Brings to mind an interesting menory.
Back in 2001 I was running some non Harley luggage (Fabric military panniers from the Army Surplus store) en route to Finlake when they contacted the rear disc and caught fire on the M5 just before the A38. Frictions a bitch!
I suspected something was amiss when the Jag behind me slammed on the brakes and dropped right back. Then a guy on a sports bike came up beside me and started ponting frantically at the back of the bike. My girlfriend of the time was on the pillion.
So I pulled over and the whole back end of the bike was alight. Girlfriend jumped off and ran for her life.
Fortunatey I was carrying a knife (another plus point for doing so) and managed to put my hands in the flames and cut the straps and pull off the burning panniers.
All the cage drivers continied past glancing with interest at me trying to stomp on the remains of the panniers which were now spilling out my girflriends underwear.
A guy in an HGV slowed down and threw me a bottle of water out of his window whch I put to good use. (+1 for truckers!)
Eventually the cops turned up and were no use whatsoever and eventually a fire engine but by then as a seafarer well trained in fire fighting I had things well under control.
Tent also was above the panniers on a fender rack so had turned into a melted mess.
I assesed the situation and suggested carrying on "We can buy a new tent and some more knickers for you? Yes??"
But Amy my girlfriend refused to get back on the bike asserting that it must be unsafe......which it wasnt so I was forced to call the RAC and get it trailered home.
The relationship didn't last in the end.