Someone wielding a knife tends to draw attention. Near a bike with a screwdriver not so much and easy to hide, no more attention than someone using a key to unlock the box. A pacsafe mesh over soft luggage is probably more theft resistant than Ali panniers.
Luggage ideas?
- Thread starter Rob c
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All the luggage is designed for carrying our crap and not for security.
Just don't leave anything in them that you can't replace cheaply whilst you are touring.
Shit happens but having my clothes stolen is not going to ruin my tour or set me back many £ to replace.
Just don't leave anything in them that you can't replace cheaply whilst you are touring.
Shit happens but having my clothes stolen is not going to ruin my tour or set me back many £ to replace.
Same.. 50 litre waterproof roll bag with Rok sraps. Use my panniers for other general stuff which can be locked. Dont like tank bags. Top box for snacks and drinks and whatever i need to get at quick.
Seems to work even for longer trips.
Each to their own my guess…
As said earlier, think what you want out of your luggage and what suits you.
I've got the bumot soft panniers, the bmw ali boxes and a selection of roll bags.
I've used em all on occassions. I use the bumots on most daily rides as they keep the weight low and fold up nearly flat if your not carrying much, i just leave em on. Not as handy to access stuff with the roll top but its not a big deal.
The ali stuff is handy for touring and getting the bags in and seem easier to pack/access.Security wise as said, the wafers are piss thin and held in with plastic so a screwdriver would sort that double quick.
Roll bags and rok straps are bril, rock solid and going nowhere if done right. Good for stuffing a load of anything in with the right size bag. Oxford are great value.
Theres always stuff coming up on this site whichever way you decide to go at fair prices.
I've got the bumot soft panniers, the bmw ali boxes and a selection of roll bags.
I've used em all on occassions. I use the bumots on most daily rides as they keep the weight low and fold up nearly flat if your not carrying much, i just leave em on. Not as handy to access stuff with the roll top but its not a big deal.
The ali stuff is handy for touring and getting the bags in and seem easier to pack/access.Security wise as said, the wafers are piss thin and held in with plastic so a screwdriver would sort that double quick.
Roll bags and rok straps are bril, rock solid and going nowhere if done right. Good for stuffing a load of anything in with the right size bag. Oxford are great value.
Theres always stuff coming up on this site whichever way you decide to go at fair prices.
I got tired of BMW changing hard luggage fittings and boxes with every new generation of bike. An expensive game to also buy and luggage to what are now £20k bikes.
I've gone for Givi Canyon soft luggage on my latest bike. The Givi bags do lock to the rack. They will also pretty much fit any bike if you buy the relevant rack fitting kit.
I also also have a Givi aluminium topbox where I will pack anything worth stealing e.g. my Samsung tablet. If someone steals my off bike clothes it would be annoying but easily replaced.
I've gone for Givi Canyon soft luggage on my latest bike. The Givi bags do lock to the rack. They will also pretty much fit any bike if you buy the relevant rack fitting kit.
I also also have a Givi aluminium topbox where I will pack anything worth stealing e.g. my Samsung tablet. If someone steals my off bike clothes it would be annoying but easily replaced.
Congrats on the R1200GS TE! It’s a legendary bike, but you're right—the prices for second-hand Varios are getting out of hand for what is essentially a plastic box.
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I totally feel your frustration. It’s exhausting how 'standard' fittings change every few years, forcing you into a new expensive ecosystem.
That’s exactly why I went the opposite way with my workshop, ROA - 2026 Custom Series. We focus on universal compatibility and 'overbuilt' specs.
Since you like the security of an aluminum topbox for your tablet, you might find our 2mm structural aluminum cases interesting for your next trip. They offer the same 'lock-to-bike' security but act as a sacrificial roll cage if the bike goes down—protecting the bike's frame much better than soft bags or thin-walled OEM cases.
We even have a universal adapter plate that fits almost any rack, so you don't have to play the 'new bike, new luggage' game ever again.
You can see how we handle the 'universal' approach on my profile: facebook.com/ROA.Vlad.
Enjoy the Givi setup, it's a solid choice for weight saving, but if you ever miss the 'bomb-proof' feel of hard cases without the BMW price tag, let's chat!
This is how I am trying to solo travel..
This is my main method for the last 20 years. I’ve had panniers many times and they’re good but this is the most useful if not the most convenient.
Larry Langford
Registered user
I tend to prefer the hard lockable luggage out here in the colonies. It does tend to keep reasonable people somewhat honest imo. I've actually caught several people trying to mess with the motorcycle or steal the bicycle. It seems to me that if I have a lot of stuff tied to the bike unlocked like tank bags and soft bags it WILL attract unwanted attention. It sure seems that way. When going on long trips, I had Harley style wixom bags on my airhead, but I would use a set of soft bags that were designed to drape over the pillion, But as overflow, I would drape these over the camping equipment that is tied to the pillion. With side opening bags this works pretty well. I could cary a ton of stuff that way.
With the newer bikes, I like to keep the top box as empty as possible so I can put the helmet in that, when I stop for a short time. Very handy to just go into a diner or bar if riding with the Harley guys. A small tank bag goes into the right pannier and everything is under lock and key. And if on a longer trip, one of those big seat bags would be handy but not that secure. And that seems to be what attracts unwanted attention. imo
Then there is the thought that if you do have expensive gear like say a camera and phone just keep it with you when you leave the bike. Out here we do have what is called motor lodges, which you park right in front of your room. I do prefer those. And instead of just taking in the liners, I whip the bags off and take them in as well and there is nothing but the bike left out there. If the bags are still there, they might break into them not knowing that their empty.
With the newer bikes, I like to keep the top box as empty as possible so I can put the helmet in that, when I stop for a short time. Very handy to just go into a diner or bar if riding with the Harley guys. A small tank bag goes into the right pannier and everything is under lock and key. And if on a longer trip, one of those big seat bags would be handy but not that secure. And that seems to be what attracts unwanted attention. imo
Then there is the thought that if you do have expensive gear like say a camera and phone just keep it with you when you leave the bike. Out here we do have what is called motor lodges, which you park right in front of your room. I do prefer those. And instead of just taking in the liners, I whip the bags off and take them in as well and there is nothing but the bike left out there. If the bags are still there, they might break into them not knowing that their empty.
To be honest, the reason we stick with heavy-duty aluminum is born out of pure frustration.
After years of riding off-road and seeing 'original' or 'premium' cases fail, crack, or leak when things got a bit dusty or bumpy, we decided we’d had enough. We weren't looking for 'good enough' for the showroom; we wanted something that could actually survive a tip-over in the middle of nowhere.
That’s why we started building our own. We chose 2mm structural aluminum because, from our experience in the saddle, it’s the only way to get the structural integrity we actually trust. It’s a practical solution designed by riders who were tired of gear that looks the part but doesn't play the part.
We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel—just making sure it doesn't fall off when the road gets rough.
Larry Langford
Registered user
Oh, I'm sure the AL bags are more durable. The varios are plastic but do have some strength. I'm sure in some cases (pun) the varios could survive a tip over. But the main advantage is their light weight due to no extra frame, or in the extreme crash bars for the panniers which would be really heavy.
If your dumping the bike a lot, then it could be said that you need a smaller trail oriented machine to handle those trails. I have been told by others, out of experience, that the GS series are NOT trail bikes. This is true imo ...... If you do try this, then make sure you have enough friends with you to easily man-handle the bike up and out of a problem area ... otherwise your bike may still be there ....
First time I've ever heard a defence of vario luggage based on its low weight.
They are unbelievably heavy, have very limited capacity unless you open them up to make them three times as wide as the bike, open on the side and will never survive being thrown down the road.
The only things they ever had in their favour was that they integrated with the bike well (which only really mattered when you took them off) and they looked good (which went away with the launch of the 1300, since then they look like Shad's worst efforts).
For a trip to Tesco, varios. For anything that involves even a sniff of dirt, tins or bags...
Larry Langford
Registered user
There may be different kinds of varios, but mine weigh less than just the rack for the AL bags, probably. And then I've even seen crash bars to protect the AL bags. Yes the AL bags are stronger, but very expensive and heavy. I didn't intent to imply that varios are "better" but just related a compromise I made to save some money. I've had mine in the dirt, a fair amount actually. And they are just fine. I'm of the opinion that if your dumping the bike regularly then you probably need the new 450 or a 500 single imo, or simply a bike intended for trail riding which the GS is not. Fire roads and other milder two track is ok but not the really rough stuff on a GS ...First time I've ever heard a defence of vario luggage based on its low weight.
They are unbelievably heavy, have very limited capacity unless you open them up to make them three times as wide as the bike, open on the side and will never survive being thrown down the road.
The only things they ever had in their favour was that they integrated with the bike well (which only really mattered when you took them off) and they looked good (which went away with the launch of the 1300, since then they look like Shad's worst efforts).
For a trip to Tesco, varios. For anything that involves even a sniff of dirt, tins or bags...
Being from colorado, I do have some experience with serious trail riding in the rockies and the black hills.
Larry Langford
Registered user
I would also like to add, that I have a RS. And I bought the oem panniers. Then I broke my leg, long story but on the first ride coming up my steep driveway to get into the garage I caught the left saddle bag on the pickup in the driveway. I was still using a crutch a little at the time. The bag didn't clear the pickup, and this in fact stopped me right in the drive with the bike forced over to about 45 degrees. The hill stop kicked in and there I was holding the near full weight of the bike with my broken leg ... lol .. But i took a minute to get the hill start off and let the bike roll back to turn and clear the pick up. I finally did get it to roll back and then got it into the garage, with no dump. It put a fair gouge or scratch in the left saddle bag. Which covered very nicely with a white magic marker. Knock on wood still the only scratch on the new in 22 bike to date.
So the point is, that plastic oem bag for a street bike took a hell of a blow for sure, It completely stopped the bike from moving at 5 mph+ and force it over and to a stop. I would say that is very strong. This probably would have smashed or dented an AL bag at least somewhat.
So what say the experienced? Does anyone have pics of a broken oem plastic bag? A broken vario bag? Show me the money Richard!
... just fun-en really ...
Vario bags don’t exist. Vario panniers are boxes not bags. I think you’re getting the different types of luggage mixed up.
Generally boxes are hard luggage be they plastic like various, shad etc or aluminium like ones on the GSA.
Bags are soft luggage made from different fabrics or even leather.
There are bags available that go inside hard boxes.
As above.
I also thought the Vario inner bags were soft luggage inserts for the Vario cases. At least they were when I had a set on my 2016 GS
I also thought the Vario inner bags were soft luggage inserts for the Vario cases. At least they were when I had a set on my 2016 GS
Larry Langford
Registered user
lol .... actually saddle BAGS is perfectly cromulent .... pannier is probably a borrowed word in english, anyway. And well ... liners are in fact liners ... Try walking into a bar full of drunk Hell's Angels and start talking about your panniers ... lol
I would still like to see pics of destroyed saddle bags, panniers and what not ....
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