BMW Panniers - helmet and Metal mule

[Nye]

Just a couple of quick questions....

1.Do the BMW panniers take a full face helmet?

2.I'm thinking of getting either BMW or Metal Mule panniers. Just wondering how robust the the BMW ones are. Has anyone any comments on the relative merits of BMW versus metal mule?

many thanks

 

[Trevor George]

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If you're referring to the "Expandable" BMW panniers for the F650GS and Dakar bikes, it's a firm NO, even in 'expanded' mode. It's even difficult getting an open-face helmet to fit in

The terms 'Robust' and 'BMW Expandable Cases' are not mutually compatible. The silver (amost tinfoil) covers dent at the slightest provocation and the hinges have been known to break, especially when off-roading vigourously with them loaded .

Still they have their uses and I love mine as general-purpose units

I've heard good things about the "Metal Mule" products.

Cheers, Trevor, Bristol, UK. F650 website for UK & Ireland owners
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[unhinged]

I've got the BMW aluminium cases, I don't know whether they're adventure specific, bought it 2nd hand. They take a full face helmet just fine, even the one that's slightly scalloped to fit by the exhaust.

 

[Sid]

Nye - one big advantage of the BM panniers is the expandable bit. You can wear them in "city" mode and they don't intrude on your filtering abilities, but if you do need to carry something bigger, then unclip 4 plastic fittings and slide them 3" wider - a brill feature I wsh I had on the "lardy".

The BM panniers are also a really useful shape - I've been camping and touring 2-up with tent, airbeds, cooker, clothes, food - no problems. But as Trevor says, they still don't fit a full-face lid in there!

Another thing, if your commuting to work and you use a laptop, then the BM cases are also a perfect size to fit your laptop case - the lardy-leven-fifty cases are just the wrong shape for just about anything!

You may also want to think about how easily you can remove the cases - the BM ones are easy - but, as Reggie found out on one memorable ride out - if your panniers don't fit through the same gap as everyone else's do, then they all wait laughing while you unhitch your panniers, carry them through the gap, and then put them back on again!!!

Bottom line from me, yes they "dent" easily, but wish I had my 650 BM cases on my lardy-leven-fifty!

 

[sparkplug]

I've been using the Metal Mules for a while and find them much better to get on and off than my old Touratech ones. They are very strong, 100% water and dust proof, and build in Brighton so you don't have to go to Germany for spares!

I know that Kevin & Julia Sanders (double Guinness world record holders) use these and from the travel reports on the GlobeBusters website Julia has come off a few times and the panniers are still OK.

Best advert in the world is real-world testing!

I've been very very happy with both service and product and can thoroughly reccomend the Mules

 

[Nye]

Thanks for all your comments. I emailed Metal Mule with a list of questions and got a VERY detailed reply back – with a list of reasons why (they think) Metal Mule are better than BMW and Touratech. The other big advantage is that I only need one set of panniers that I can use on both bikes, so I think I’ll go for them.
What about top boxes though? I just want a box to stash my lid in when in town. BMW ones are £160 whereas a Givi one can be had for £60. Is it worth the extra for the dedicated BMW…?

 

[Trevor George]

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You don't say which model F650 you own, but whichever it is the BMW top-box will fit straight on with no adaptor, whereas the GIVI (or other) will require you tp purchase an adaptor plate, unless you already have some form of auxiliary carrier, so you need to factor that into the total cost of purchase.

Cheers, Trevor, Bristol, UK. F650 website for UK and Ireland owners
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[nick]

With a Givi box and adapter plate you cannot easily get to the lockable storage compartment or release the seat.

 

[Nye]

It's a '04 650 GS....

So there's no bolting a plate to the back rack with the BMW topbox then?

 

[Trevor George]

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Ah so it's an '04. Yep it goes straight on, no base rack required.

When you order (if you order) make sure you specify it's for an '04 as the base of the box is a slightly different shape from the previous F650GS models and the locking catch goes straight onto that little raised piece at the back of the 'rack'.

The top-box is actually quite 'roomy' despite being not too wide and will easily hold a large full-face hemet plus other 'bits'.

Oh and don't forget to order the two tumblers for the locks as they are extras. The can be tweaked to fit your ignition key, or you can do it yourself as per Keying BMW locks

Cheers, Trevor, Bristol, UK. www.F650.co.uk
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[Nye]

Many thanks Trevor...and for the top tip about the locks!

 

[GSKev]

METAL MULE

Hi

Been reading your mail re boxes.
I have BMW side boxes which I think are brilliant for UK/commuting as long as you don't mind the dents (gives them some cred.) Depends entirely on the use but if I was planning a long overland with a lot of off road I would certainly go for Metal Mule - much better than TT imho. I also use a BMW topbox but have a Metal Mule one as well - unused. The Metal Mule is waterproof (unlike the BM) and as its square a lot more accomodating. Depends what you want it for. My Metal Mule would need a base plate - £80 from MM but if you want to make me an offer contact me at kmartuk (and then add the aol bit.)
Good luck

Kev