Metal Mule 45 Litre too big??

[gsworker]

Hi Guys

I am thinking about buying a pair of 45 litre metal mules for a 2008 GS. Now I think these will be great for two week trips, but does anyone know what they are like in traffic, filtering? It would be useful to be able to store crash helmets in them hence this size. I am thinking of the balanced system so skorpion exhaust and 45 litres both sides.

 

[Rushy]

If you are a bit worried about traffic/filtering then I would imagine you'd be better off with smaller panniers and a large topbox for the helmets 'cos them 45's will be big puppies.

 

[Koopz]

I swear by MM's but I would swear even more if I had the 45's..... too large, go for the 38's. These have enough space for a month or even RTW with spares.

S

 

[Terry NW]

i found these to be very handy , plus you do not have to spend money on BMW bags to fit in them, we brought some bags for a 5 er and still loads of life let in them,
two of us went away for 2.5 weeks with the panniers and my top box, not that bag

 

[Dakota XT]

I've got 38 litre MM's and would only filter in traffic if it was crawling. They're more than big enough for a 2 week trip unless you want to take the kitchen sink with you.

 

[sparkplug]

Hi gsworker and welcome :Thumb2

I have MM 45s with the balance system and ride with them every single day. They are exactly the same width as the handlebars and don't pose a problem when filtering - either in town or dual carriageway.

I also have ridden with 38s and they are plenty big enough for one person travelling with full camping / cooking kit. Bit on the snug side if there's two of you camping. Fine for two if you're staying in hotel / b&b as you don't have to worry about sleeping bags and tents.

What I will say about MM 45s is that not all helmets will fit in them. If you have an air scoop on the top (e.g. Schuberth C1) you might stuggle. Worth checking before you choose these for that reason...

As Rushy said, you might want to consider something like 2 x MM 38 and a Givi Maxia top box (holds 2 x crash helmets).

Horses for courses.


Oh - and to pick up on KTM 525's point - you don't really need liner bags on the MM panniers as they are so easy to take on and off and easy to carry with the handles that I just unclip the pannier and go. However, if you like liners Kriega make the liners for MM panniers and, as you would expect, they are top bits of kit.

 

[GS TRV]

I have 2x45Ls which are superb for capacity in travelling but not good for helmet storage. Filtering is a no-no but then so it is with a bus like a GS anyway

 

[Tim Cullis]

I initially bought a 38/45 combo, but you need to be aware of trail riding and rock outcrops. How do I know?

I then bought a 31-litre so I have the choice to run 31/38 for trips involving trail riding or 38/45 for road only.

My System V helmet doesn't fit in a 45-litre MM pannier, instead I secure it to the bike with a locking cable. But if you are truly mad, MM used to do a 50 litre.

Tim

 

[Berin]

I've got 2 x 45 balanced set on a 1200GSAand Mrs Berin has a 2x38 balanced set on an f800gs. I only got the 45's as they were cheap on ebay, if I'd been buying new I would probably have got the 38's. However, they're not much wider than the 38's and I filter in them fine, (funnily, people seem to move over) plus they do take my helmets (tour-x, shoei x-spirit) and mrs berin's Arai. The 45's are huge, so for a 2 week camping trip I took most of the camping kit, thus leaving mrs berin free to cart around the enormous sack of various toiletry items which appear to be required, and I didn't need an extra soft bag which helps security.

Plus, they're waterproof, I just pack stuff in in pack cubes so it's nice and tidy and easy to get at.

 

[gsworker]

That's great thanks for all your comments, it's looking like I'll go for the 38 litres. Anybody know any sites that might have photo's of both sizes fitted? MM site doesn't show them in any great detail.

 

[Blackal]

I've got the balanced 45Ltr pair, and can honestly say - that if you aren't touring 2-up with lots of gear, or packing tent and sleeping bag, food, stove etc ........

The 45 Ltr jobs are too big.

The 38 Ltr ones are probably as much as you need, and the 31 ltr ones are probably sufficient with gear lashed to the tops of them.

I've just ordered a pair of "Skinny Ard-Mules" from Redcap, which are according to the dimensions of Skinny Mules, but about 30mm less height. I reckon on them being 30ltrs each.

I have yet to see the ArdCases myself, but from photos and other people's reviews - I would find it hard to justify the cost of MetalMules again.

Al

 

[Dakota XT]

I've got some photos of our MM's on my website - http://moto-andalucia.com/article/Metal_Mule_Panniers. They were taken a couple of years ago and they're fitted to XT's.

 

[gsworker]

Thanks Dakota XT thats great info and I love the clothes drier! Are the mules in the photo's 38 litres?

 

[Dakota XT]

Yes, they're 38 litres - they measure about 98 cms wide on the bike.

I just remembered I also have a Picasa Web Album with some bigger photos in too if you want to see them close up - http://picasaweb.google.com/Smokin.Lizard/MetalMules#

 

[gsworker]

Thanks there great photo's, at 98 cms I think thats wide enough, decision made. Thanks again.