Luggage / Rack Advice

Hi everybody,

I am looking for any advice on a luggage and rack system for a 2008 Tuono.

I will be touring for two weeks this year through France, Germany (to ride the 'Ring) and Italy (to visit the Aprilia and Ducati Factorys), and need to somehow carry the usual kit plus a small tent!

I am thinking along the lines of a Ventura Rack and Tailpack, with the tent strapped to the passenger seat and maybe a tank bag - I am trying to avoid taking a haversack and am prepared to travel light.

It's tough call to have enough storage space without the bike looking like a pack horse and handling like a pig on those alpine passes through the Alps - any ideas gratefully received!

Also, if anyone has done a similar trip, any advice/tips/campsites/routes would be welcome too!
Cheers, Rob

Welcome Rob have travelled a bunch & Ventura system with 2 bags works great - actually could get away with one prolly but do a test run....
Wrap everything tight with rubber bands and after you pack take it all out and re-pack by throwing more away..
We always take too much..
Cheers Towie

If you're just looking for a rack check these out.

I am planning on buying the rev performance model.

http://www.ricerocketracks.com/static/RR_order.html

http://www.revsperformance.com/renntec/sports_racks.htm

I've just completed a trip to Tassie (Tasmania to you non-Aussies) using Bagster sports panniers and a bagster tank bag. I didn't need to expand the panniers or tank bag and was able to take enough clothes for a week plus tools, plexus, extra crap. On the whole they are a good set of luggage. The only pain is fitting and removing the panniers, a job of about 5 minutes max once you work out where to attach everything. My Tuoldo is also fitted with a Ventura system but I only keep the grab rail installed and is handy to tie stuff to.

Ventura or kriega matey, both quality pieces of kit :thumbup

An Oxford tail pack gave me enough storage space for a two week trip through France, Germany and Austria last year.

Previously, I managed to fit a 48Litre top box to my Tuoldo for touring in spain. Not very pretty but very useful>

before I got the tuono, I toured my multistrada 2-up from virginia through chicago to san diego, over 3,300 miles. hrd bags, tank and tail bag.
This taught me much about weight distribution effrects on handling.
from San diego we would weekend trip to mexico, travel the twisites from Tecate to Ensenada, and back up the perfect new epressways back along the pacific to tijuanna.
Learned that heavy weight in the tail pack, up high, far back on the bike is the worst place for weight. Sure its better for filtering through traffic not to have side cases.
But start with an awesome expandable tank bag. my soft bags were Marsee, and the quality is far above anything I've seen at most bike shops.
failing that, I have a hardshell "samsonite" piece of airline luggage from about 1963 in my attic, I can donate to you...and you could ride this to the "ring"
Cheers!
http://www.electricpig.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/cargo-scooter3.jpg

repeat post deleted....

This lot took me down the West coast of France last year - Hepco & Becker rack with Givi plate bolted to it for a Givi topbox. Pair of Oxford Humpback throwover panniers (they're tapered to clear the high exhaust). The rack gives lots of bungee points for the panniers. Had no problems. Make sure most of the weight is in the panniers though (not in the topbox)!

An Oxford tailpack will go on the rear seat too - but I didn't need that much, so left it at home.