7 Different Bikes,6 Different makes of Panniers and 1 Wind Tunnel

[Kropotkin]

I was on all the bikes,as well as a pillion,and yes,people do mess up the air flow(b'stards)

So, do they make it better or worse? I would expect less of a weave with a pillion, but more susceptible to side winds. But I'm totally guessing here.

I also wasn't paying the full wack for the facilities either,but it still made a sizable hole in my pocket(you really don't want to know)but I still think it is reasonable to expect such testing when you buy something like that.

I think it's fantastic that you do that, Vern, and when the time comes to replace my TT boxes, I'll definitely give your cases very serious consideration.

The one revelation was one of the bikes had a set of Tobinators on it,so we had a play with them as well.I'll post that somewhere else so it gets seen.

I'm REALLY interested in seeing that! I had wondered about doing that testing myself, but when I heard how much it costs to use a wind tunnel, I had a bit of a lie down, until the colour returned to my cheeks, and decided against it ...

 

[darkhorse]

Surprised to learn that the Jesse's are poor, arn't they basically the same shape as yours?

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

Nothing iffy about my MM's - 10,000km's in all types of weather, speeds etc. and no probs since.

One maunfacturer slagging off another manufacturer is the worst form of advertising IMHO.

It's not like he didn't say his own were really crap on an Africa Twin and he did say BMW's system panniers were very good and he didn't say his were perfect.

and if a pannier fell off... it fell off... which does put a bit of a bummer on your day if you were going up an autobahn when it happened

I wouldn't want a set of panniers that fell off with a slight knock it would worry me a bit... i do know that you don't as yet have a quick mount system on verns but the lack of that has the advantage of making them very sturdy.

I don't believe Vern would miss-represent his findings... at least i hope he wouldn't

I am still surprised at the Jessies they look as if they would be good... but looks can be deceiving in aerodynamics... look at race bikes from 50 years ago

 

[Dahoum]

Right,I'm not going to spend all day here,because my head is still bleeding from trying to understand what the feck the whitecoats were talking about yesterday............There you go,pick the bones out of that then

cheers Vern, and as has already been said - respectomundo for the dedication and thoroughness shown.

One point - in the final expanded note the only bike you seem to miss specifically mentioning is the 1200 - any reason?

 

[Kropotkin]

One point - in the final expanded note the only bike you seem to miss specifically mentioning is the 1200 - any reason?

'Cos 1150s are better?

 

[Den]

Dont know if this is relevant, but with standard system cases, fully loaded,solo, my 1150 weaved like a belly dancer over about 110.
With mrs pillion ... steady as a rock. Even with me ducked down behind the screen ont autobahn at 120-127 ish.

 

[DavidHale]

My MM pannier fell off when I was on the M6 but that was because I hit the back of a truck with it . However, in this instance the type of mounting was a good thing as my belief is that if the pannier had been rigidly mounted to the bike then it would have twisted the frames and possibly resulted in a far worse accident for me than was the case. I knocked the box back into shape, clipped it back on the bike and then carried on. Perhaps the ones Vern used weren't properly set up? They are a sod to get spot on, and need a bit of fiddiling to get them absolutely secure, but once that's done they pop on and off very easily and securely.

Not surprised at the wind tunnel results, though. However, when you strap a pair of dustbins to the back of the bike, what do you expect....? Thing is, there are so many variables that may affect the result - rider size + position, how far the pannier is from the bike, how high it is mounted, angle of attack, etc.

Good work though, and interesting to see

 

[Vern]

Nothing iffy about my MM's - 10,000km's in all types of weather, speeds etc. and no probs since.

One maunfacturer slagging off another manufacturer is the worst form of advertising IMHO.

Right,I'm not advertising.The metal mule panniers cost me almost £700,they were fitted as per instructions,and then fell off.So,here's another version just for you:-

The metal mule pannier system is the best by far,they are aerodynamically sound,and once fitted,there is no danger of them coming loose whatsoever.Even if you accidently ride off with the lid not closed properly,they still won't fall off.They are brilliant pieces of kit and I think everyone should have them.In fact,if you buy anything else,you must be an ocean going feckwit.

Happy

 

[Cheesy Mike]

Have to admit that My 1200 with Verns panniers is just as stable at high speed as it is without them, I've done two track days at Cadwell one with and one without and found no difference as well as 20,000 miles with them on on the road. All in all top kit

A track day with Vern's panniers on. You truly are the UKGSer stuntman.

We are not worthy

The metal mule pannier system is the best by far,they are aerodynamically sound,and once fitted,there is no danger of them coming loose whatsoever.Even if you accidently ride off with the lid not closed properly,they still won't fall off.They are brilliant pieces of kit and I think everyone should have them.In fact,if you buy anything else,you must be an ocean going feckwit.

Thanks for clearing that up. I was fearful of having to buy some nasty industrial aluminium panniers from you Vern. MM's for me then!

Mike

 

[nadeem]

Right,I'm not advertising.The metal mule panniers cost me almost £700,they were fitted as per instructions,and then fell off.So,here's another version just for you:-

The metal mule pannier system is the best by far,they are aerodynamically sound,and once fitted,there is no danger of them coming loose whatsoever.Even if you accidently ride off with the lid not closed properly,they still won't fall off.They are brilliant pieces of kit and I think everyone should have them.In fact,if you buy anything else,you must be an ocean going feckwit.

Happy

I think that most folk here respect your opinion and research.How much for your 1200 pannier set Vern, and how easily do yours detach / fit onto the bike?

 

[cookie]

Metal Mule on an 1150.Going into the tunnel,they caught the r/h pannier on the door,and the pannier fell off.Ahem.Put pannier back on,strap bike down,start test.By 60mph,things were not looking good.These things create more turbulance than a 747 taking off,awful.I could go into great detail about these,but I'll be buggered if I'm going to do research for another company.We didn't complete the tests on these panniers,because at 127mph,the test ended itself when the pannier let go again.Every other pannier set had their good points and bad points,but at least they all stayed on the bikes,which I thought was quite a good point.

so you'll be punting them rubbish, dented MM panniers out at rock bottom price then?

 

[Vern]

Like I said,I'm not advertising,and I'm not selling at the moment.I just thought this thread might interest some of you.I've got lots to do before I'm up and running full time,and when I am,I'll make sure you know about all about it.

As for the MM panniers,they are living with the man that bought them for me,so it's up to him what he does with them.If he sells them,I get a cut of the money,if he doesn't,I won't,but they won't appear anywhere under my name.

 

[DavidHale]

When you do get up and running, will you be looking at other bits such as top boxes, or are you going to concentrate on panniers?

 

[guitarman]

Dont know if this is relevant, but with standard system cases, fully loaded,solo, my 1150 weaved like a belly dancer over about 110.
With mrs pillion ... steady as a rock. Even with me ducked down behind the screen ont autobahn at 120-127 ish.

Den, 120 mph on a loaded GS? Are you sure you've bought the right bike?

 

[dirtydog]

Vern, you're about to be attacked by the 'killer Geeks' if you're not careful!

 

[Boxed-in]

One of the things I noticed a long time ago was that if you fit your number plate with the Long side Vertical, rather than the long side Horizontal. There is more space to let the air our between the boxes and the number plate.

On the old BMW's it did make a difference now I suspect it's more physiological that actually makes a difference, but I always change the number plate to read vertically. Also lets the crap out past it rather than blocking a lot of muck and rubbish behind it! (And I know that now it is illeagal to have new number fitted that way) but It's still acceptable with older numbers.


GS
04
XXX

 

[Den]

Den, 120 mph on a loaded GS? Are you sure you've bought the right bike?

That must have been what I heard Louise shout through the Autocom as I ducked down and put her in the windblast.
I thought she had said "Ahh.. you, your a right shi**e.

 

[Packer]

Bump

Researching for a change of panniers and found this golden oldie which in my humble opinion deserves a bump.

 

[Kenny]

If Vern did 200 mph on his donkey 1100, then he'd be like Donald Campbell....just his teddy would survive ( and the outer shell of his wallet) !!!

 

[Voyager61]

What about wind tunnel testing all the aerodynamicly built pie-eating GS owners

Do you mean me?