1150GSA - BMW Plastic System or Metal Panniers..?

[JohnnyBoxer]

I have one GSA that has Plastic System Panniers (with bigger Global Lids)

Off the bike ..............I prefer the cleaner lines

The other GSA has the standard metal GSA Panniers, which are ok, but are wide, hold a fair bit and look the part

The framework, is something I hate though.................spoils the look of the bike

I have another set of System Panniers that I could put on the black GSA and as i'm not a big camper, so metal boxes seem ott for hotels and B&B......so any views

 

[monkeyboy]

The black plastic ones make the bike look like a short very fat bird from behind IMO - nasty. The aluminium ones do have a nasty frame I agree. Slim 9" Verns are what you want. Luuuurvery

 

[John Armstrong]

Take the pizza frames off the bike the 40 odd weeks a year you don't have the need for them?

 

[roddy]

Take the pizza frames off the bike the 40 odd weeks a year you don't have the need for them?

+1 for that, this is what I do very easy to take off/on, rear pegs look neater if you have the original pegs though

 

[forry]

That's was what i liked about civils racks they looked good with the panniers off.Whats Verns racks look like with boxes off ?

 

[Udders]

How much do you want for the metal box's and frames WHEN you come to sell them?

 

[Wrigsby1]

Plastics are fine for most normal things. Metals are more for the serious RTW type bikers and/or the hardcore GS look Normal Plastics probably have better "deflective" qualities when filtering (round edges). Global lids obviously make the bike wiiiiiiide too.

 

[Pauly S]

my view

I found the std tupperware boxes a pita, when you open them up, most things fall out all over the road, however they are more streamlined and prob more fuel efficient at speed.You also cant really fill them to capacity without liner bags, and they are a weird shape inside.
Personally ive settled for a set of civils city panniers, which stay on the bike all the time,they are not too wide, they dont cause any problems with traffic, and i dont really know they are there.And i can fit 99% of my stuff in it for a decent trip.regs Paul

 

[Micky]

I can get a month of travel out of a roll bag easy

 

[daveg]

I prefer the look with the system panniers but they are always a PITA to use even with liners. Difficult to use all the space easily unlike aluminium boxes.

 

[Deleted account 231002001]

System panniers.

 

[MIKE R]

A compromise could be to sell both sets and get a pair of Trax panniers.

They are alloy panniers with about the same capacity as the metal GSA ones, but the mounting frames are QD (they can be locked on) leaving very small mounting brackets. You could have the mounting brackets on both bikes, and only attach the mounting frames when required.

See here:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iilwZXzBnZs

Adventure Bike Warehouse in Salford stock them

Mike

 

[geordie156]

System panniers.

+1 for the system panniers

 

[(RIP) Bobble]

I can get a month of travel out of a roll bag easy

I take it that's not camping, but staying in hotels /b&b's?

 

[sloukes]

I haven't seen those global lids before - are they still available?

 

[Micky]

A compromise could be to sell both sets and get a pair of Trax panniers.
Mike

Not Trax, they're sh*te.

I take it that's not camping, but staying in hotels /b&b's?

Yup ... I'll stick the panniers (BMW) on if I'm camping

 

[metropolis2k]

Have to say I like the system panniers. I do like the look of the metal panniers which I think are a bit more rugged and butch but I think the system ones are a bit more sleek and subtle.

Off the bike there's no contest as you say. There's half a climbing frame on one bike and almost nothing noticeable on the other.

Can't speak from experience as to the practicality of either as I've had my GS for precisely 2 days and haven't even put anything in the system ones yet. I will say I like how easy they are to remove and how clean the bike looks without them. I don't think the side loading aspect will affect me as I also have a top box (which I'm not 100% on), a spare tail pack and a couple of different sized tank bags for easy access items.

At the end of the day, you've got two GSAs so why not keep both sets of panniers? One can be your rugged RTW tourer looking bike and the other a 'weekend away' bike.

 

[tully]

panniers

the plastic ones are ok if you hit a car whilst filtering in traffic (on the M25)

I properly hit this car when scooting through this jam and the only damaged was a "mark" on the black plastic pannier where I had hit this guy's bumper - and it rubbed out no probs. He made no fuss either

I've got ARD cases (Metal Adventure Style Panniers) now which are great doubling up as seats whilst camping etc, and aren't any wider than the bars

However I wouldn't like to hit a car with the ARD cases on the bike....they are very solid.!!!

 

[GS TRV]

Metal Mules are the ultimate

 

[Decster]

........

At the end of the day, you've got two GSAs so why not keep both sets of panniers? One can be your rugged RTW tourer looking bike and the other a 'weekend away' bike.

one for 's and one for posing at the Ace cafe