I had the pleasure of beating the crap out of the new Siskiyou panniers this summer in Central Asia and Siberia on my KTM 690. 40,000 km and they were still performing great. The panniers are now back at GL to see where/if they can be improved. Thanks again guys! <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/BWx9cBoYofo-f4fXgHf1BtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HuVY5rhVEpc/UaWoDEahj4I/AAAAAAAAdWU/GeXFa2cLHZQ/s800/DSC08637.JPG" height="532" width="800" /></a> Tajikistan <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QRPUnlxGUNzTjpJMXQDBwGSQcdSYfh9PIapVMa0OFfY?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-j2ZMNthsaV0/Uetv6NsMbrI/AAAAAAAAiA0/OUn9YmjIRCM/s800/DSC00210.JPG" height="532" width="800" /></a> Mongolia <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Kz0M3bm-ysdAyxd54Ca1SmSQcdSYfh9PIapVMa0OFfY?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CXj-ZbIMjFk/Uet-zIEoWiI/AAAAAAAAiA0/IBS23bXhhjo/s800/DSC00623.JPG" height="532" width="800" /></a> Mongolia. (notice on the bottom left. GL drybag with a rock on it makes a great tent anchor when you cant drive a stake) <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FZ5VG59q-DNddyWXAYsnazxDD3hCDR4CyvSE_NxC3oQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-oJzPq8xfzNg/UiGorm1Yg-I/AAAAAAAAmjA/Jw1KHUIIqYo/s800/DSC00512.JPG" height="532" width="800" /></a> Russian Altai <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1MSj83FjbH1-D25vihdKMrQH6nJwYpF7jG-EN5FS7LM?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Os4vOU1ammg/UjG92_oltUI/AAAAAAAAmVQ/JH-Cj-IQIKs/s800/DSC01503.JPG" height="532" width="800" /></a> Sakhalin Island. Russia. <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/da3dCJminWWgD_nkCatYvsWL515UwZWFr-82TkqcpYQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gzmUUnDBkHs/UueQeWENrzI/AAAAAAAAsi4/rNmG9Ycmc34/s800/DSC00008.JPG" height="532" width="800" /></a> Most recently, the new ones were mounted on a copy of a Honda Wave 110 that I rode from Hanoi Vietnam to Phnom Penh Cambodia. Funny to have such nice bags on a $250 scooter
Well done my man!! Can't thank you enough for my Great Basin Saddlebag! I never know it's there and can count on it staying put till I get where I'm going! LOVE IT! Ride well, Sonny
Looking at buying a 50L Great Basin from an inmate here on ADV. Fortunately it's yellow to match my GS. Question, does the 50L bag have the built in "sleeping bag"/water bottle pocket in it? Really excited to try out the GL GB!
The early models of Great Basin had built in storage and a water resistant zipper. 2012 had no built in storage and included five stuff sacks, still with water resistant zipper. For 2013 the volume went to 60L and the design enjoyed many product improvements to solve the various difficulties of using the original design. The 2013+ design is much easier to mount, access contents with gloved hands and operate the zipper. The early Great Basin Saddle Bag The later 2012 version with stuffsacks and no built in storage: 2013's first big change was to add separate mounting straps to the rear of the bag. This freed the Cinch Straps from mounting duties and allows the bag to stay tightly mounted, while releasing the Cinch Strap buckles and opening the bag to access contents. The Cinch Straps also got side release buckles, so they could be used with gloved hands. The zipper was changed to a large coil zipper, protected by a tailored Storm Flap, for MUCH easier zipper action. The last detail added, was a cable lock pass through in the base of the bag, for securing it to the bike. The current model of Great Basin, showing Mounting straps, Storm flap and Cinch Ring Harness:
Just used my new 60-liter Great Basin for the first time and enjoyed the extra 10 liters of space. My camp shoes can finally ride inside the bag The bigger bag has the same gnarly construction as I'm used to, and I do like the improved mounting and cinch straps. Keep up the good work, Olaf and crew! Can't wait to see what the innovators at GL come up with next
Wow, thanks for the information and time line. With all the new additions I believe Iwill go ahead and get a new GB.
I've ran MSR hand guards during the winter for the past couple seasons and really like the added weather protection they offer. I recently ordered up a set of the GL hand guards to replace the MSR units with and finally got them mounted up. I really like the new GL guards, they are bigger/taller and should do a better job at keeping the cold wind off my hands. I also like rubber strap system for mounting and the lack of Cordura fabric covering that the MSR units had (they got torn very quickly). Top notch With either units I like to drill a small hole in each hand guard and mount them to my plastic guards with a bolt. This makes the whole unit super solid and keeps them from moving around while on the trail. Comparison shot between the MSR and the GL guards. I also prefer the looks of the GL units! And mounted up. You can see the bolts I added to keep the guards rock solid. Rubber mounting straps, these work great and are a big improvement over the MSR fabric straps. Hodakaguy
That is a nice setup you've shown, hodakaguy! I like the use of a center bolt for long term install. Much like using a ziptie, but far more durable for a winter riding setup. Thanks Dualsport Alchemy for the product review that I borrowed the pic from.
Thanks Dirt Rider Magazine for including Giant Loop's Rubber Boa Straps in the March issue's Gear Bag: "Specifically designed to hook onto dirt bike fenders, now there is no excuse to not have that spare tube, tool pack or submarine sandwich."
Got a great email and pics in from Bolivia, where GL rider Carlos rode his BMW F800GS. I posted several pics on our blog, so I'll put a couple here too. Carlos rides with a Great Basin Saddle Bag and Fandango Tank Bag on the GS and a Coyote Saddle bag on his Kawi 450. Thanks, Carlos, for the great pics and story! He said, “They [pics] were took during some trips around Bolivia: Salar de Uyuni (Salt flats), El Chaco (southern part of Bolivia) and the last two are from Yungas (the famous Dead Road). I have two toys, my F800 GS with the Great Basin and Fandango bags, and my Kawa 450 with the Coyote saddlebag. Both work just perfect for me. Hope this new year can ride more, I will share my trips with you. Cheers from Bolivia!”
Thanks GL!! I got my Siskiyou panniers in the mail yesterday Nice work. These are quality made, sturdy and will fit the bill nicely for double up touring with the wife and for those trips where I want to take more than a few days worth of clothes etc. exactly what I was looking for. I've been researching large soft bags for some time, I'm really happy I chose the Siskiyou panniers. Ill post up some photos asap with our new KTM SuperAdventure build.
OK now I'm a little confused. Does the new (2014) model Great Basin (60L) have the built in "sleeping bag" compartment and the bottle holders? Yes or No Why does the bag come with 3 dry pod stuff sacks but when ordering a set separately you get 5? If it requires 5 stuff bags why is it sold with 3. If I want 5 bags can individual bags be ordered? What are the 3 included dry bags, custom fit to the legs (?) and which other size? Wanting to order but not sure what I'm getting for $450.00. The GL website could use additional individual pictures of the bag in various state of packed and views of the inside, zippers and straps would be helpful. Thank you
Big news for our closest export market. Take off, eh?! Giant Loop Expands Canada Distribution With Motonation Canada Established Power Sports Distributor Provides Coast-To-Coast Representation (BEND, OR, USA) Adventure-proof packing systems innovator Giant Loop has appointed Motonation Canada as its international distributor in Canada. Headed by power sports veterans Syl and Shawna Marleau and Vince Harker, formerly Klim distributor in Canada as DCI Sales, Motonation Canada imports and distributes top motorcycle exclusive brands such as Sidi, Forcefield, AGV Sports, Vemar, Powerlet, Mefo Tires as well as Rox Risers and Techniche. Bilingual Canadian French/English speaker Marleau manages dealer sales for Motonation. Previously, he was Klim Canadas Eastern Canada sales manager, Powerlet Canada distributor/sales manager, and he previously worked as district sales manager for Yamaha Motor Canada for 12 years. He created the brand image for KLIM in Eastern Canada. Marleau is based in Keswick, Ontario. Shawna Marleau manages eastern operations, supporting Syl, who is on the road visiting dealers throughout the year. Former owner of DCI Sales, Harker founded the company in 1995. He is business manager for Motonation Canada and is based in Magrath, Alberta. To schedule a Giant Loop product line dealer clinic, contact: Syl Marleau, Motonation Canada, at (289) 231-5482 Shawna Marleau, Motonation Canada, at (289) 231-5295 Vince Harker, Motonation Canada, at (403) 758-6600 Giant Loops adventure-proof motorcycle gear packing systems are available from select international distributors, as well as from a network of premium dealers throughout the USA. Giant Loop designs and tests products in Bend, Oregon and manufactures everything in the USA (except for the Canadian made Pronghorn Straps). For all the details, go to www.giantloopmoto.com. # Giant Loop® and the GL® logo are registered trademarks of Giant Loop LLC.
Sorry, let's clear it up, MotoBoss (dig SideStandUp)! We move a lot faster than most companies - constant innovation and improvement driven by customer feedback and thousands of miles of use/testing is our goal here. No. Almost two years ago, we eliminated these features based on customers telling us they couldn't fit their kit in the intended compartments. Instead, Giant Loop has designed modular, customizable systems that can be tailored to fit each ride and riders' needs. We don't all pack the same, ride the same or carry the same gear, and we don't want to force customers to conform to one person's set of needs. This also enabled us to significantly reduce the retail price of the Great Basin Saddlebag. Our primary goal was to make the Great Basin Saddlebag 100% waterproof for the 2014 season by including with the purchase price a set of seam-sealed roll top Dry Pods - at a lower cost than it was to buy them as an optional accessory last year. (The Coyote Saddlebag also includes a set of 3 Dry Pods for 2014, our Siskiyou Panniers have included 2 Dry Pods since their introduction a year ago.) Truth is, when stuffed to the max, the original 5 Dry Pods were not well suited to fitting the interior space of the Great Basin Saddlebag. So for 2014, we replaced the 3 small separate Dry Pods with a single large, double-ended Pod that better fits the space - and helps make the new easier-sliding coil zipper even easier to manage. Here's a pic of the new configuration - two lower Dry Pods that fit the shape of the "legs" and the cool new middle Dry Pod that actually fits most sleeping bags, without needing to own/buy an expensive down-filled mountaineering design: Here's the GREAT news: The original Great Basin Saddlebag wasn't 100% waterproof and it lacked many of the important updates and improvements Giant Loop has made in the past two years (thanks to our incredibly talented and creative design director, who's also an accomplished world traveling adventure motorcyclist, Brian Frankle!). AND it retailed for $439 two year ago! Now, for a few bucks more you and other GL riders can enjoy a truly superior product - easier to use, 100% waterproof, better looking, more finish detail, etc. You are so absolutely right about our website. More good news: It's also getting updated and improved every day too - take a look at the 2014 Giant Loop Adventure Proof Packing Systems. (And yes, we'll update the Great Basin Dry Pods page ASAP!) It may be hard to keep up with Giant Loop - but we're on the throttle and in it to win it! Thanks for coming along for the ride!
Thanks for the clarifications! Now I know what I am getting for what I want to purchase. Incoming order Carry on
To be clear, the Great Basin is just as leaky as it ever was? It is the set of Dry Pods which are waterproof? If the Great Basin isn't, itself, waterproof then calling it 100% waterproof seems misleading?
Can you suggest anything to keep the contents of the Mojavi saddlebags 100% waterproof. Are there any plans to offer a fitted dry sack for the Mojavi's ?