Advice required regarding aluminium panniers please

[Montrose Sun]

Hi guys, need your help please.

After scouting around looking for a GSA but being offered £4000 for a minted 2006 1200 GS with 6000 miles, ive decided to stick with what ive got and make the alterations to my bike that i was wanting from the GSA, except the fuel range obviously.

I've got 1 Month old Vario panniers on my 1200 GS and although i like them, id far rather prefer a top loading pannier, something that is nice and square inside (i.e. without the odd shapes of the expanding levers) and something that is more fitting IMO to the look of the GS.

I need your help as to which to buy.

My criteria is -

1) I need the Varios to cover the majority (if not all) of the cost of the new cases

2) Must be top loading

3) Bungee hooks on the lids would be handy

4) Very secure (or as good as poss)

5) They must sit at a height that will be comfy for all sorts of pillions

6) They must not be wider than the bars

7) If poss, i dont want to HAVE to put liners in

8) Easy to attach / unattach

9) Must look ok - not in a poesure type way, i just dont want ugly panniers

Think thats it. My bike has an Akcrpovic exhaust is that makes any odds?

Had a quick look on 'show us your...............' and the zega's look nice?

Can i ask for your thoughts and opinions please?

Cheers, Dave

 

[Aidan1150]

Ard Cases are well worth a look Dave.

Very well made and a great price. Roger can make them to suit almost any frames and only charges £300 for the panniers. The cost of, and getting the frames is down to you though.

I have a set on my 1150 and am very happy with them as are a growing number of Tossers. Blackal from Embra is the latest to acquire a set. I can heartily recommend them.

More details can be found HERE.

 

[Blackal]

Blackal from Embra is the latest to acquire a set. I can heartily recommend them.

Aye, but some ba5tard painted one of mine - orange!

I've still to mount mine (to MetalMule frames) but will post pics then.

Touratech Zegas appear to be good boxes, but I think you can get suitable frames for them made in Poland for a lot less than TT.



Al

 

[Tarmac Teaser]

Aye, but some ba5tard painted one of mine - orange!

That would have been me then.

I didn't get any on the carpet though.

 

[kurtz]

Aye, but some ba5tard painted one of mine - orange!

you know when you've been tango'ed

 

[vilguy]

Hey turra,

I can highly recommend Mototech "trax" luggage. I has a set of black uns and they look amazing. I had the 45 ltr ones but when i get a new set for the gs i will be getting the 37 ltr ones as they are 2" shorter each. (obviously the mrs will complain)

The fulfill all the criteria you ask of, and are super cheap considering what they are! I would recommend "triumph online" as the supplier as they are excellent people running a business from home and were far and away the cheapest around for the supply... by about £40 overall. I have some pics of the panniers on my klv if your interested.

Paul

 

[Steptoe]

Somewhere there's a sticky with all the pro's and con's of almost every pannier available written up by the actual users.

The best advice is from someone that has used many different types rather than one person who's happy with the only set he's ever tried.

 

[Carl]

The best advice is from someone that has used many different types rather than one person who's happy with the only set he's ever tried.

Ask Nick Marshall, he's had more panniers than I've had hot dinners.

But if you want my 2p worth then try Vern (does he do 1200s?)

 

[rudiemoto]

this is vern,he makes the best panniers
ProjectVND.com

 

[Blackal]

Hey turra,

I can highly recommend Mototech "trax" luggage. I has a set of black uns and they look amazing. I had the 45 ltr ones but when i get a new set for the gs i will be getting the 37 ltr ones as they are 2" shorter each. (obviously the mrs will complain)

Paul - any chance of a couple of pics of the 45ltr panniers, when mounted on the bike? Given the apparent small depth of the Trax - they must be incredibly wide to give 45 ltrs?

Al

 

[VAL. H.]

Paul - any chance of a couple of pics of the 45ltr panniers, when mounted on the bike? Given the apparent small depth of the Trax - they must be incredibly wide to give 45 ltrs?

Al

All the Trax, MM, TT and ARDcase type panniers will be wider than the bars if you want good capacity, as their frames sit too far out from the side of the bike IMO. Therefore loosing about ten ltrs of otherwise usable space.
Though if you choose this route; I 'as would others' would recommend Roger at ARDcases (Redcap on this site). He will make you a pair of boxes to you requirements, and won't rip your arm off as the others mentioned above will.

Fitted Panniers IMHO are the only sensible way to go; Caja Sehal, Vern's and Jesse's are about the best panniers you'll get to fit the GS's (Vern's can be fitted to the 1200gs BTW).
These will grantee you will have panniers that have a very good capacity without being any wider than your bars.
Vern and Civil are often more than happy to build them to your requirements for size and colour. You won't be asked to pay through the nose like TT and MM do either.
On top of all that they look bloody good on the bikes too


Val.

 

[mad moose]

when i was looking for panniers vern`s world beaters ticked all the boxes he even lent me a set for a short euro trip to see if i liked them top bloke

 

[Blackal]

All the Trax, MM, TT and ARDcase type panniers will be wider than the bars if you want good capacity, as their frames sit too far out from the side of the bike IMO. Therefore loosing about ten ltrs of otherwise usable space.
Though if you choose this route; I 'as would others' would recommend Roger at ARDcases (Redcap on this site). He will make you a pair of boxes to you requirements, and won't rip your arm off as the others mentioned above will.

Fitted Panniers IMHO are the only sensible way to go; Caja Sehal, Vern's and Jesse's are about the best panniers you'll get to fit the GS's (Vern's can be fitted to the 1200gs BTW).
These will grantee you will have panniers that have a very good capacity without being any wider than your bars.
Vern and Civil are often more than happy to build them to your requirements for size and colour. You won't be asked to pay through the nose like TT and MM do either.
On top of all that they look bloody good on the bikes too


Val.

Sorry - I was only wondering how panniers of the style of the TRAX - managed to hold 45 ltrs, given that they look quite shallow (top/bottom) - I'm guessing that they make up for it in width and/or length, and was wondering what that size looked like.

I have a pair of 45ltr MMs and a pair of Ards (30ltr?) (same width as skinnyMules), both on balanced frame/scorpion exhaust, and appreciate that the FatMules (45l) are huge - I just thought the Trax 45l would be even wider?

Cheers

Al

 

[Steve E]

If you use the 'search' for Traxx Pnniers you will find a pic of my bike with the panniers attached. RH 42lt LH 36lt. They are no wider than the Bars.

Steve

 

[VAL. H.]

Sorry - I was only wondering how panniers of the style of the TRAX - managed to hold 45 ltrs, given that they look quite shallow (top/bottom) - I'm guessing that they make up for it in width and/or length, and was wondering what that size looked like.

I have a pair of 45ltr MMs and a pair of Ards (30ltr?) (same width as skinnyMules), both on balanced frame/scorpion exhaust, and appreciate that the FatMules (45l) are huge - I just thought the Trax 45l would be even wider?

Cheers

Al

If you use the 'search' for Traxx Pnniers you will find a pic of my bike with the panniers attached. RH 42lt LH 36lt. They are no wider than the Bars.

Steve

Sorry I didn't mean to include the Traxx pannires in the 'over priced statment' as they plainly arn't.

I think the Traxx Panniers are longer than normal when compared to TT etc. Do they limit the passengers leg room Steve?

Val.

 

[Steve E]

Sorry I didn't mean to include the Traxx pannires in the 'over priced statment' as they plainly arn't.

I think the Traxx Panniers are longer than normal when compared to TT etc. Do they limit the passengers leg room Steve?

Val.

Don't know about passengers leg room as I never carry a pillion.
If you come up to Fox's Cafe you can have a try and see what the leg room is like>

Steve