rear-Left-600x398.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="398" />

<h2><span style="text-decoration: underline;">SUMMER RALLY SPECIAL!</span></h2>
<span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>$50 off side cases + $50 off top case + FREE rally delivery (normally $75) = $175 in savings!</strong></span>
Order your Micatech luggage in advance of the rally and we'll deliver it to you at the rally for free!
<span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>BONUS OFFER: </strong></span>We'll provide technical assistance and loan our tools to help you install your new Micatech luggage!
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-519" title="BMW RA Rally Logo" src="http://micatech.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/BMW-RA-Rally-Logo.jpg" alt="" width="321" height="210" /></span>

<span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;"><img class="size-full wp-image-520 alignnone" title="BMW MOA Rally Logo" src="http://micatech.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/BMW-MOA-Rally-Logo.png" alt="" width="330" height="428" /></span>

<strong>The Fine Print:</strong>

For pick up at the BMW RA Rally in Chippewa Falls, WI orders must be placed by Friday June 17th.
For pick up at the BMW MOA Rally in Bloomsburg, PA orders must be placed by Friday July 8th.

Enter the the appropriate coupon code "RA" or "MOA" to instantly save:
<ul>
<li>$50 on a set of <a title="Micatech V2 Cases" href="http://micatech.net/products/v2-cases" target="_blank">V2 Cases</a></li>
<li>$50 on a set of <a title="Micatech Pilot Cases" href="http://micatech.net/products/pilot-cases" target="_blank">Pilot Cases</a></li>
<li>$50 on a <a title="Micatech Top Cases" href="http://micatech.net/products/top-cases" target="_blank">Top Case</a></li>
<li>FREE delivery to the rally</li>
</ul>
<strong>Frequently Asked Questions:</strong>

<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>What are my savings if I'm ordering a set of side cases and a top case?</em></span>
$100 + FREE rally delivery

<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>What are my savings if I'm only ordering side cases?</em></span>
$50 + FREE rally delivery

<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>What are my savings if I'm only ordering a top case?</em></span>
$50 + FREE rally delivery

<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>I've never been to a rally. What's it like?</em></span>
Thousands of motorcyclists from all around the country come to celebrate the motorcycle lifestyle! Start your morning with a cup of coffee before and then head out for a solo ride or join a group ride through the spectacular countryside. Head back to the rally grounds for some lunch and a stroll through "Vendor Alley" where you'll see all the latest high quality motorcycle gear and accessories from hundreds of vendors. After you've done your shopping, sit in one of the many amazing presentations before eating some delicious BBQ with your new friends. After the sun goes down, enjoy a cold beer while listening to live music. Finish off with some chit-chat around the campfire and the rest up for another fun day tomorrow! Click these links to learn more about the <a title="BMW RA RALLY" href="http://www.bmwra.org/d/node/19" target="_blank">RA rally</a> and the <a title="BMW MOA RALLY" href="http://www.bmwmoa.org/rally11" target="_blank">MOA rally</a>.

<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Do I need to ride a BMW to attend the BMW RA and MOA rallies?</em></span>
No! All bikes are welcome! Whether you ride a street bike, a dual sport, a tourer, or even a moped, you'll have fun at the rally.

<em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Will you install the product for me?
</span></em>We're a 2 person team and although we'd love to install it for you we simply won't have the time at the rally. However, since we've done hundreds of installs we know a thing or two about making it go smoothly. We'll provide you with printed installation instructions, lend you our tools and will be close by to help answer any questions you might have.

Just checking - any news on your thinking about top loaders with Pilot mount?

Still in the project phase. No big news yet.

Bummer. I'm about to get panniers now and had hoped for top loaders. Okay, thinking about it.

Received my bags today. Going to install them over the weekend. So far the quality looks awesome, very solid, really nice powder coating. Took me a bit to actually open the case case ... was a long day I guess.

So, now tell me - these two blue sleeves ... what are they for? Beer bottle sleeves?

Oh, and they look surprisingly small. Will have to see how I fit all my crap into two 8" cases.

Looking forward to your photos!

Take less crap

Will take some and post them here. Weekend ... need time ...

Yeah, understood. I'm planning to. I've downsized the tent considerably for touring alone, the sleeping bag is already pretty small, need a smaller packing mattress, though. This stuff will fill a bit more than half of one pannier. Tools, cooking gear, some spares, rain gear, sandals, additional gloves will fill the rest. Leaves the second pannier for clothes and food. Should work just fine for me alone.

We'll see - and as said, I'll take photos.

Installed the cases on Saturday and had a chance to take some photos today. Will write more about the installation and cases when I have a bit more time.

Looking good!

Micatech is proud to announce that <a href="http://micatech.net/products/pack-racks" target="_blank">Pack Racks</a> are now available for the Kawasaki KLR650E ('0 and Triumph Tiger 800 &amp; 800XC ('11-).

Last spring we offered a significant savings on V2 cases to celebrate the release of the new Triumph Tiger. The response was fantastic and many of you asked about adding a top case. At the time, we didn't have a Pack Rack, the critical connection piece to attach a <a href="http://micatech.net/products/top-cases/" target="_blank">Micatech Top Case</a> to the motorcycle. However, thanks to a local Tiger rider, we got our hands on one of the new bikes and starting designing a new Pack Rack.

<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-574" title="Triumph Tiger 800 with Micatech Pack Rack" src="http://micatech.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Triumph-Tiger-800-with-Micatech-Pack-Rack-600x450.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="450" />

Motorcycle manufacturers don't always make it easy to design accessories. Fortunately, the folks and Triumph left the tail of the new Tiger accessible. After a few iterations we came to a design that's functional, durable and stylish. The Pack Rack compliments the sleek and rugged lines of the Tiger while adding a sturdy platform for extra storage capacity with a <a href="http://micatech.net/products/top-cases" target="_blank">Micatech Top Case</a>. The Top Case is back far enough to allow two-up riding and doubles as a <a href="http://micatech.net/products/accessories/backrests" target="_blank">backrest</a> for your passenger! By the same token, we keep it as far forward as possible in order to keep the weight towards the center of the bike.

<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-560" title="Triumph Tiger 800 with Small Black Micatech Top Case" src="http://micatech.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Triumph-Tiger-800-with-Small-Black-Micatech-Top-Case-600x450.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="450" />

Not only did we add in plenty of places to attach bungee straps, we made them big enough for plastic tip models and <a href="http://www.rokstraps.com/" target="_blank">ROK straps</a>. And if you're headed out far off the beaten path, we've included an option to mount <a href="http://www.rotopax.com/" target="_blank">RotopaX</a> containers for extra fuel/water storage.

In addition to the Triumph Tiger, we took a look at one of the greatest adventure bikes of all time - the Kawasaki KLR650. We have a few of the first generation (A) models around the shop but it wasn't until our friendly local KLR rider, Skip, let us borrow his new (E) model. In 2008 Kawasaki revamped their dual sport and it quickly became the bike of choice for many adventure riders. You emailed, called, and posted on our ADVrider thread that you wanted the ability to mount a Micatech Top Case onto your KLR650E. We listened and got to work.

<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-564" title="Kawawaski KLR650E Micatech Pack Rack (mounted)" src="http://micatech.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Kawawaski-KLR650E-Pack-Rack-mounted-600x450.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="450" />

The simple and rugged design replaces the standard KLR rear rack and adds extra tide down points, quarter-turn connectors to quickly mount a Micatech Top Case, and an option to mount <a href="http://www.rotopax.com/" target="_blank">Rotopax</a> containers for extra fuel/water storage.

<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-563" title="Kawasaki KLRE Pack Rack with Small Micatech Top Case" src="http://micatech.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Kawasaki-KLRE-Pack-Rack-with-Small-Micatech-Top-Case-600x450.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="450" />

<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-562" title="KLR650E Micatech Pack Rack with Rotopax Mounted" src="http://micatech.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/KLR650E-Pack-Rack-with-Rotopax-Mounted-600x400.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" />

All Pack Racks are finished with a black colored industrial powder coat that we do right <a href="http://micatech.net/company/about" target="_blank">in house</a>. Go to the <a href="http://shop.micatech.net/" target="_blank">Micatech Online Shop</a> to order your Pack Rack today.

Hey Bob, looks like the Rotopax fuel packs mount about the same turn-key way that the Kolpins do so you can add Kolpins to your list of can-do's!!!! The Kolpins can also be mounted on the roof racks as the base can be wiggled in under the rack with maybe a hair of metal filed off.

So, after having used the V-Pilot cases on my R1200GS for a while now, I can write a little bit about them.

Size and Usable Volume

As you can see in the photos above, they are fairly small looking on a big bike like the GS. But they really aren't small. I have two 8" cases that are a noted to have 37L volume. I don't doubt that, but I have to say it's hard to use all that volume. Not because they are too big, but because of the loading. The side loading is nice and handy and I can see how people who strap loads across the back of the bike appreciate it, but I still have to get used to it. It's hard to use all the corners, it's plain harder to stuff things in as it is with a top loader. And getting stuff out easier? Not really. If you rip something out of the middle, your whole packing strategy literally collapses. So, in the end, you have the same problem with side loading and top loading: you have to get stuff out before you can reach other stuff comfortably. Both systems have distinctive advantages in specific situations. Packing and using every available corner is easier with top loaders, but it works reasonably well with the V-Pilot cases.

Conclusion: if you strap stuff across the rear seat, like a large duffle or drybag and if you don't need to squeeze hard to get all your stuff in panniers, the side loaders can be really great. Personally, I still prefer top loaders, but can easily live with the side loading.



Mounts

The mounts are really what what makes this system stick out of the crowd. No ugly frames hanging from the rear of the bike, quick to install and take off. Precision engineering at work. The material is first class, the workmanship outstanding and the whole concept great.

Stability is very good (more details see below), but there is one thing I would change if I could:

The cases actually mount too close to the bike. I have a GS Adventure rear rack installed and as you can see in this picture, there isn't much space between a sharp edge from the rack and the case:



I would prefer if there were 5mm more space. The same is true for the lower part that is getting really close to the exhaust. It might be better with the exhaust lowering kit, but then the bike looks like shit when the cases are off.

Hereby I want to ask the Micatech folks whether I can still get the lowering kit for a 2010 R1200GS when it is ready for what I was discounted for not taking it in the first place (plus shipping of course).

The reason I'm asking is mainly that if I want to take the Hattech exhaust off, I'd like to have an option to still use the panniers.

Now, the problem with the cases being too close to the bike is twofold:

1) You get more heat in the left side pannier from the exhaust.
2) The cases are too close to other parts - if the bike falls on them, they will get pressed into these parts by the weight of the bike.

A simple fix could be to make the mounting blocks that are attached to the cases a little bit thicker (think about adding a 5mm washer between the blocks and the case). This would leave all mounting unaffected, only the blocks would need a fairly simple change.

The mounts are very unobtrusive when the cases are off:




Stability

There is no real test of panniers without finding out how the hold up to at least a tip over. As slowly laying the bike down doesn't cut it, we decided on our last trip that this needs to be tested and made the bike roll off the side stand and fall hard on the left side.

Hmmm. Maybe not exactly like this, but that's what happened.

Result:

• Left side pannier has very slight deformation in the back. When I received it, the back was slightly bent outwards (about a max of 2mm), now it's slightly bent inwards (think of convex and concave). Loosening the mounting bullets, re-aligning the panniers, tightening everything up again made it nearly as good as new.
  
• Left side pannier has some scratches on the lower front corner, along the front vertical edge and on the lock. Hardly visible after going over with a black Edding.
  
• The backside of the left pannier has a scratch where it hit the GSA rack at the place I pointed out above. If there had been a bit more room, nothing would have happened.

My recommendation:

Think about giving up about 10mm width of the whole installation and move the cases out by maybe 5mm per side. It might even be a good idea to do this with a rectangular "washer" that goes like a hoop around the back of the pannier, this would add even more structural integrity. If this was made of aluminum, it doesn't have to be that heavy.

Back to stability: the test showed clearly that you can go out to the garage, kick the bike over and have virtually no damage on the pannier system. If you are actually on the bike when it falls over, you'll very likely be able to slow down the fall and have even less damage than I had. Nevertheless, here's a photo of my mood when it happened:



Not a big deal. This is after the fall happened and if you look closely, you see the scratches on the case. What I'm doing there you ask? Take of the shitty OEM valve cover protector that got badly bent. At least it protected the valve cover (which would probably have been cheaper to replace, but with bad luck might have cracked and I wouldn't have been able to ride home that easily ...).


Real Life Livability

I have used these cases now for a while and think they are very good. For my personal loading style, top loaders would be better, but that is because I never strap big bags across the rear seat of my bike and I would love to be able to use a single liner bag per case.

If you strap a large dry bag across your rear seat area, the side loading is the best you can have. Just think about the tent, sleeping bag and mattress being strapped there, or other stuff that is too big / long / oddly shaped to go inside the pannier itself. My tent, bag, and mattress only fill half of a single case, so I don't care for this all too much.

An excellent piece are the locks - they are easy to use, lock the pannier very tightly, and seem to be build to last.

Long term I might add some strap hoops to the top, so I can strap small dry bags, like 10L Kriega bags to the top of the case, but I haven't had the need for this, so for now, I leave everything as is.

Overall Conclusion

This pannier system is truly outstanding. High quality, excellent ideas very well executed.

Is it worth the price? I'd say - mostly yes. I personally find the price difference between the V2 system and the V-Pilot system a bit high. Would have wished the price were closer to the V2 as it is, but okay.

Would I buy this system again? Probably. I had considered two other options: First, Jesse Safari 9" cases. Top loaders but with fairly ugly racks, similarly priced. Second, Touratech Zega Special Set 35L. Less ugly racks and more boxy cases. Very expensive (but about the same considering what I paid for the special exhaust).

So, if you have really read all my crap above, stop here and go and buy a set! The Micatech people are a pleasure to talk to and have absolutely outstanding customer support. Something that can't be said for the other two options I had and therefore: I vote with my wallet!

I wish, the mounting system were available for more bikes. Not necessarily the exact same, but something other than the SW Motech which is too wide on pretty much any bike I have seen it on. Therefore, I can very much recommend the V-Pilot system over the V2.

You're absolutely right! And similarly...

I am leaving on a BMW GS off road ride and fishing trip this week. I wanted to take along some extra gas since we will be 40 miles in from Greenville Maine, I had purchased a Koplin 1 1/2 gal. tank and rack for my ATV. I decided to fit it to your roof racks on the GS. I cut 2 sections of aluminum to fit in inside your rack, then drilled and tapped four holes. The pictures are shown on the left side but I will move to the right side for the trip to take weight off the side stand.. This would be great for your customers with roof racks and want the option to carry extra gas. You can move forward or back , left or right as needed. I plan to use it to run to the gas station for lawnmower gas. It is back enough for a bed roll and tent to go roof rack to rack. It will not be a problem getting on and off unless you are over 6 ft.!! There would more room on the 1200 GS. Ride safe.
- Jim Salisbury VP / Safety Officer BMW Riders of Southern Maine.​

Hi Cug. Thanks for the detailed write-up. I'm sure others will find it very useful. And thanks for the tip-over product testing! Great looking GS and be sure to post some photos of your adventures (pre- and post- tip overs!)

And yes, we can set you up with the exhaust lowering kit. The engineering for the '10-'11 models is complete and we're moving into production shortly. Keep in touch.

Here's a picture of my Super Tenere with black V2 cases (complete with roof racks!). These are some nice bags

I have to admit, I have always been a fan of the blue Tenere, but your black bike looks great (especially with black V2 cases)!