Motorcycle Explorer November 2016 Issue 14 | Page 27

Kriega R20 Rider Pack. If you are going to opt for a backpack, check it fits I would normally choose not to ride with a backpack with whatever luggage you have on the pillion seat otherwise it will be forced up behind your neck. The for long distances. But when luggage capacity on a Touratech duffel was the perfect size - the R20 sat small bike is an issue, a backpack is an obvious on top of it if I sat upright, completely unloading it option. I opted for a Kriega are the market leaders in moot-specific backpacks, so I opted for their R20 from my shoulders. (20 litres). Kriega’s backpacks come in five sizes, from 15 to 35 Mindful of the maxim that when you have extra litres. space you fill it, I figured anything larger would result in too much weight being carried. I’m now a convert to back packs - the R20 was very comfortable, with the harness system making a big difference to load distribution and preventing the straps from applying pressure into the upper shoulders. I used the R20 for carrying bulky, lightweight items and things I wanted close at hand which wouldn’t fit in the tank bag - such as my waterproofs and a lightweight tripod. Twenty litres was ample, providing spare capacity for a packed lunch an the like. I suspect the smaller R15 would also work well. Cubes and Pouches Eaglecreek and Sea To Summit. I’m a big fan of the ‘Russian Doll’ packing approach - bags within bags within bags, with as many different colours as possible. It’s the best way to pack, organise and find things. I use packing cubes as much as possible in panniers to maximise space. We opted for a variety of cubes and other pouches from Eaglecreek, preferring their Pack-It Original range over the ultra-lightweight Specter range; the Original pouches are more rugged and hold their shape better. We also used Sea To Summit’s Garment Mesh Bags. If you’re going for cubes, choose medium and small sizes. Several small ones are far easier to pack than one or two large one. With a Wolfman Explorer Lite Tank Bag topping off the luggage, I had a total of 100 litres at my disposal - more than enough for an extended trip. Most impressively, it was a very unobtrusive setup and the Scrambler continued to handle as if it was still naked.