Kriega USA Luggage Q&A

[amanlikemike]

Greetings Inmates!

The ADVRider forums have been a massive inspiration and invaluable knowledge base for me personally and also to the Kriega lads back in the UK. So, after recently becoming Kriega's US representative, I thought it'd be good to contribute something which could help others with the important decision of which cargo carrying gear to go for.

With this in mind, I figured it'd make sense to start a thread about each of our main product lines: backpacks, bike packs, pannier systems and accessories. The idea being that, hopefully, together we can create a resource center, wherein the answer to pretty much every conceivable question about Kriega kit can be found. Building a library of Inmates' Kriega set-ups and travels with the gear, would be cool too...

To kick off things off, I've posted up pages from the current catalog. Hi-rez versions can be viewed in the KriegaUSA galleries over at SmugMug, and - while stocks last - hard copies of the catalog are available free of charge via www.kriega.us and at Authorized Kriega Dealers.

Feel free to post up any questions, feedback or requests and I'll do everything I can to help find the right gear for your ride.

And just PM me for a your ADVRider free shipping code.



Cheers,




Michael

[amanlikemike]

[Nut Clutch]

Originally Posted by amanlikemike

I'll be calling you tomorrow to reserve a set of these. These things are slick!

[amanlikemike]

Originally Posted by Steve Lavigne

I'll be calling you tomorrow to reserve a set of these. These things are slick!

Hey Steve,

Hope you're enjoying your new Hydro-3 and US-10.

And yeah, seeing as I didn't actually design the things, I can say without any hint of self-satisfaction, that: YUP! Indeed they are!

So simple, but so clever and beautifully made. I'm thinking of fitting a couple to my desk, as well as the bike, just so I can spin 'em around while I work...

[amanlikemike]

[amanlikemike]

[amanlikemike]

[amanlikemike]

And last, but not least; the new-for-2012 Overlander soft pannier systems, and ALP platforms, due for release May 2012:

More info on the Overlander and ALP is due from the UK very soon and will be posted up here STAT. In the meantime, please feel free to let us know if you like the look of it.



Cheers,




Michael

[windquest]

Originally Posted by amanlikemike

And last, but not least; the new-for-2012 Overlander soft pannier systems, and ALP platforms, due for release May 2012:

More info on the Overlander and ALP is due from the UK very soon and will be posted up here STAT. In the meantime, please feel free to let us know if you like the look of it.

Cheers,

Michael

Any prices on the overlander 30?
thanks

[amanlikemike]

Originally Posted by windquest

Any prices on the overlander 30?
thanks

Hey windquest,

I actually confirmed prices only yesterday, and the Overlander 30 will be coming in at just $299. That gets you the complete frameless fit kit, plus the 2 x 15L Overlander bags.


Michael

[windquest]

Originally Posted by amanlikemike

Hey windquest,

I actually confirmed prices only yesterday, and the Overlander 30 will be coming in at just $299. That gets you the complete frameless fit kit, plus the 2 x 15L Overlander bags.


Michael

Michael, that's epic! I was crossing my fingers it would come in under $300.... When do you guys expect to start seeing them in stock?

Jason

[amanlikemike]

Originally Posted by windquest

Michael, that's epic! I was crossing my fingers it would come in under $300.... When do you guys expect to start seeing them in stock?

Jason

I know! Having seen this gear, I was sure it was going to be at least $350. I'm expecting my first shipment some time in May. Obviously I'll post something up on here, www.kriega.us and the Kriega USA FB page, as soon as I have a firm date.

[levain]

Originally Posted by amanlikemike

That gets you the complete frameless fit kit, plus the 2 x 15L Overlander bags.


Michael

Will this "frameless kit" work for those of us that already have Kriega bags? Can we just buy the kit? Also, the documentation makes it look like you need to drill holes in plastic bodywork. Is there a set up for those of us on more street oriented dual sports? I love the Kriega bags, but would prefer they be mounted like the overlander.

[windquest]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

Will this "frameless kit" work for those of us that already have Kriega bags? Can we just buy the kit? Also, the documentation makes it look like you need to drill holes in plastic bodywork. Is there a set up for those of us on more street oriented dual sports? I love the Kriega bags, but would prefer they be mounted like the overlander.

I think the overlander 60 would be the one more oriented for street use. You can see the pictures in a few posts back. I think they had it mounted to a ktm 690...

[amanlikemike]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

Will this "frameless kit" work for those of us that already have Kriega bags? Can we just buy the kit? Also, the documentation makes it look like you need to drill holes in plastic bodywork. Is there a set up for those of us on more street oriented dual sports? I love the Kriega bags, but would prefer they be mounted like the overlander.

Hi Jim,

The Overlander gear was designed primarily for hardcore off-road use and the 30 is aimed squarely at Enduro / dirt bikes, which all have pretty much the same basic design, enabling bags to be mounted without frames. Adventure Touring type bikes generally require racks to mount side bags because these machines vary quite dramatically in layout (particularly in the placement of exhaust pipes).

Obviously there are exceptions to the rule, such as the KTM 990 Adventure, where the Overlander 30 - and an alternative mounting to drilling holes for the Rack Loops - could be an option. But in general, as windquest said, the Overlander 60 is going to be the best soft pannier system on these kind of bikes.

Kriega US bags were designed specifically as universal fit tail packs with an option to tank-mount, so using them as the basis of a side-mounted system would have been - at best - a major compromise. Which is, thankfully, something the Kriega lads don't really go in for.

Overlander is a completely new product line and, due to the differences in functionality between tail packs and panniers, bags purely for this application needed to be developed. Therefore, the 15L Overlander Drypacks are significantly different to the US packs, being made from heavy duty 1000D Cordura with reinforced backs (to maintain their shape) and stainless steel eyelets for the alloy attachment hardware.

I do hear what you're saying about racks / frames though. Personally, I was never a big fan of panniers either, and was completely happy with my rear rack and seat-mounted UScombos. But after experiencing how little this system affects 'ridability' and how well it works, I'll definitely be fitting a Overlander 60 for long hauls, so I can free up the rear seat in case I need to haul more gear, or maybe even take the wife on that trip I've been promising her. But if racks / frames really aren't your thing seat-mounted bags are the only real option.

The frameless fit kit will be available separately to the full systems, but this is really only so that folks who own the 60 have the option to use two of the bags from that in a different way, or as a replacement part in case of loss etc.

Hope that helps.


Cheers,



Michael