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Travelling on a BMW F650GS I found my short legs struggled with the weight of all the luggage , it was exhausting , and I lacked confidence to ride even the easiest of gravel roads . When the time came to find a new bike for the Australian part of our journey , I chose a nimble little Honda NX250 .
Such a small engine couldn ’ t handle as much weight , and since I wasn ’ t going on a diet , I had to reduce my gear . Metal panniers on steel frames were no longer an option . In the end I chose the Adventure
Spec Magadan MK3 saddlebags .
The MK3s are designed to go with a frame . But I made my own , which also doubles as a tool roll and a stand for tyre changes . The weight of the saddlebags is mainly held by adjustable straps over the back seat , leaving space for a lockable top box on the bike ’ s rack .
Securing the bags with smaller buckle straps at various points , such as the pillion foot pegs , holds them in place even on rough terrain , and makes it quick to remove the bags at the end of the ride .
With 64 litres , the Magadan ’ s easily accommodate all the gear and spare parts I need for different climates and in remote places , while keeping the weight wonderfully low for better handling .
Adventure Spec offers various external options , such as bottle holders , cook and layer pouches to customise your kit as needed . They attach securely to the front and back of the panniers via the Molle system . I opted for two of the large layer pouches for my bike cover and my rain gear , as both might be packed away wet sometimes .
When you push yourself to the limits , or , like me , you ’ re not very good at off-roading but you don ’ t let that stop you , crashing is inevitable . In my experience , single-layer waterproof bags do tear easily , no matter how tough the material . The Magadan ’ s outer 1000D Cordura fabric protects a separate inner waterproof layer . The Cordura might tear eventually , but it can easily be sewn up again .
The Adventure Spec waterproof rolltop bags , made from heavy duty
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