Let's make this topic alive again. Long time without post and all the pics have vanished also. There's been some progress and many new bags have seen sunlight. DIY/MYOG has turned to small "business". Well not business actually but hobby that has brought some extra money. Below few bags I have made during last year.

Finally I got some Xpax VX21 which has been a bit difficult to find or at least really expensive in Europe. Next bags will be for my Farley 9.8. Slightly color coded with grey and blue. Made out of combination of Xpac and Cordura 1000d.

^ What needs to be changed?

The bags look great. Any seat bag sway?

Straps and their positioning could be better. Easier to install but same time firmer attachment. Sway isn't bad at all when straps are well positioned.

Only real problem was if drybag need to be opened during the day and wasn't compressed enough after that. Tightening of the harness just made bag "divide" and sway more. Maybe you get my point from the picture below? See how end of the bag is hanging. That could be corrected only by taking drybag away and compressing it again = quite a lot to do if needed many times during the day.

Harness for drybag was ok, but I think for my daytrip-use traditional seatbag could be more usefull. I'll make one of those also. I think harness will work better on overnighter when I don't need to open bag during day.

First trip done with selfmade bags. Everything worked ok, got some experience for next bags.

Let's continue with seatbag. Finally it's nearly finished, just need to make straps for seatpost.

Material is Cordura 1000D. I wanted to make a harness which would accept 10-13 liter drybag. In the picture there is fully loaded 10 liter bag.

Framebag for Surly Instigator is ready.

This became quite nice considering it's my second self made bag. It takes spare tube, some tools and 2,5l USWE water bladder. Made routing for the hose also. That funny "tube" on the side is for Manfrotto monopod/selfiestick.  

This was really cool! Just answered to you via Instagram also.  I'm just starting my trip soon (mid july) but nothing that hard, not even close. Do you have your gps-track or other cordinates somewhere? Would love to know in which area you drove.

Hmm - did you have to modify the bag to attach it like that?

No I didn't. I removed shoulder strap and used four selfmade straps to mount the bag on handlebar and fork. Mounting is well secured and original raincover is easy to use.

I allready posted this picture to my DIY-gear-post but accidentially found this topic. Maybe this is helpful, sorry for double.

I tried to find good solution for Nikon D90 and 18-200 zoom (+additional 35mm lens) and found from local store Lowepro Toploader Zoom 50 for less than 40€.

It's a perfect match for rigid 483mm Salsa fork and 27+ tire.

Wanted to come back to tell some experiences. Nobby Nic front & Rocket Ron rear have been really pleasent surprise. Even snakeskin's are light and fast rolling. Those also have decent grip. Room for 3" has been a bit problem so Flow EX rim's are going to be ok in the future. Rim's are a bit narrow and need bit more pressure which is sad.

My next selfmade bags are on their way but this was something extra.

Bag is Lowepro Toploader Zoom 50. It's perfect fit to my short stem and rigid fork. With some extra padding Nikon D90 with zoom fit there nicely.
I know this isn't "real" bikepacking equipment but I presume there is also other rider's who would like to carry a decent camera on a daytrip.

Instigator 2.0 is getting there. It seems quite nice base for bikepacking as rigid 27+. Like smaller version of Krampus, should be suitable for 169cm (5'6") rider. Weight should be close to 12,5kg (27-28lbs) without bags. Waiting for RF Aeffect cranks and XT cassette to arrive for finishing build.

Just to inform: Nobby Nic front and Rocket Ron rear (both Evo Snakeskin Pacestar) are now waiting summer. If those are good I'll get another Rocket Ron front for longer trip's. If tire clearance is good on Flow EX rim's I'll make new wheelset with DT XM551 rim's.

New topic for my diy bags. First one is ready and several other's are on table or idea-level. I'll add all of those here within next few month's.

First one (I ever made) is framebag for Surly Straggler. Size is made to accept 2,5 liter refill bladder from USWE hydropack. Material is Cordura, sand 330d and black 1000d.

To add another Lighter Cheaper option look at the Panracer Fat B Nimble 27.5 x 3.5 In my experience Panaracer over states the tire widths on the Fat B Nimbles across the line.

That was interesting option. Found also good review for Chronicle @ bikepacking.com.

I would not worry about tire weight at all, and instead focus on performance for your needs. You haven't really mentioned where you will be riding and for how long, which may change your tire choice.

Performance needed would be good rolling and puncture protection. I thought low weight would mean good for rolling and accelerating. Tire should be "overall tire" for several trips.

For trips "minimum" is overnight ride with my son which means easy terrain and 10-20km per day. Easy trails like this and roads like this. Also just normal gravel roads. Son has 26" hardtail with Ardent front & Ikon back.

Maximum for my trips would be 2-4 days trip's alone in Norway and northern Finland. That means probably 20-70km per day on gravel roads and easy trail's. Road's like this and this. Also smaller road's like this and ATV trail's like this.

Liteskin is probably bad choise as you mentioned. And Chronicle is probably safe choise. I think I won't need "knobbier" tire for that terrain. It's still open do I benefit going from 26+ to 27+. Instigator frame and Salsa fork will take all of those anyway.

Come on, 96 times of reading and nothing to comment?

Just to add one more for my list:

There is also possibility to use 26+ setup with 50mm Rabbit Hole rim's and 3" Knard's. (875g and 98€ for comparison)

Hello

I need tires for 27+ project. My choise would be size 27,5x3 and I'm fighting between these choises:

Maxxis Chronicle Exo TR Dual  (990g)  (80€)
Schwalbe Rocket Ron Evo Liteskin  (720g)  (43€)
Schwalbe Rocket Ron Evo Snakeskin  (830g)  (43€)

RR is a lot cheaper and it is also lighter. On the other hand I have read/heard good experiences of Chronicles but no comparison.

My riding would be 50% gravel road / 30% trail / 20% tarmac. Bike is full rigid Surly Instigator with bags and heavy load.

Is there really good reason to choose Chronicle? I guess rolling and puncture protection are most important. I will be riding these tubeless.

Which of tires would you prefer and why?

I promised to come back to tell how rigid Instigator feels. I made it also single speed and 650b. Feels great this way! About 11,5kg bike in this mode.





For winter I changed to Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro's (sorry bad picture quality).



After winter I'll change Instigator to bikepacking-mode with 1x10 gearing and probably add 3" Chronicles with 35mm 650b wheels.

I just couldn't wait more comment's so I decided to give a try with this. There isn't much to loose but it could turn out quite nice also!

I ordered Salsa Firestarter steel fork for the project. I'll make a quick mockup with this fork and try how bike handles with 26" and 27,5" tires. 26x3 Knard's are looking good on Rabbit Hole rim's  so that might also be a interesting choise to use. I also need to try different seat, bar and stem choises to see what way I like to go with. Sadly I don't have yet any touring bar with 25-45 degrees bend.

After all this test and prepartion I'll take Instigator into pieces and start new build for this winter. ICT with studded Bud/Lou and Ragley with new 27,5x2,25 Ice Spiker Pro's are going to be a perfect combo for winter riding while building Instigator.

Why not bikepack on the ragley?
Unless I'm missing something.

Well not exactly missing. Maybe I just tried to say that ICT and Ragley are having good position as they are right now. No need to add anything or make modifications to be usefull. That way Instigator would be only "useless" right now and would be good doner for bike packing modifications.