Luggage system for KLR650e

[Biddy]

Hi everybody,

I'm a dutch girl and I bought a Kawasaki KLR 650e in Anchorage for my trip from Anchorage to Orlando (8 months or more, starting in June) and I'm currently trying to work out which luggage system suits my situation best.

I'm looking for hard cases (side and top) that can handle light off roads and are easy to (dis)mount as I intend to unload the panniers a lot (I only want to ride with the panniers as I'm moving from one hostel to another and than leave the bags in the hostel while exploring the area). And it seems a lot better if you can pack the bags as regular suitcase and not only from the top.

So far I looked at Pelican cases, Trax Evo, Micatech and Happy trails. Has anyone have some advice for me? Especially regarding the price, because it all seems pretty expensive......

Thanks!

Annemieke

[KG6BWS]

I had the Happy trails SU racks on my klr and really liked them. Very sturdy. Had Pelican 1550's mounted on them and loved them. Indestructible, waterproof and easily removable using the HT mounting pucks. Highly recommend them. Only thing i do differently then most is that i mount them with the lid to the bike so that when i open them, the box opens down. Makes them much easier to load. I liked the Pelicans so much i moved them to my Dakar.

For a top case i never found (or really looked all that hard) for a quick release mount, i just had a Pelican 1520 bolted directly to the stock tail rack.

[sieg]

Originally Posted by Biddy

Hi everybody,

I'm a dutch girl and I bought a Kawasaki KLR 650e in Anchorage for my trip from Anchorage to Orlando (8 months or more, starting in June) and I'm currently trying to work out which luggage system suits my situation best.

I'm looking for hard cases (side and top) that can handle light off roads and are easy to (dis)mount as I intend to unload the panniers a lot (I only want to ride with the panniers as I'm moving from one hostel to another and than leave the bags in the hostel while exploring the area). And it seems a lot better if you can pack the bags as regular suitcase and not only from the top.

So far I looked at Pelican cases, Trax Evo, Micatech and Happy trails. Has anyone have some advice for me? Especially regarding the price, because it all seems pretty expensive......

Thanks!

Annemieke

Have you considered Givi's ? They will work on HT racks or Givi racks. Tough and very water tight. They open like suitcases not from the top. Come in many sizes and all mount on the same brackets so you can put a top box on the side or vice-versa.

[perterra]

I really like the Happy Trail stuff, but about anything will work for light packing.

[mass-klr]

Originally Posted by Biddy

Hi everybody,

I'm a dutch girl and I bought a Kawasaki KLR 650e in Anchorage for my trip from Anchorage to Orlando (8 months or more, starting in June) and I'm currently trying to work out which luggage system suits my situation best.

I'm looking for hard cases (side and top) that can handle light off roads and are easy to (dis)mount as I intend to unload the panniers a lot (I only want to ride with the panniers as I'm moving from one hostel to another and than leave the bags in the hostel while exploring the area). And it seems a lot better if you can pack the bags as regular suitcase and not only from the top.

So far I looked at Pelican cases, Trax Evo, Micatech and Happy trails. Has anyone have some advice for me? Especially regarding the price, because it all seems pretty expensive......

Thanks!

Annemieke

Dag Annemieke,

I like the following Pelican setup from Twisted Throttle. All 3 cases have a quicke release.

Link

[Unstable Rider]

Here ya go.

Real deal Pelican Hardigg Storm cases, Mil-spec, $116 each with FREE shipping.

You dont want or need the foam interior, that is what helps keep the cost down.

You can get them in different colors if you ask em.

B & H Camera
Pelican Hardigg Storm Cases IM2600

These the perfect fit on a KLR - if you run Motech racks you end up three feet across the back exactly, about the same as your handlebar ends.

[beechhunter]

Racks from Ebay, built by a guy in Canada <$200. HPRC cases from Amazon, <$200.

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[Biddy]

All the advises help me a lot, thanks! It's good to see there more KLR650e's out there with side cases and a top case!

I'll probably go for the Pelican side cases as some of you mentioned and I might try to find a top case (with more depth volume) from a different brand second hand, either here in Holland or in Alaska.

Annemieke

[dutchjohn]