NAME HERESHIFT- al jesse no longer manufactures the
adventure-style hard luggage that he created and
continues to carry his name (seen here for Honda’s
Africa Twin). For years, Jesse farmed out the sheet-
metal fabrication for his utilitarian side cases and
top boxes to a company in Mesa, Arizona, while he
handled final assembly. This past June, Jesse sold his
business to the owner of that company, Sean Derivan.
“Al is looking forward to semi-retirement and
traveling—he wants to do more riding—so he
asked if I was interested in buying the company,”
Derivan explained. “We have known each other
for a long time, and I understand his philosophy.
Our intent is to take his products a step further.
We’re going to continue with the same durability
and make some improvements as well.”
Materials remain identical, Derivan noted. The
HARD PARTSCASE EVOLUTION
Jesse Luggage Systems Odyssey II44 | september | october 2017boxes continue to be made from 0.080-inch 5052
aluminum and the lids are 0.060—durable and easy
to repair should you huck your BMW or Honda or
Yamaha off a cliff. Basic shape and black, charcoal,
or silver powdercoating are likewise unchanged.
Derivan has targeted improving the latches and
sealing of the lids. He would also like to add more
accessories, like tie-down points.
Derivan, who learned to weld in the Army, has
been studying the growing small-bore market. “Al
and I worked together on a new more economical
concept called the ‘Baja Series,’” he said. “We’re
trying to bring the price down for do-it-your-
selfers who want to handle final assembly and
even get them powdercoated in the color of their
choice. We are also moving forward with a slight
redesign of the Odyssey II.” —Matthew MilesNarrow to fit in tight confines, deep to hold all but the kitchen sink: Black powdercoated Odyssey II side cases
($980, plus $300 for mounts) are available in 8- and 10-inch widths.JULIA LAPALMEMCY1017_PARTS.indd 44 7/19/17 4:57 PM