Metal Panniers or BMW for 1200GS

[happy grandad]

I have the full set of 1200GS BMW expanding panniers for over a year. Overall they work reasonably well but as a cack-handed bugger I have already had to take them back twice as I have managed to have the expansion mechanism stop working. They are okay as far as size is concerned. However I would like advice re changing them for metal ones.

I tour around Europe for 4 weeks in the summer staying at bed and breakfast. I camp every two or three weeks throughout the year in Britain.

I only want side panniers and I intend retaining the BMW topbox.

I want panniers that are easy to get on and off without too much hassle (Metal Mule rather than TT) What about the others?

They must be able to take at least one helmet as my wife flies out to meet me in Europe so i have to take her helmet with me. (Concerns about Metal Mule not being able to take a helmet)

They must be very easy to fit onto the present bike as i am very mechanically limited.

They must be comfortable with a pillion.

Although I do not go mega fast I do not hang around and would want panniers that are stable up to 100mph etc

The cost is not too important as long as my wife does not find out what i am doing.

What is the advice? Should I change or stick with the BMW. And what should i change to?

Thanks

 

[gb's]

I have been looking at panniers lately and ended up buying the BMW expandables. As far as I could find out no metal panniers were capable of taking a full face helmet(unless I missed something - there are a lot to choose from) If the helmet issue had not been there I would have probably still ended up with the |BMW ones which, so far, I have found perfect for me.

 

[TerryM]

The top box takes my Arai full face hat, and you can get the BMW panniers repaired for free for at least two or more years based on the earlier failures. So why buy others until BMW refuse to oblige?

 

[happy grandad]

a) Because the dealers are over 50 miles away and it is a nuisance to get there and back twice to get them sorted - or wait between services to get them repaired - a nuisance.

b) I generally use the top box for camera's food and drinks etc when I am touring

c) I am concerned about their strength when i am away. As I said, I am very cack handed and tend to break things - system helmets etc.

I would want something really that is unbreakable that is why I am looking at the metal panniers

 

[happy grandad]

Whoops - did not mean "camera's food" - meant "cameras, food ..."

See what i mean about being cack- handed. Always in a rush.

 

[Emoto]

Jesse is the way to go for metal panniers. They are powder coated so that you don't get aluminum oxide all over everything inside them and are strong as can be.

http://www.jesseluggage.com/

 

[happy grandad]

After much looking I have decided to go for the Jesse panniers.

No one has a bad word to say about them and the reply from Kiwibob in Germany was more than helpful. Seems a great bloke.

He can be contacted at

[email protected]
Www.kiwibob.de

I have decided to keep the BMW topbox for the moment as it will hold my wife's helmet.