Does anyone here use tank panniers? What brand do you use? What is thee carrying capacity? How do you like them? How do they perform? How do they handle wet weather?

Thx!

I was considering this for my KLR, but I'd like something that I can mount farther forward in front of my knees instead of under them, and they are kinda pricey.

http://www.tankvest.com/

No experience, but I have wondered the same thing. How they work and what one keeps in them.   

Tools and parts. Keeps the weight forward. 

I have the 'stich tank panniers and used them frequently with my R1100R instead of a regular tankbag. They held all the usual tankbag stuff but I didn't need to remove them to get gas.

An unexpected side benefit was their acting almost like fairing lowers in that they deflected some of the airflow between the bottom of the screen and the cylinders. I found myself less wet riding in the rain with them than without.  Also

I can't think of any real drawbacks except lack of a map pocket on top, but that was easily remedied with a bit of velcro and a clear plastic sleeve.

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I say go for it. If you don't like them you can always sell them, give them away or add them to the pile of moto-stuff that we all accumulate when something seems like a good idea but doesn't end up working out as we'd hoped.
One day I plan to build a fort out of my stock of 'not quite the right one' tankbags.

Like I said, forward weight. 

But it makes it harder to wheelie.

I've got a set made by RKA (only made em for a short period of time) that are really close to the Stich panniers in terms of size and quality . . . . .

I use em on my KLR (they mount forward enough for my legs to tuck in behind) . . . hwile I used to pack my camping kitchen and the like in em, I had flashes of something solid (and pointy) impacting my (aftemarket) plastic gas tank . . .. now, I pack spare tubes and and long tools (tire irons and the like) to minimize puncturing the tank (which may be something I really shouldn't worry about).

Anything in the panniers that would suffer from moisture gets plastic bagged . . . . if you're on the fence, ATV folks have really inexpesive versions of the same thing ou could try out with little fear of spending lucre on something you wind up not wanting.

We did tank panniers for one KLR trip, and one trip only…  They blocked too much airflow from my legs.  Hot air from the radiator pooled behind my calf and caused a nasty, blistered burn.

I'm not the brightest thing.

We've been trying to tell you that but you just don't get it.

Quote from: Scottzilla on March 05, 2014, 08:10:31 PM

I'm not the brightest thing.

We've been trying to tell you that but you just don't get it.

True.  I'm not the brightest thing...

I, personally, won't do tank panniers again!

I guess it really depends on the bike and the weather conditions. I used tank panniers for a month in Mexico and never had a problem. I also had a set for the 1150 GS and again, no problems. Yes, they do block the air flow which can be good or bad 

I used mine for my camelback and some odds and ends. I found them handy, but didn't use them very often. If I didn't need much stuff then then tank bag sufficed. If I needed more room then the standard panniers came out and the tank panniers were just "too much".

At one point I did use the tank panniers as rear panniers and that worked out very well; the perfect amount of storage space!