Luggage - what to buy?

[HeikkiL]

Micatechs have been close to perfect so far.

Just finished a trip to Tunisia and a few notes:
- Absolutely water and dustproof
- Inner bags are a "must"; removing the bags require a bit of tinkering so it is easier to leave the bags on and just take the inner bags to hotel / ferry / where ever
- They look huge but also take huge loads of stuff
- Genious mounting system
- Partial side opening so you can open them even if you have luggage on rear rack; still inner bags stay inside when you open the lids
- Rugged construction: 2 mm aluminium, welded together

Bought mine from Motorrad Concepts last winter but now they seem to be out of the business.

 

[Eastriding2002]

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

Spy,

Having also used the Vario panniers I will disagree about them beign easy to fit, compare to the one button GIVI system and the BMW panniers don't hold up in the "easy to fit" race. Capacity is also very poor, add in a set of inner bags and the capacity becomes ridiculous, especially the LHS pannier as the liner takes up most of the space. They do however look better on the biek than the GIVI, unfortunately for a reasonable length trip they just don't hold enough.

 

[SpyInTheCamp]

Having also used the Vario panniers I will disagree about them beign easy to fit, compare to the one button GIVI system and the BMW panniers don't hold up in the "easy to fit" race.

I don't know anything about the Givis so I cannot comment. However, the Varios take seconds, so they're absolutely fine for me in that respect.

Capacity is also very poor,

I agree that they could be better, but for me, for about 95% of the time the combination of the two panniers and/or topbox is sufficient.

add in a set of inner bags and the capacity becomes ridiculous,

Not sure I understand. I have the Mane Event bags which may, at most, take up a few millimeters of space.

especially the LHS pannier

Not always the most useful. However, the small Mane Event bag that's designed for that pannier make the best of it.

They do however look better on the biek than the GIVI,

Indeed.

unfortunately for a reasonable length trip they just don't hold enough.

Depends on what you needs are I suppose - and whether you're travelling two up.

Anyway, you pays yer money ... etc.

Kai

 

[Eastriding2002]

Kai,

Having travelled with both systems, I know which I prefer, and certainly which are more useful and easier to get on. For me it isn't the Vario system.

Attaching: GIVI wins hands down, locate, press home, lock. Vario is faffinf about with three separate attachments / locks.

Capacity: GIVI again wins hands down having two equal size panniers without the useless space on the LHS. I have a set of the BMW inner bags "tailored" to fit, but the LHS in particular is of little use as with the bag inside you can't fasten the case without it wanting to break.

Looks: Vario

Cost: GIVI would win I think for cost, but it was a no cost option aside from £95 for the rails for me as I had the cases already. Just a shame I wasted the £410 on the Vario ones!

 

[Berin]

Had the Vario's which are very handy but small esp. exhaust side. Mine leaked so I bought the inner bags which did solve that problem but made them smaller

Also, for any rough stuff the mounts may be a problem, a couple of people on Morocco type trips have had to apply gaffer tape to get home, so I understand.

After looking at lots inc. Micatech, TT (which are made in India, by the way, for an Austrian chap called Zega and then rebadged by TT), Caja's etc I bought Metal Mules.

They're pretty solid, waterproof and mostly I like the quick release system which lets you take them off in seconds leaving the nicely made rack only on the bike. They have good locks built in, come with good instructions, are easy to fit (took about 1hr 30 inc. the new exhaust can for the balanced set) and Paul from MM is very helpful.

I did talk to Civil about his(via email) but to be honest it was a rather painful exchange and I didn't understand many of the answers to questions I had to ask several times, not least about the price. Eventually I looked at Riderbobs Caja kit and while they're undoubtedly very industrial pieces of kit they certainly can't be described as quick release as they're held on by a number of chunky bolts. I wanted to be able to take the boxes off easily so that was that.

But you pays yer money, as mentioned above, none of them are really crap.

Just decide:

Top or side loading?
Size - how far beyond the bar width are you prepared to live with?
Can you switch the boxes to a different bike by changing the rack? Do you care?
What sort of locks?
Do you need Quick release?
And of course, looks and price.

Good luck

 

[AndyT]

This is a well timed post as I am looking into options for my new 1150GSA.

I have TT Zegas on my Airhead and they have benefits and concerns eg, Look awful as do all ali boxes (imho), you need to line them as the Ali oxidises and covers everything you put inside them witha grey mark which is hard to remove and the frames look hideous when boxes not fitted - plus points they hold loads, very robust with excellent tie down points for other stuff.

I had the Vario boxes on my old 1200 and whilst effective and looked good they were just to small.

Givi Panniers. really good and don't look to bad but still ugly frames when removed.

Hepco and Becker do some really nice luggae as fitted to the Buells and I cant coment on that.
I also saw these in Yosemite National Park last week and no idea what they are - any ideas??. They look well made but limited capacity.

The Mica Peaks look very nice but pricey at $1200 plus shipping and duty when it gets to the UK. They look not to bad, very roomy and no hideous rack when removed. (Check the web link above and look at the overhang of thier top box)

Finally I have a set of system panniers at the moment for my adventure but as with the vario's I suspect limited in size.

So for me the Jury's still out for the moment

AndyT

 

[Blackal]

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.

If rivets were good enough for the Titanic - they're good enough for ................. hang on - scratch that

I'm not sure that they can be field-repaired easier than seam-welded panniers, but I certainly don't see their construction as being inferior to all-welded

I think their system is hard to beat (albeit at a cost), while the Cajas are undoubtedly cheaper while possibly offering a similar level of performance (but not looks in my opinion).

Al

 

[deaninkl]

Hi Trev,

Really its all about what you want to pay, and how much use you will give the boxes. The hude advantage of the BMW Vario boes is that the fit so easy to the bike and you save about 3 inches each side on width over aftermarket panniers because of not needing an aftermarket from (which are also expensive). I was going for the Hepco and Becker boxes as in Singapore thay are cheaper than the BMW ones, but fortunately while at the importer I bumped into a guy that was selling his new Vario's that came free with his bike, so for 230 quid I had a new set of Varios. I have the Vario Top Box that I got free with my bike. I didn't cut out any of the plastic, the alternative is to slacken the rear under frame for the seat, mount the top box frame extender then retighten the under frame, this will caused stress in the plastic but I think it is flexible enough to take it. I agree the top box is mounted high and I don't like top boxes... but the fantastic think about the whole vario syatem is that I can take panniers and top box off in about 2 minutes and store them. I only use them when travling for overnights or specifically shopping and needing the space.

I would check out what you can get second hand.

 

[North]

I have the Vario BMW panniers on my 1200 and they are fine. They are very easy to put on and take off. (They could be mounted better.)

When they are off the bike does not have any mounting rails on. So the bike looks nice and clean.

To be honest, I would like a set of Zega's.

 

[Zigo]

H&B Gobi's

I have the H&B Gobi's on my 05 GS. Absolutely satisfied with them.

Zigo

 

[IanC]

If you're into any sort of "adventures", I'd go for Jesse (Odyssey) or Caha Sahel, which are similar. Both Solid aluminium and high quality. I've slid off on a diesel spill in Mexico at 40mph on the Jesse, which detached and clipped straight back on. Heavily scraped, but unbroken. In fact only the box and my cylinder head covers hit the tarmac.

Also been cut up by a bus on a roundabout in Quito. Nudged me forwards (after his rear wheel arch caught my Jesse) a few metres, but not off. I didn't notice, but the box had bent slightly, as I couldn't shut the lid the next time! But easily straightened with a boot.

My only complaint is that they will let a little water in during prolonged fast riding in heavy rain. And the Jesse mounting brackets, although inconspicuous when not in use, is pretty heavy.

 

[0000quattro]

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

Men.. all aircrafts in the world are riveted... with pretty good results I would say..

Indeed, the only non-riveted parts are normally wings... they are usually glued to the main frame... (yes, glued, they would crack if welded)...

So....

 

[GS TRV]

Men.. all aircrafts in the world are riveted... with pretty good results I would say..

Indeed, the only non-riveted parts are normally wings... they are usually glued to the main frame... (yes, glued, they would crack if welded)...

So....

I tried to tell him that in another post as I work in aviation but if he didn't want to know

If you want something that looks like it's thrown together in a shed in the middle of the sticks fair enough but I wanted something a bit classier

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

I tried to tell him that in another post as I work in aviation but if he didn't want to know

If you want something that looks like it's thrown together in a shed in the middle of the sticks fair enough but I wanted something a bit classier

Civils are very well made an in my opinion look really good but really suffer from a lack of a proper quick release system....you have to take the stuff out of them before removing the 4 bolts that hold them on and one of my bolts on both sides is very fiddly to remove... and even more fiddly to get on... it's a bit hard to line the bolts up to the threads in the frames without crossing them. It takes me about 5-10 mins to put all the bolts the rubber gasket and the tie bar across the back on.... but once on they are very very stable... the set i have is for an 1100/1150/ADV
If you don't have a need to take them off then you'd be hard pushed to find better....Verns are about the only others that are that well made... but hard to come by

Micatech's are the best engineered out of the lot.. but they have not got that purposeful look about them that suits a GS... they look a bit more suited to an RT IMO

Hepco, TT and metal mules seem to be very handy when you see how quick they come off and the likes of Whatton or Shep on a campsite using them as tables or seats.

MM suffer from a real lack of frame build quality according to most people.. they seldom fit first time and quite a bit of work is sometimes needed to get them to fit... you think they would jig them before sending them out to people.


so I'd say if you want to keep your panniers on nearly all the time buy civil's otherwise buy Hepco or MM or even TT if you can stand the wait for them

 

[Pipster]

Caja Sahel fitted to touratech pannier frames with touratech mounting pucks...

Cajas are top quality plus Civil can make any size or colour you like ...

I sold my stock BMW plastic panniers and replaced them with Cajas I am much happier with top loaders also make great seat and table when camping

 

[Blackal]

No doubting the build quality/ability of the Cajas, but not as "pleasing to the eye" as the MMs in my opinion.

Here are mine (2 x 45 ltr with Scorpion exhaust and symetrical frames)

Al

 

[Pipster]

No doubting the build quality/ability of the Cajas, but not as "pleasing to the eye" as the MMs in my opinion.

Here are mine (2 x 45 ltr with Scorpion exhaust and symetrical frames)

Al

Very nice also very expensive that setup cost you £500 more than mine

Plus i dont like the the way the boxes are hinged arse about face
I use dry bags with my tent sleeping bag etc you would stuggle to open mules with luggage hanging over them...

Its such a personal choice you just have to buy whats right for you...

 

[GS TRV]

No doubting the build quality/ability of the Cajas, but not as "pleasing to the eye" as the MMs in my opinion.

Now you're talking

 

[Blackal]

Yeah - they are pricey, but then again.......... a GS is more expensive than a TDM. As you say - it is personal choice as to what you can justify.

I guess fully-removable lids have an advantage in some circumstances.

At least with tons of pics and some constructive comments (rather than slagging off construction methods) - there is a fair chance that a potential purchaser will take a good a stab as getting the right pannier system as is possible.

At least if you make a mistake - they are generally easily sold again

Al

 

[Gazzabart]

May Help

just did a 3300 mile trip round europe
ive got the BMW boxes as pics
the most important thing is the fixing
they are locked on and slid together on the back in four places
Ewan McGreggor famous quote
"metal panniers saved his life" after being shunted up the arse
they are rock solid
all packing is done from the top
fixing loops on the top are a god send for fixing extra stuff
my mate who came with me had varios
when packing he had to take them off and lay them on the side to pack to capacity
no fixing loops on the top
he had a simple drop doing a slow manoover
bingo - one fixing tab snapped straight off
the other cracked
he was gutted and had to buy a new pannier
not very good eh
mine will keep the bike off the floor
and i feel very safe with em on
they have a slanted edge on all corners so i put 1" scotch silver tape down all corners
every on who is with me at night say the back lights up like a f"*king christmas tree
so it makes me feel safe with mrs g on the back
anyway good luck
oh yea my panniers are made by touratech for BMW
regards Gaz