GSA Panniers

[stroller]

Just bought a used 2008 1200GSA which has BMW aluminium panniers fitted. I also have a set of Varios from my previous 1200GS, and trying to decide which ones to keep.
I only ever used the varios in the narrower setting (I ride solo) although I did find the space a bit limited sometimes, and overall I prefer the ally boxes for their greater practicality, but I am a bit concerned about the extra width when filtering.
Any thoughts or advice from you guys who have been in a similar situation?
Thanks in advance.
Mike

 

[Aidan1150]

The ally panniers should be no wider than the handlebars so shouldn't present a difficulty when filtering I would have thought.

 

[dazz]

I have the bmw alloys panniers fitted on my gsa + have found this
the easiest bike I'v had to filter thru traffic on
compared to any sportourer type bike the extra width with panniers fitted is minimal on the gsa .

 

[Blackal]

Sell the Adv OE panniers, sell the Varios

Get a pair of ArdCases in whatever widths you want, and a Touratech-style frame (note I said "style") and pocket the change

You should even have enough in the pot to get a slim-line silencer which would allow you to fit symetrical frame/panniers.

Al

 

[Thunder]

Keep the GSA panniers as you have them, fitting the varios means changing the GSA rear rack for the stock 1200 GS tripos rack and IMPO is a backward step.

The GSA panniers dont quite come within the handlebar width but they are a piece of pi** to fit and remove and I never found an issue with them fitted when it came to filtering

Of course this is a personal view at the end of the day do what your happy with.

 

[bol]

I may be a bit previous but if you are thinking of selling the varios, I would be interested in buying them.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Just bought a used 2008 1200GSA which has BMW aluminium panniers fitted. I also have a set of Varios from my previous 1200GS, and trying to decide which ones to keep.
I only ever used the varios in the narrower setting (I ride solo) although I did find the space a bit limited sometimes, and overall I prefer the ally boxes for their greater practicality, but I am a bit concerned about the extra width when filtering.
Any thoughts or advice from you guys who have been in a similar situation?
Thanks in advance.
Mike

The Ali boxes will be more useful if you're considering moving house in the near future but failing that dump them (someone here will buy them) and fit the Varios IMO they're more practical even if you can't fit two 15 inch Pizza's inside them despite being shoved in diagonally

 

[garfield]

The ally panniers should be no wider than the handlebars so shouldn't present a difficulty when filtering I would have thought.

.....yep that's right.....filtering is so easy helped by the bike being beautifully balanced.....

 

[Dellis]

Started with Varios and moved to the GSA type which are far more useful.

Dave

 

[Happyhenry]

Keep the GSA panniers as you have them, fitting the varios means changing the GSA rear rack for the stock 1200 GS tripos rack and IMPO is a backward step.

The GSA panniers dont quite come within the handlebar width but they are a piece of pi** to fit and remove and I never found an issue with them fitted when it came to filtering

Of course this is a personal view at the end of the day do what your happy with.

Totally agree. I've had both; Varios on a GS and Adv's on the current ADV. The Adv panniers are wider than the bars and push the width of the bike out to 1m. However, they are fine for occassional filtering - as long as you remember you have them on . For nipping around town I generally just use the topbox because with the panniers on it's impossible to find a bike-bay with enough space.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

No problem filtering with the ADV panniers as long as you remember they are on.