What size Aluminium Panniers for BMW R1150 GS?

tommyleyland

Registered user

Joined

Jun 15, 2016

Messages

13

Reaction score

0

Location

Manchester, England

• Jun 15, 2016

• #1

Hey all,
I'm looking at buying some aluminium panniers for my R1150GS from someone in Germany, he has 3 sizes:

32 Litre (24x49x37cm)
36 Litre (27x49x37cm)
41 Litre (29,5x49x37cm)

I'm looking to use the GS every day but have some large trips planned (2 of us on the bike) like Africa and Large Euro-trip.

I'm torn on what sizes to get, don't want too big for rideability and definitely not too small for space.

Thanks in advance!

 

Bryn

Moderator

Mod Squad

Moderator

Joined

Sep 20, 2003

Messages

13,805

Reaction score

83

Location

South Leicestershire

• Jun 15, 2016

• #2

41's will be too wide...stick to the middle ground

Welcome to the site BTW.

 

Rushy

Well-known member

UKGSer Subscriber

Joined

Feb 2, 2003

Messages

13,347

Reaction score

122

Location

Cheshire ....somewhere on my bike

• Jun 15, 2016

• #3

Have a look at the Kappa K Venture K37 metal panniers, they are a good compromise on size and they also do a 58Litre top box to match . Kappa is made by Givi only better priced.

 

PhaedrusMC

Well-known member

UKGSer Subscriber

Joined

Nov 10, 2015

Messages

1,562

Reaction score

1

Location

Dublin

• Jun 15, 2016

• #4

Doesn't the 1150GS' exhaust dictate that the left pannier be smaller, in order to preserve balance?

Even if only for aesthetics, I'd be going 41l right, 36l left.

 

tommyleyland

Registered user

Joined

Jun 15, 2016

Messages

13

Reaction score

0

Location

Manchester, England

• Jun 15, 2016

• #5

I have removed the stock exhaust and have a stubby exhaust on there now so I can have even sizes. I was thinking of the 32ltr as they're 9" wide but maybe the 36ltr would be a good middle ground?

 

PhaedrusMC

Well-known member

UKGSer Subscriber

Joined

Nov 10, 2015

Messages

1,562

Reaction score

1

Location

Dublin

• Jun 15, 2016

• #6

Ah. Then yep - two 36l is what I'd go for.

But be prepared to revisit your decision when you see what Mrs tommyleyland wants to pack for that 2-up trip...

Maybe the rule for putting manners on passenger's bike-trip luggage aspirations should be:

1. Bike-necessary stuff (spares, tools) takes priority over the rider's & passenger's personal stuff.
2. Camping stuff (tent, sleeping, cooking) takes next priority.
3. Whatever remaining space in the panniers (& top box, if used) is split 50/50 between rider's & passenger's personal stuff.
4. Anything more that the passenger wants to take than can fit in that remaining pannier/top-box space gets carried in a backpack on the passenger's back...

Happy holidays...

 

barak666

Well-known member

UKGSer Subscriber

Joined

Jan 19, 2016

Messages

1,146

Reaction score

34

Location

Northampton

• Jun 16, 2016

• #7

Rushy said:

Have a look at the Kappa K Venture K37 metal panniers, they are a good compromise on size and they also do a 58Litre top box to match . Kappa is made by Givi only better priced.

Click to expand...

Just fitted this setup to my 1150 - Kappa panniers exactly the same as the Outback Trekkers apart from the way they fit to the frames. Very pleased with the result.