Luggage - what to buy?

[TrevNI]

Hi, Bought a 2005 1200GS a couple of months ago and I've been trying to decide on luggage. My bike has the BMW brackets fitted and I had intended to buy the BMW panniers and top-box until I heard some people complaining about them. Have gone off the idea of Hepco & Becker after hearing that you have to cut hole in the bike's plastic to mount the top box frame. So I'm left with BMW or Touratech, which, no offence to any touratechies out there, look a bit boxey!

Help!

 

[garfield]

because I need to buy some too.....

 

[Mutley]

So I'm left with BMW or Touratech, which, no offence to any touratechies out there, look a bit boxey!

So let's get this straight ......

You ride a GS (a 1200 at that ) and you're worried that the panniers might be a bit boxy

 

[Thunder]

Have gone off the idea of Hepco & Becker after hearing that you have to cut hole in the bike's plastic to mount the top box frame.

You have to trim the rear plastic to attach the struts from the top box frame to the rear sub-frame just the same as with the BMW vario top box.

The 1200GS rear carrier is not designed to carry a top-box without support so don't rule out Hepco and Becker just yet.

 

[Eastriding2002]

So I'm left with BMW or Touratech, which, no offence to any touratechies out there, look a bit boxey!

Help!

I've gone down the route of using my original GIVI stuff. BMW panniers don't hold enough for my liking and I didn't want top loading cases. The GIVI rack is a doddle to fit and getting the boxes on / off the bike is easy.

Some will say they look ugly, well the GS is an ugly bike without any boxes, so adding a bit more ugly, be they GIVI or metal boxes makes no difference to me.

 

[jonnie comet]

I've gone down the route of using my original GIVI stuff. BMW panniers don't hold enough for my liking and I didn't want top loading cases. The GIVI rack is a doddle to fit and getting the boxes on / off the bike is easy.

Knowing what I know now, I would have gone down this route.

I have the BMW panniers, and the quid/litre ratio is crap......In other words, they are expensive, and don't hold much. The exhaust side box, is particularly poor. I think they look the part, and complement the 'bike, but I wouldn't recommend them to anyone. The BMW top box is laughable, and I fitted a Givi.

 

[Fredrik]

Hi
Get the Touratech Zega panniers. http://www.touratech-usa.com/shop/b...on=touratech:FF30801FFAFE92FE1E7B2D4FA5FAEC92
I bought it for my funduro.They are expensive but you will ALWAYS get what you pay for . They are water/dust proof.My friend uses the Hepco&Becker journey boxes and he is satisfied as well.
Fredrik

 

[Boxerboy55]

Luggage - What To Buy?

Samsonite and Antler do a good range. . . .

 

[SpyInTheCamp]

FWIW, I think the BWM vario bags for the 1200GS are excellent. Used mine many times and now that the topbox base cracking fault has been sorted (under warranty) there shouldn't be any issues.

They are ridiculously simple to fit and remove and the idea of changing their capacity is genius. Perfect for commuting.

Get youself some inner bags from Mane Event and you're away.

Unless you plan to do some serious RTW adventure riding in which case go for the Metal Mules or Touratech boxes.

Kai

 

[TrevNI]

Thanks for the tip

 

[Happyhenry]

Varios - but a shame they aren't cheaper!

After a lot of dithering I bit the bullet and bought a pair of the BMW Vario panniers and I think they're fine. As SpyInTheCamp says they are easy on and off, handy size changing thingys and if you get a pair of the Main Event inner bags they're dead easy to pack. The odd shaped near-side box is bigger than it appears and you can easily tuck a tool roll and puncture repair kit in the space over the exhaust cut out.
I didn't bother with the top box as I think they mount far too high and to the rear for stability as well as looking really mugly to boot. Mounting it on the optional pillion seat bracket is a no-go for me as I'd never get my leg over .
BMW don't say that these boxes are waterproof (and try to flog you really expensive inner bags instead), but the only time I've ever had water in them was when I had them off the bike and was hosing them down from all angles and upside down to clean them after a mucky week at Le Mans.
As I don't take a pillion when touring (the other half won't get on a bike anymore) I take off the rear seat and the rack and just put a big Ortlieb roll bag across the back and over the top of the panniers - I find this ideal.

Some people opt for the GSA boxes on the GS, but I didn't want frames left on when I didn't need them.

You'll live with whatever you choose - none of the options are really bad.

 

[Bertie]

I'm with HappyHenry - I have BMW Varios, they didn't leak after four days of rain going to Bergen last year, and didn't leak in France & Switzerland this year despite similar conditions. Did exactly the same - toolkit and lock in space, Mane Event pannier inners.

Very solid (should be for that money), and the expanding feature works well, as they are only as big as you need (did I really just say that - ooo-er missus)

 

[the civil one]

Although this relates to an 1100 , theres plenty to read.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=218354&highlight=caja+sahel



http://www.thewatermargin.com/html/1200GS/CajaSahel.htm

 

[terayon]

I have the varios, and never had a problem with them. In all the rain we have had this year, they have not leaked or let me down at all.

 

[GS TRV]

Hard to beat Metal Mule

 

[Thunder]

Another point to consider when selecting luggage is that Other manufacturers boxes can in most cases be switched to another bike simply by sourcing a new frame.

When I first got the bike I bought Hepco and Becker boxes and frames. Hepco frames are universal for all of their boxes so you can fit Journey, Gobi or their aluminum range to them.

I switched to the GSA luggage and racks and fitted them to the GS as the rear carrier is lower and stronger than the GS version, the top box is easily moved forward to the pillion position without buying additional components and the frames were easy to source on Ebay and this site with GSA owners transferring their Metal Mules and Touratech boxes.

I personally like the pannier frames mounted on the bike as in the event of a drop they provide some protection to the rear of the bike, replacing frames is a damn site cheaper than body work or exhausts, I'm speaking from experience on this one.

 

[the civil one]

Hard to beat Metal Mule

Pay absolutely no heed tey yer maun , he spent a while in the Sun.
How he or any one else can pay that kinda doagh for "Rivvetted" Boxs
is beyond me. Its prolly beyond him too , i dont ever hear him sayin
why his "Rivvetted" Boxs are Better. But i would love to.
Please , Dont come away with the ""If you fall in the Desert" you will be
able to repair these.

http://www.r1200gs.info/vendors.html



http://www.adventure-enduro.de/alukoffer/alu-ausland.php

 

[the civil one]

Lisburn has more than its share of edgits

Here ::This is what Thunder Dunder is on about.
These Boxs can be adapted to fit any bike using TT racks.
So instead of buyin panniers every time you buy a bike , you just buy racks.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102621&highlight=caja+touratech

 

[the civil one]

F### , sorry if this looks a wee bit like thread "Hi Jack" .

 

[Chris Terry]

I didn't bother with the top box as I think they mount far too high and to the rear for stability as well as looking really mugly to boot. Mounting it on the optional pillion seat bracket is a no-go for me as I'd never get my leg over .
.

Stability is not a problem with the top box, I've carried very heavy stuff in there (very short trip from work)no problem. Getting the leg over will always be a problem with a topbox fitted. You either use the "step through" method or climb aboard using the foot rest on the side stand (front brake on !) like mounting a horse.