Luggage ideas?

[Rob c]

Evening all....
Just purchased a 2017 R1200GS TE. Comes with top box only. No panniers or rack. Any ideas please other than unbelievable 2nd prices for 'varios' off eBay etc?

 

[wessie]

do you have a pillion? If not, a seat bag unit, Lomo bag or Kriega USxx bags.

 

[littleade]

Evening all....
Just purchased a 2017 R1200GS TE. Comes with top box only. No panniers or rack. Any ideas please other than unbelievable 2nd prices for 'varios' off eBay etc?

Welcome to the forum, why not subscribe and post a wanted ad, someone might have a pair they might want to sell. I sold my vario panners and top box seperately on here a couple of years ago, alll with the recodeable locks.

 

[siddo]

Decide on what kind of riding and tours you are going to do and whether solo or not and choose luggage to suit.
I tour solo and have Bumot soft luggage. Would never go back to hard luggage.

 

[Rob c]

Decide on what kind of riding and tours you are going to do and whether solo or not and choose luggage to suit.
I tour solo and have Bumot soft luggage. Would never go back to hard luggage.

Many thanks. Yes, I solo tour. I'll look into that set up.

 

[siddo]

Take a look here for soft luggage reviews:

The Best Soft Panniers for Adventure Bikes - Mad or Nomad

This guide is packed with info on features, sizes, pros, cons and loads more.

www.madornomad.com

Best Motorcycle Soft Baggage 2026

See also: Exactly how big is soft baggage?Rackless baggage: the Mis ing Link A selection of over two-dozen soft pannier sets from over twenty manufacturers in at least ten countries collated in one…

adventure-motorcycling.com

 

[KMD]

If cost is an issue, and let’s be right when is it not, then you could do a lot worse than a set of Oxford ‘lifetime’ luggage. Deceptively good kit and you could pick up a used set for £50-80.

 

[siddo]

Oh, also take a look on AliExpress at the rhino walk luggage. I have a 20l one that I strap on the passenger seat for overnight bag or 3 night trips. Great value and completely waterproof.

 

[twizzle]

40 litre roll bag across rear seat - use roc straps to attach to bike…..

Day to day stuff in top box…..

Arrive at hotel, clip,clip take bag to room….. job done…

Take a smaller inner bag as your dirty pile grows, move to inner bag.

Been all over like this.

 

[twizzle]

Don’t forget toilet roll and a plug….

 

[Mike_E]

Don’t forget toilet roll and a plug….

Are those two items linked ??!!

 

[twizzle]

Are those two items linked ??!!

On occasion…….

Worst ever in number order…..

1….Nepal
2…….Cappadocia
3…………Miami ( I know weird)

All three times I was grateful for my emergency kit…..

 

[glenn2926]

Many do seem to favour soft luggage. I don’t like it as it is far from secure. Anyone with a knife or pair of scissors could be in it in a second or cut it off and away with it. I don’t like tank bags for exactly the same reason. A couple of the lads that tour with us use tank bags and if we stop for a wander round somewhere they have to carry their tank bags and if with them.
Hard lockable luggage is my choice with top opening panniers preferably. This makes accessing the contents easier when on ferries or parked close together in hotel car parks etc. If possible leaving the top box empty to put my helmet in whilst wandering around.
As has been suggested, perhaps become a subscriber then you will have access to the for sale/wanted section. There’s often luggage for sale on here.

 

[tjmouse]

Many do seem to favour soft luggage. I don’t like it as it is far from secure. Anyone with a knife or pair of scissors could be in it in a second or cut it off and away with it. I don’t like tank bags for exactly the same reason. A couple of the lads that tour with us use tank bags and if we stop for a wander round somewhere they have to carry their tank bags and if with them.
Hard lockable luggage is my choice with top opening panniers preferably. This makes accessing the contents easier when on ferries or parked close together in hotel car parks etc. If possible leaving the top box empty to put my helmet in whilst wandering around.
As has been suggested, perhaps become a subscriber then you will have access to the for sale/wanted section. There’s often luggage for sale on here.

I’m with you on hard luggage. I guess it depends on your riding as soft luggage is meant to be better if you fall so off road it is a safer bet. My touring is all road based and regularly involves passing through towns so security is a big factor for me which means hard luggage is the better choose for me.

I also like that hard panniers make a good table once you’ve set up camp.

 

[glenn2926]

I’m with you on hard luggage. I guess it depends on your riding as soft luggage is meant to be better if you fall so off road it is a safer bet. My touring is all road based and regularly involves passing through towns so security is a big factor for me which means hard luggage is the better choose for me.

I also like that hard panniers make a good table once you’ve set up camp.

The hard luggage is also much easier on arrival at either one’s hotel or the ferry. Just open the pannier take out the inner bag and away. None of this unclipping, re clipping checking it’s secure. In the morning just put the inner bag back in close the lid and ride away.

 

[jefformston]

Many do seem to favour soft luggage. I don’t like it as it is far from secure. Anyone with a knife or pair of scissors could be in it in a second or cut it off and away with it. I don’t like tank bags for exactly the same reason. A couple of the lads that tour with us use tank bags and if we stop for a wander round somewhere they have to carry their tank bags and if with them.
Hard lockable luggage is my choice with top opening panniers preferably. This makes accessing the contents easier when on ferries or parked close together in hotel car parks etc. If possible leaving the top box empty to put my helmet in whilst wandering around.
As has been suggested, perhaps become a subscriber then you will have access to the for sale/wanted section. There’s often luggage for sale on here.

Flat blade screwdriver will make short work of the locks on your hard luggage and to an observer not much different to using a key. Never leave valuables on the bike.

 

[Davey B]

@Rob c
If I toured solo, I'd just stick with the top box and get a Lomo roll bag to strap across the seat

Vizallo 40L Motorbike Dry Bag Holdall | Lomo UK. Wetsuits & Dry Bags

40L Motorbike dry bag with straps to secure to your bike. Can be combined with additional Vizallo bags for increasing storage without needing more attachment points on your motorcycle.

www.lomo.co.uk

 

[glenn2926]

Flat blade screwdriver will make short work of the locks on your hard luggage and to an observer not much different to using a key. Never leave valuables on the bike.

I don’t really have any valuables. Wallet, passport, phone in pockets. Job done. Anything can be broken into but cutting soft fabric is certainly easier than hard luggage.

 

[jefformston]

I don’t really have any valuables. Wallet, passport, phone in pockets. Job done. Anything can be broken into but cutting soft fabric is certainly easier than hard luggage.

Unfortunately it’s not, just gives a feeling of false security. Luckily in my experience having luggage broken into isn’t a big problem, especially during the day. Staying in hotels then a dry bag on the rear seat is ideal when solo. Camping or with pillion panniers are a must, soft or hard both have advantages and disadvantages.

 

[siddo]

As a deterrent to stop people stealing my clothes, I secure my bags with steel core lockable cable.
You're deluded if you think they can't open hard luggage cheap locks. If they want your gear, they'll take it.

There's a lot of paranoia on here with people too frightened to leave their bikes parked on the street overnight.