Another Suzuki V-Strom riding into the wild with GL Great Basin Saddlebags…
Dig this photo sent from a creative customer in British Columbia. Great Basin Saddlebags and a couple of Possibles Pouches on a 2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050. This is a new model bike for 2020. Also notice there is a Helinox Chair strapped to the backside of the saddlebags. GL loves creativity…
“Thought you might like a photo of the Great Basin Saddlebag on the new Suzuki V-Strom 1050. A couple of Possibles Pouches on the front of the legs with Helinox Chairs strapped to the back. Regards and thanks!” — John Passmore
The new V-Strom looks sweet — thanks for the photo John!
Check out this excellent video from Dork In The Road showing how to install MoJavi Saddlebags on a Suzuki DRZ400 with a Tail Rack, Pronghorn Straps and GL Mounts…
“The Giant Loop Mojavi Saddlebags have been my go-to motorcycle luggage solution for carrying gear. They’re versatile, durable, and easy to install. In this video I’m using the Giant Loop mounts which are an inexpensive and versatile way to add mounting points to your dual sport or adventure bike. My hope is to quickly transition between the different types of riding I like to do: trails, forest exploring and road riding. I dig all of Giant Loop’s products, and these GL mounts are no exception. They’re super easy to install and make setups quick and easy.” — Dork in the Road
Check out this Bend, OR dirt bike chase with Giant Loop’s MoJavi Saddlebags, Buckin’ Roll Tank Bag and Zigzag Handlebar Bag…
Shot with the Insta360, our dude Ryan chasing Instacam distributor Peter on a single track trail. We love how the MoJavi Saddlebag on Peter’s KTM 500 EXC never shifts, bounces or gets in the way. On Ryan’s Suzuki RMZ 450, the Buckin’ Roll Tank Bag and Zigzag Handlebar Bag is also equally stable…
With Giant Loop gear, riders can pack less weight in their backpack and more on the bike for better endurance, comfort and reduced fatigue. Like it’s not even there!
Designed by riders for riders. Go light. Go fast. Go far!
Just got an email from our friend and colleague Keith Larkin, from White’s Power Sports in New Zealand and Australia. Every year, he and his buddies fly to the USA and take their stored Suzuki DRZ400s on a Backcountry Discovery Routes adventure:
“I am just back this week from riding the Southern California, Arizona and New Mexico Backcountry Discovery Routes, with the same crew and bikes as last year – all using Giant Loop. Man you make a fantastic product! We rode over to Houston and stored our bikes for the 2 East Coast BDR routes next year.”
Backcountry Discovery Routes with Giant Loop’s Great Basin Saddlebag and Possibles Pouches
We tell our dealers all the time that the single most effective sales tool is to set up a bike with Giant Loop gear, stuffed full to show the shape and volume. It’s a simple thing to do, and all of our top selling dealers do it. So, it’s gratifying to get this kind of feedback from Jackson, a manger at our Australian importer, Adventure Moto:
We finally got a bike setup in our Brisbane store with some of Giant Loop’s products on board. Coyote Saddlebag, Tillamook Dry Bag, Diablo Pro Tank Bag and Fender/Number Plate Bag. We’ve had it setup for two days, and we have sold a Coyote, Diablo and Tillamook from it.
Having products displayed on the bike has helped greatly. I’m fitting the new Tail Rack on the bike this weekend.
Keep up the good work mate. Lovin’ your products.
Cheers,
Jackson Manteit
Brisbane Warehouse Manager, Adventure Moto Australia
Suzuki DR 650 with Coyote Saddlebag, Diablo Pro Tank Bag, Fender Bag, Tillamook Dry Bag
Suzuki DR 650 with Coyote Saddlebag, Diablo Pro Tank Bag, Fender Bag, Tillamook Dry Bag
Suzuki DR 650 with Coyote Saddlebag, Diablo Pro Tank Bag, Fender Bag, Tillamook Dry Bag
Suzuki DR 650 with Coyote Saddlebag, Diablo Pro Tank Bag, Fender Bag, Tillamook Dry Bag
After years of testing and development, Giant Loop’s new Tail Rack delivers a rugged, lightweight, low-profile, universal-fitting solution for anchoring saddlebags, tool packs and gear to any motorcycle’s rear plastic fender. Crafted from black anodized aluminum, the Tail Rack features unique stainless steel wire gate carabiner-style clips for quick strap attachment. Stainless steel hardware makes installation quick and easy. Included aluminum spacers slightly raise the Tail Rack, so Giant Loop’s stretch polyurethane Pronghorn Straps and webbing straps can slide beneath for solid mounting of GL’s Coyote Saddlebag, MoJavi Saddlebag, Klamath Tail Rack Pack, Possibles Pouch and other relatively light, compact items.
Weighing just 9.4 ounces (including hardware and spacers), the GL Tail Rack measures 5-inches wide by 8-inches long x 5/8-inch tall. Four wire-gate closures prevent webbing from disconnecting even when riding in the roughest terrain. The Tail Rack can be mounted in two different positions on virtually any dirt bike, dual sport or enduro rear plastic fender. All hardware required for installation is included (4x stainless steel button head bolts, 4x stainless steel nylock nuts, 4x stainless steel washers and 4x aluminum spacers). Total load restricted to 10 lbs. maximum, as the Tail Rack is designed to provide secure anchor points for Giant Loop Saddlebags and gear, NOT to support heavy loads.
USA MSRP for Giant Loop’s universal Tail Rack solution is $49.
Two Wheeled Nomad in BIKE magazine
GL Riders Two Wheeled Nomad (Jason Spafford and Lisa Morris) traveled The Americas for four years on their motorcycles, the past year-plus with Giant Loop gear after they realized that lighter and simpler is truly better! Here’s their photo essay featured in BIKE (UK) magazine’s latest January 2019 issue.
Camping on Bonneville Salt Flats – photos by Jason Spafford, text by Lisa Morris (aka Two Wheeled Nomad)
Two Wheeled Nomad’s Giant Loop Adventure Proof Packing System on Suzuki DR650 and BMW F800GS:
Great Basin Saddlebags – nearly 70 liters of waterproof, ultra tough, lightweight, stable storage, no luggage racks or mounts required
Possibles Pouches – external waterproof pockets for Saddlebags and engine guards
Tillamook Dry Bags – double-end access waterproof gear storage with integrated anchor strap system, backpack shoulder straps
Fandango Pro Tank Bag – waterproof, slim, trim, 8-liter bag with electronics pass-through, clear map pocket, quick fuel access
Lisa Spafford soak in the experience while Jason Spafford documents it on film
Giant Loop Riders the Two Wheeled Nomad (Jason Spafford and Lisa Morris)
GL Pannier Mounts for Motorcycle Soft Luggage – now available for pre-order, shipping September 25!
Giant Loop’s GL Pannier Mount for motorcycle soft luggage and gear
Introducing GL Pannier Mounts for motorcycle soft luggage! Designed in Bend, Oregon by Giant Loop, these ultra light, ultra tough quick release, quick mount, lockable powder coated aluminum plates secure Giant Loop’s Round The World Panniers, MotoTrekk Panniers, RotoPax gas cans and other gear to most side luggage racks with flat, vertical hoops constructed with 18mm round tubing. Examples: Touratech and the BMW R1200GS Adventure’s OEM luggage rack (Giant Loop adapter required for exhaust side of BMW GSA). Other adapters and mounting options available soon.
WEIGHS JUST 3.6 lbs. Sold as a set of two, with two keys included. Order now!
Product of the Week – The Great Basin Saddlebag
A trusted staple in the Giant Loop line up, the Great Basin Saddlebag is the largest in our “loop bag” collection.
We have outfitted an assortment of motorcycles with the Great Basin, and it’s currently on the backs of motorcycles around the globe. In the montage above you’ll find the Great Basin Saddlebag easily mounted on a the Honda CRF250L, Rally Raid CB500X, and Africa Twin, the KTM 1190 Adventure R, the Yamaha WR250, the KLR 650 retrofitted with a sidecar, the Suzuki tu250x, a Yamaha R6 and something random in Nepal….just to name a few.
This bag will carry all that you require for a serious expedition or comfortably carry your weekend provisions.
Great Basin Saddlebag Roll Top Orange
What we love most about the Great Basin Saddlebag is it’s verstility. This bag, rides rackless, behind the rider where the passenger would sit. The “legs” of the bag affix to the passenger foot pegs or other solid mounting point in the same area and anchors at the rear of the bike via three straps on on an existing rear rack or integrated mounting point. The is bag is 68L in capacity and is sold with three waterproof dry pods which organize gear within the bag plus make it easy to haul things to your camp spot without removing the whole loop bag. A Hot Springs Heat Shield is also included with every bag to keep the Great Basin off the pipe.
The outer material is constructed of tough 22 oz. vinyl coated polyester reinforced with ballistic nylon and, like many of our bags the Great Basin has loops added to the sides of the bag that make it easy to add Possibles Pouches or just affix items with Pronghorn Straps. The “beavertail” cinch straps can be extend to allow for a Tillamook or Rogue Dry Bag if extra capacity is required.
Great Basin Saddlebag Roll Top with Rogue Dry Bag
Great Basin Zippered Saddlebag with Possibles Pouch external pocket
While Supplies last all black and white Great Basin Zippered Saddlebags ON SALE for 30% off!
Customer Review: “Can’t Sing Enough Praises” About Coyote Saddlebag + Buckin’ Roll Tank Bag on Suzuki DRZ400
Customer post on Adventure Rider:
“I am about to make a bold statement.”
“I finally got a chance to camp with my new Coyote Roll Top Saddlebag and Buckin’ Roll Tank Bag. It’s easily the best setup I have ever owned for dual sport and I’ve damn near owned them all at this point. Can’t wait to see where you guys go with your items in the future. I can say, please keep making roll tops, and please keep the current dry bags. Really awesome features in my opinion. I noticed all the straps are about as twice as thick as any other brand I have used as well. I beat my bike to death and none of this stuff ever moved. The saddlebags already have a few drops on them and I ran into a tree with the right side too. Can’t even see a mark on it anywhere. I also noticed I can put the saddlebags super far back. I never noticed it touching my butt or back the entire time, even riding whoops standing up, and this is with a hydration pack on. This is probably the first time I’ve camped with a setup and didn’t come home not liking something about it. Seriously, can’t sing enough praises.“
“In these photos, I am packed with everything needed to tent camp basically indefinitely off the bike. I love that everything is in one place and not in 3 or 4 different bags strapped awkwardly on the back of the bike. Very clean.”
Customer review: Giant Loop’s Roll Top Saddlebags “In A Class Of Their Own”
Customer post in our Vendor thread on Adventure Rider: “I just want to say you guys have hit a home run with the roll top design. The new internal pods with the air valves are amazing. This thing is so well made and In my opinion much more convenient than the zippered design I owned before, but I have always been a roll top kind of guy. Have loved Wolfman products for a while and wouldn’t buy anything else, but to me this bag is in a class of its own. I really hope GL continues to produce roll top bags and refine the designs. My Buckin Roll and the Coyote holds everything I need for a few days out on my DRZ400S. I’d also like to add, and this is important. I have soooooo much more butt room on the bike using your bags than any others bags out there right now! Thank you GL.”
https://www.giantloopmoto.com/product-category/saddlebag-systems/?orderby=price-desc
Giant Loop Roll Top Saddlebag opening
Giant Loop Customers ‘Ride the Divide’
Giant Loop customers, Brian Shaney and Dave Wenk, have been featured in Road Runner Magazine’s September/October issue. The two took on the ultimate challenge to ride the Continental Divide on a Honda XR650L and a Suzuki DR-Z400S. They started in northern Montana and will ultimately end at the Mexican border. Stage One, featured in this article saw them launching the trip in Eureka, MT and finishing in Rawlins, Wyoming. They navigated the Montana back country, rode along Going-To-The-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, made friends with lizards, got their bones shaken by intense washboard gravel, visited a ghost town, and carved through herds of cattle, all in only the first three states of the trip.
Brian and Dave’s bikes are equipped with Giant Loop’s Coyote Saddlebag and Great Basin Saddlebag. Knowing that if they were going to on a hardcore journey like this, they needed some hardcore gear. Both bags are wrap around saddlebags that are waterproof and have 39-60 liters of carrying capacity respectivly. Rugged gear for rugged back road trips. This kind of trip is exactly what these bags were designed for, and we’re thrilled to see them trusted on such an epic adventure.
No matter where you’re going next, go light, go fast, go far.
Giant Loop Rider, Wendi, Rides Badlands on KLR with Coyote Saddlebag
Found in the archives and still valuable, Wendi wrote to tell us about her experience fitting her GL Coyote Saddlebag onto a KLR and riding Badlands. Thanks Wendi!
“Hello Harold,
Thank you for the information on your bags.
While purchased for my DRZ, I did use my GL Coyote bag on my larger KLR for a trip to the badlands last week and it worked great!
I also wanted to let you know that I can’t say enough about the durability of this bag. I am new to dirt riding and have been down numerous times on dirt, gravel, sand, etc, and my bag has no damage at all and doesn’t show any wear yet. I am so impressed with that, so a huge thanks for a great product.
Here’s a couple of pics of my awesome GL Coyote on both of my bikes. Works great – looks cool!
Thanks again,
Wendi”
Yamaha WR450F and Suzuki DRZ400 on North Georgia dualsport ride with Giant Loop Fender Bag (Possibles Pouch + Rubber Boas), Zigzag Handlebar Bag and Klamath Tail Rack Pack via Dirt Hammers.
Local rider Geoff’s Suzuki DRZ400 is about as nicely set up as any we’ve seen, with Trail Tech Voyager GPS, Race Tech Suspension, full Yoshimura Exhaust and aftermarket carb. Here are some details about his MoJavi Saddlebag installation using the new Giant Loop (GL) Mounts, which will work great with the Coyote Saddlebag and Great Basin Saddlebag, too. #golightgofastgofar
Geoff is using the Giant Loop GL Mounts, sharing a bolt point with his Suzuki DRZ400’s passenger peg mounts. GL Mounts help keep straps away from hot exhaust and shorten anchor strap length to maximize stability of Giant Loop Saddlebag installation.
Geoff’s using a small spacer to set the Giant Loop GL Mount away from the passenger peg’s other bolt and to give plenty of room to work when anchoring Giant Loop Saddelbags and soft luggage to dirt bikes and dual sport motorcycles.
Giant Loop’s GL Mounts make a clean installation, with straps kept away from boots on both sides.
Since Geoff leaves the MoJavi Saddlebag mounted on his Suzuki DRZ400 all the time, he’s using a hard-mount bolt-on installation (which can also be done with Giant Loop’s Coyote Saddlebag).
Two bolts through the dirt bike’s rear plastic fender and metal fender brace, a couple of washers and nylock nuts, and the Giant Loop Saddlebag is not coming off. Period.
Geoff secures the zip-off sleeves of his riding jacket to the front fender with Giant Loop’s Rubber Boa Straps.
Giant Loop’s design director, Brian Frankle, recently joined up with a couple of local friends from Bend for an Oregon Backcountry Discovery Route adventure on his Suzuki DRZ400. Here are some of his pics and comments:
“Took a short 4 day trip on the moto on the Oregon Backcountry Discovery Route. Rendezvoused with a few others on day 2 in Ukiah, Oregon. Other than great company, seeing a Bighorn Sheep along the South Fork of the John Day River was a highlight.”
As a long-distance runner and through-hiker (just finish 5th in Pine to Palm 100, he’s hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, etc.) Brian’s an ultralight packer. On this trip he’s living the life of luxury with the Great Basin Saddlebag and Pannier Pockets on his DRZ400.
“Bridge Creek Wildlife Area outside of Ukiah, Oregon. Wildlife Count: 3 cows.”
Our friend and customer Patrick used the Coyote Saddlebag and Fandango Pro Tank Bag on his Honda CRF250L.
“PK at Olive Lake Umatilla National Forest. Olive Lake is a reservoir that provided water and turned the generators at Fremont Power House…which in turn, supplied power to the largest Dredge used for gold mining in North America which sits in Sumpter, Oregon.”
Oregon had it’s own version of the Gold Rush.
“The Dredge in Sumpter, Oregon.”
GL friend and customer Dave packed the Coyote Saddleabg and Fandango Pro Tank Bag on his Yamaha WR250.
“Lunch stop, throttle cable repair, and opening day for Bow Season. Lots of hunters out and about. Malheur National Forest.”
Brian definitely applies our philosophy of “go light, go fast, go far” to his camping gear.
“Find sticks, make shelter. Ochoco National Forest.”
GL riders Paul and Paula are having WAY too much fun touring through South America on a Yamaha Tenere 660 and a Suzuki DR350!
He’s got the Siskiyou Panniers, Diablo Tank Bag and Tillamook Dry Bag on his Tenere, and she’s got the Great Basin Saddlebag?and Rogue Dry Bag on her DR.
Follow their adventures at Horca Moto!
Got a cool pic of Vic while he was in Death Valley riding his Suzuki DRZ400 with a Great Basin Saddlebag. Thanks for the pic and story.
He said, “Purchased your saddle bag at the BMW rally in Salem last summer. Just finished a four day 430 mile off road loop through Death Valley. Bag is great and stayed firmly attached all through the rough stuff. Wish I could say the same thing for me. Fitment is great and the others on the ride will be purchasing them before our next adventure. Regards, Vic.”
Last fall, Giant Loop Rider Stephanie rode her Suzuki DRZ400 from Ghana, Africa back to Ireland.
She rode with her Beau, Rory, who took his KTM 990 Adventure on the trip.
She packed her gear in a Coyote Saddlebag and Fandango Tank Bag onto her DRZ400. She had this to say about it, “trip from Ghana (west-Africa) to Ireland April last year. Coyote saddlebag kit and Fandango tank bank withstood the test”
Her DRZ is setup to travel with a Safari fuel tank for extended travel range, a comfort seat upgrade and a small fairing added to the headlight mask for weather deflection.
Locally sourced service stand.
No Contenant-crossing adventure ride would be complete without a pic of a small future-Rider, aboard the iron pony. 🙂
Love the Ferries and their scary approach pools, at the ramp.
Sunset in the Sahara, worth all the flats and ferries…
Ray Peabody of Midwest Motorcyclist?magazine got a call in early November from Championship Powersports in Wauseon, Ohio, with some real news: The 2014 KTM 1190 Adventure was ready for him to ride test! ?Ray brought his Great Basin Saddlebag and Diablo Tank Bag, packed for the trip. the It sounds like he put the bike through its paces, for a few days on a wandering route. He really got to use the bike on several different road conditions, including near freezing temperatures. Glad he could pull through the chilly conditions and still have a fun ride!
Nice video from a couple of Giant Loop riders from British Columbia! “Just a short proof of concept trip on the little Suzuki bikes before tackling something adventurous,” as they describe it. We love camping with small motorcycles – this is our origin and roots as a company – so we love to see others discovering the joys of the “go light, go fast, go far” approach to packing a small displacement dual sport motorcycle.
Giant Loop Rider and pro photographer Matthew?Fehrmann just sent us these shots of the CJ Designs Suzuki V-Strom DL650 dual sport build, and this looks like one super-bad machine! You’ll find more details about it here in this Adventure Rider forum thread. You may remember CJ Designs’ two-wheel-drive KTM 950 Adventure we displayed at Dealer Expo two years ago – and Matthew’s KTM 950 Adventure with the 10-gallon Safari Tank we displayed in our booth this year. The Siskiyou Panniers fit great – and look great – on this bike. A perfect choice for lightening this notoriously heavy and road-oriented bike – and making it Adventure Proof. Enjoy Matthew’s pics and comments:
“Craig just finished his DL650 project for our friend Matt, and it’s Bad Ass. I think you will dig it (the photo tells it all). After Matt ran the Siskiyou Panniers on a short loop in?Wisconsin he was handing them back to me and said, ‘I wish I had more time with these.’ I told him to run them in Colorado?on our trip and keep testing them. This is going to be a great time for me to get photos in action.”
“Here are a couple shots of his bike?and the luggage on the trail. I’m looking forward to giving them a go in October when Craig and I do another North Woods run.”
Tough bikes deserve tough luggage. Pick up the bike and keep riding, the Siskiyou Panniers didn’t even budge or stratch.
“Be well and see ya in a couple weeks!”
Matthew
Matthew Fehrmann (Photographer / Writer)
CJ Designs LLC
check out our BLOG at cjdesignsllc.wordpress.com
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