Baggage test SHAD Terra Black

If today the trip has become a must in the life of a biker, you should know that doing it with the right gear enhances the pleasure. Moreover, I returned from a short three-day trip on the SuperDuke R of about 3 km. And this is with a backpack. It's nice, but we won't go there in four ways, my back doesn't thank me. He doesn't even talk to me anymore. Fortunately, at the same time, Spanish brand Shad is promoting a new black version of their aluminum suitcase: Terra Black... So I have the opportunity to try them out on my KTM 790 Adventure. What portends a bright and happy future without a physiotherapist! 

Terra is an adventure oriented series with straight and pronounced shapes. In the "Black Edition" we find a mixture of black with a rough gray finish, it gives a really beautiful style while remaining sober. In the assortment you will find everything: side cases with a volume of 36 l and 47 l, top cases with a volume of 48 l or 37 l. Also many accessories such as: aprons, grids, various mounting plates. And even saddlebags that fit in suitcases. 

The strength of these products is that they are designed to withstand the most extreme loads. Hello paths and trails! On the other hand, do not forget that your back is wider with such a suitcase. Don't stop by the tree! 

Build Terra Black, nothing rocket science

Those who have never installed such equipment before should be aware that before driving up the luggage, you need to fix the structures on the motorcycle: a plate for the top box and an arch for the sidewalls.  

I'm not really a handyman, it takes me about an hour to fix everything according to the instructions. Nothing fancy, you just need to carefully choose the number of screws and washers. 

For the side housings, this is the so-called "4-point" mount, because it mounts in 4 places on the motorcycle. It provides reliable traction and no premature swaying, even on uneven roads. After all the screws are tightened, the assembly will not budge slightly. The advantage of this type of mount is that it also serves as protection in the event that the motorcycle falls. Even the exhaust is protected by the case mount! 

One thing that I think is well done is that the suitcases come with an extra key cylinder that replaces the cylinder in the top drawer and so they only have one key for all the luggage. Replacement is made in 5 minutes and brings real comfort with regular use of the kit!  

Last but not least, 4 holes must be drilled to secure the backrest of the passenger seat, not necessarily to the top box. It's okay, everything is planned. But this is just the fact of breaking through an object of such value, it put a lot of pressure on me ... But in concrete words, we cannot miss it! 

Ready for adventure

I really love the aesthetics of these Terra Black bags, which are very adventurous and well geared towards off-roading. They combine visual and practical elements: a small dust cover on the key barrels, the unpainted part is actually a handle that opens to carry the suitcase when it is unhooked. The top case has attachments for attaching an additional bag, etc. The adventure is at your fingertips! 

As for the finish, Shad hits hard... There are no parasitic backlashes, everything seems solid and fits perfectly together. I don’t think I’m taking a risk by saying these products will last long. 

So happy?

I'm glad I have Terra Black suitcases for motorcycle travel. They are beautiful and downright practical! We can already store a bunch of things in two suitcases and an overhead suitcase without distorting the 790 Adventure off-road track. Also, the Terra's handle / rigid suspension system for securing and transporting is really well done, they can be assembled and disassembled without any effort if you understand the system.  

And for the first time, I got into the habit of leaving my topcase on my motorcycle for my daily commute. And this is no small feat, we can say that it is beautiful. So Shad offers us very good gear with this Terra set, the quality is undeniable!  

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