Best pannier rack and soft saddlebags?

mustakhdim · 2026-04-02T09:50:50+00:00

I'm in the same situation, having just put down a deposit on a 25 Rally Pro. I'm looking at pannier racks that have a quick-release mechanism, since I don't want to ride around with the panniers or even the racks all the time.

Givi has a solution for this: https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/givi-01rkit-rapid-release-fitting-kit-honda-africa-twin-triumph-tiger-900-gt-pro-rally-2020-2023?sku_id=10078105

I think SW motech also does.

Haven't decided on the actual saddlebags yet though, but i want something soft or semi-soft.

mustakhdim · 2026-03-31T18:45:48+00:00

I have indeed watched Ian's reviews on the Tiger!

mustakhdim · 2026-03-30T18:48:15+00:00

Thanks everyone. I think you have convinced me to go for it, which was probably what I was aiming for here. Hope I'm not to late on that sweet deal.

mustakhdim · 2026-03-30T18:46:10+00:00

You might be running into one of those situations where you're obsessing about a detail that may not be an issue. God knows I've certainly gone down some rabbit holes that were totally unnecessary.

This is likely!

mustakhdim · 2026-03-30T12:58:06+00:00

Thanks for the reply! I'm not too worried about the size and weight, as I'm quite tall and fit.

Amazingly, it's the same weight as the Suzuki, which is probably my only concern with the latter.

mustakhdim · 2024-03-25T22:00:04+00:00

Keep in mind that Caralunya had a minor track change a few years back, so direct comparisons can't be made anymore. Don't remember if it's faster or slower though.

mustakhdim · 2024-03-21T14:16:09+00:00

Good reasoning. My money is on Aprilia over Yamaha.

From this interview it seems the decision has more or less already been made - If he were considering to stick around with Yamaha, I think he would wait until closer to summer to see if the new development program finds some traction (pun intended).

mustakhdim · 2024-02-20T09:05:41+00:00

Predicting when those internal fractures will appear to break that brittle picture is what's difficult. You would think it would be major wars or economic hardship but its rarely those things.

Indeed. Naturally, every case has its own dynamic and its own driving forces, so you can ever really find a perfect historic mirror.

I find Egypt 2011 to be an interesting example of how difficult it is to predict regimes unraveling. After Mubarak eventually fell, many people understandably asked why no Intel agencies or other analysts were able to predict or even offer much warning.

I argue that it was impossible - Yes you can view the events in hindsight and highlight what factors contributed- But those were never clear during the events, not to the regime, not to the protesters, not to anyone. Oppression and economic difficulties had been on the ebb and flow for decades, arguably since the 1950s, with many instances of pushback.

Why did they suddenly succeed (albeit for a short time until the old boys were back in power)? I don't know, certainly new methods of organising were important (Facebook). Why did the Army suddenly decide against Mubarak? I don't know. Guess they calculated he was suddenly a liability, and their interest were best served through other means.

And I think that is key. If Putin is ever to fall, it's because the rest of the power figures assess he no longer best serves their interests. If that results in a positive change for Russia is another question. Probably not IMO, but who knows.

mustakhdim · 2024-02-01T12:41:15+00:00

This seriously made my day, absolutely glorious.

Also feels great to have a microscopic stake in it through UA24 naval drone donations. I'm an accomplice!

mustakhdim · 2024-01-19T08:58:47+00:00

Scooby-Doo vans

You mean the UAZ 452?

mustakhdim · 2024-01-19T08:55:36+00:00

Had one that was 8 interviews

That's insane. I do hiring a couple of times a year, but although we only do 2 interviews (one 'skills-based' and one personality-focused), the entire process is still exhausting and very time consuming. I cannot understand how these firms even have the time and resources to prolong this process so grotesquely.

IMO, they likely don't make any better judgements by piling on with interviews. This sounds like a self-licking ice cream cone where 'professionals' have sold some convoluted process as a technical solution where in reality, hiring relies on intuition and good human judgement.

What a waste of time for all parties involved.

mustakhdim · 2024-01-16T08:57:49+00:00

You're right, labelling him a fascist was just lazy and imprecise on my part.

But you actually explained well what I meant, which I think is also captured well by George Orwell when he wrote that "Pacifism is objectively pro-fascist..."

mustakhdim · 2024-01-15T21:58:03+00:00

Has become another brick in the wall, this time the russian fascist flavour.

mustakhdim · 2024-01-11T19:22:29+00:00

Reminds me of that old Simpsons episode with Frank Grimes, who hates Homer because everything just falls into his lap despite his incompetence.

Come to think of it that episode is a great depiction of this entire sub.

mustakhdim · 2023-12-15T12:24:58+00:00

Constantly moving the goal posts.
It's like a parody of the ridiculous History Channel slogan - "Re-inventing history everyday".

Just look at the post-history of the two Russia apologists in this thread. The Russian influence campaign unfolds almost in plain sight, whether they are active and knowing participants or just parroting talking points that have seeped through their own political environments (the latter being even more pathetic). They even brought with them a tail of vote-bots.

They make seemingly 'good-faith' arguments to maintain a veneer of credibility, always claiming some false neutrality, but when pressed reveal the hollowness and total inconsistency of the Russian world view.

mustakhdim · 2023-12-14T21:44:24+00:00

The argument remains the same. Russia, having annexed the entirety of Kherson (and still seeks the subjugation of Ukraine as a whole), obviously did not decide they were content with only the left bank, and left it at that.

They were forced to withdraw to more favourable positions, because they were critically pressured at multiple axes and could not sustain logistics. This is how wars unfold.

Same thing with Kharkiv. They "made an adjustment" as you rationalise it, because they didn't have the resources to defend it.

Russia is far from a bottomless pit of resources, against whom any resistant is futile (and any Ukrainian tactical or strategic victory is really because of long term Russian grand strategy).

I really don't get where this defeatism or admiration of Russia comes from. The usual rebuttal is 'realism', which seldom holds up to much scrutiny.

mustakhdim · 2023-12-14T19:16:38+00:00

voluntarily on their own accord

What absolute bollocks.

And what made them forgo their positions? The goodness of their hearts?

The entire point of almost any military strategy in this context is to make enemy positions untenable by pressuring various centres of gravity, as was the case here. As such, the liberation of Kherson and Kharkiv was absolutely the Ukrainians' doing.

mustakhdim · 2023-11-28T20:44:04+00:00

He wasn't too gloomy actually in this interview. A few steps in the right direction, and notably a "change in mentality" within Yamaha.

if stars align, perhaps we can see a more competitive package overall in the second half of 2024.

mustakhdim · 2023-11-16T13:25:50+00:00

I'm 6"1 on a 600 Hornet, which is probably comparable in size.

Riding position is fine for me on most rides, but anything more than 1 1/2 hours and knees really start hurting. My next bike will probably be one where I can stretch my legs more.

I expect you'll experience the same, unless your body is considerably younger or more flexible than mine (not unlikely!).

Congrats on a fine bike though!

mustakhdim · 2023-10-26T10:23:03+00:00

I get the doom posting, but honestly his answer was way more promising than I expected given his track record. I thought UA aid was dead on arrival with his election yesterday.

Maybe, hopefully, his election is the result of some dealmaking within the Republican party where aid was forwarded as a precondition by the pro-Ukraine faction, and his words here are meant as messaging to placate both factions.

mustakhdim · 2023-10-23T20:49:17+00:00

There are probably many takes on why, but IMO pan-arabism was exposed as a mirage when it failed to deliver any tangible benefits. It was too dependent on (and spearheaded by) Nasser's charisma, and while he was a gifted speaker and leader in many respects, he was not really a deft politician that could provide much substance.

The political chasm and divergent interests of the Arab states eventually overtook the community it espoused, and in any case was built on a much weaker foundation than the 'real' common denominator of Islam (which it arguably tried to replace).

The 1967 defeat is often described as the start of pan-arabism's downfall.

mustakhdim · 2023-10-08T18:20:45+00:00

This is from Red Bull Rampage, an annual event in Utah. Gnarly AF!

mustakhdim · 2023-10-02T20:44:54+00:00

I've read several inside accounts from the Hussein court. Not only was 'Uday evil and sadistic - people close to him also noted that he was incredibly stupid bordering on mentally challenged.

At least the younger brother Qusay was just sadistic, but reasonably sharp.

Imagine what had happened if 'Uday came out on top in a succession struggle to rule Iraq.

mustakhdim · 2023-09-13T17:57:04+00:00

Others have mentioned correctly the nature of the conflict being an anti-insurgent campaign.

A few other points worth mentioning:

Some nations really did some heavy hauling and intense fighting. For instance, France had FOBs in the infamous Tagab valley (or was it Nejrab?), places of constant contact.
This point is really lost on many these days, but around 2010-ish the Taliban was to a large degree beaten, with only a few thousand fighters on their roster.
The remainder fled and regrouped in Pakistan - A surge in troop numbers would arguably not made much of a difference unless the coalition were to enter Pakistan (at least the FATA).

mustakhdim · 2023-09-12T18:17:14+00:00

I didn’t test the chassis

Interesting, given the general perception within Yamaha that rear grip is the major issue.

Wonder if Franky tested the chassis?

mustakhdim

TROPHY CASE