Pannier advice please

DeanoBeano

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I've just purchased an F800GS and will be buying panniers soon. I'd like to run symmetrical panniers (31 litre both sides). Is this recommended as I know many use an asymmetrical set up due to the exhaust?

One of the main reasons is that I want to keep the width down due to filtering etc.. and that's one of the main reasons that I avoided buying the Adventure model.

Any advice appreciated.
 
Hi Deano,
Now while I can appreciate the wish to not get to wide with panniers fitted I have to ask: are they going to be fitted all the time?
If you are using them every day then maybe a top box would be better. Carry quite a lot and no impact on width.
I would suggest going to a good independent shop; e.g. The Adventure Bike Shop (www.adventurebikeshop.co.uk ); and looking at options.
An independent should give good advice as to what to get. As opposed the nearest Motorrad dealer who will simply try to sell you a set of BMW boxes. And from personal experience a set of bare aluminum boxes look good in a show room but you can't get near them with out sunglasses on a bright day.
SuperTed
 
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I don't think the racks help not sure about the vario's but I've got S.W Motech frames on my F8 and they do seem to stick out quite a way compared to the frames on my mates xt660z for example. I've got 2 sets of panniers (pelicase & S.W Motech) & need to sell one set but they're both off-set size wise for the exhaust. You're welcome to have a look even if it's just to get an idea of sizes etc

AL :thumb2
 
Are you stuck on hard boxes?

If not, I can highly recommend Wolfmann kit - I've got a full set and they're spot on - bit pricey, tho to be fair cheaper than ally boxes!
 
Yes I am stuck on hard boxes. I'd consider vario's for work and maybe Metal Mules for more serious trips.
 
DeanoBeano said:
I've just purchased an F800GS and will be buying panniers soon. I'd like to run symmetrical panniers (31 litre both sides). Is this recommended as I know many use an asymmetrical set up due to the exhaust?

One of the main reasons is that I want to keep the width down due to filtering etc.. and that's one of the main reasons that I avoided buying the Adventure model.


Any advice appreciated.
Click to expand...


Am I being slow here but , symetric will give you a big box on the LHS which is the contact area when overtaking. I have a F650 GS twin, I have a pair of ARD's from Roger of this parrish. I think the Rhs is 8" wide and the lhs 5" this is fro memory. The bike looks balanced, but I have still caught the lhs on things.
Plus 1 for a top box, dont go too big but they are great for maps,a few beers, overtrousers etc.
Hth
Steve
 
Well if your left hand pannier is as wide as your right hand (as in symmetrical) .. it will stick out further because of the exhaust :blast

FFS buy the panniers, fit and ride off in to the setting sun :D

Pannier Porn

:beerjug:
 
I understand the maths with this. One pannier will always stick out due to the exhaust so there's nothing that can be done about that. I'll do some research and see what will work best. Thanks for all the advice so far though.
 
Fit Givi 21l panniers onto SW Motcheck QD pannier frames. When not in use the frames take off in seconds and have no visible impact on the bike. The panniers are cheap top loading devices that look like small toilet cisterns, however at £110 per pair they are very robust. They may only hold 21l but wit the hinged top lid you can get much more in than the BMW Various panniers and they weigh much less. You can also do a few long tours on the money you will save over the alloy panniers.
My R1200gs with varios fell over while stationary, broke the hinge and expanding mechanism, finished the holiday with a luggage strap round it and cost £100s to repair. The Givis have been through much worse and are just scratched.
 
Hi,

I went hard cases too. To make this easier you can get symmetrical panniers from metal mule if they still do them - they use an oval exhaust and a slightly modified link pipe to narrow the profile.

If you're happy to do a bit of DIY then eBay has a few plastics companies selling Peli style waterproof cases for about £40 each. For attachments to frames you can use the pucks sold by a few companies or even hose holders from a hydraulics supplier (they seem to be universally green if you can live with that). Last summer i managed to crack both of mine playing on hairpins in the Alps but the main of the cases stayed intact albeit no longer waterproof. For this reason i would recommend dry bags inside them.

Good luck,

S
 
I used Givi E21 on my recent trip to the Ardennes. They are good in conjunction with a topbox as they allow you to filter on the M25. My bike is a Tracer with no silly exhaust.

They would be okay for a week away if everything you need is small enough. Handily, each E21 will take 6 wine bottles in a supermarket bag for life wine bag (as long as they are the shorter French variety used for rhone or bordeaux reds).

I'd like to use them for my commute but sadly the massive Dell laptop I get issued with is too big by 2cm, so I continue to use my topbox for commuting, keeping weight high.
 
For those not sure what a Givi 21 Set up looks like on a F800 (This bike is the F650GS but they fit all other variants)
P1000048-1.jpg

P1000066.jpg


Compared to the Vario panniers which hold about the same due to the difficult loading

P1010831.jpg
 
Why not soft panniers?

I have Enduristans on my GSA. They're very roomy, flexible and a bit less intimidating when filtering. They're also 100% dry so far (touch wood!) which is something to be wary of with hard cases. Personally I hate top boxes :mad:
 
I have had a few panniers over the 4 and a half years I owned my 650GS. (Stahlkoffer, Metal mule, Givi Trekker) And for me the best was the give trekkers:

IMG_0243_zpsd460d8fa.jpg

IMG_0240_zps16952f89.jpg

IMG_0244_zpsbbc13150.jpg


The trekkers I had fitted were 33lt both sides and made the width at the rear just under a meter.

When I had the metal mules which were and amazing pannier but I found the size and width of the 38lt I had didn't suit the bike:

DSCF1528.jpg


If I was too be offroading I wouldn't take the mules and go for soft luggage.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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