Pannier Suggestions

[ac/dc]

Hi all,

I bought a BMW R1200 GS Adventure 06, two months ago, excellent bike so far (Change from an R1).
I bought soft pannier last month, Oxford x60 (these http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/58131). While these are good for around town shopping and trips around UK but I want your suggestion on upgrading to hard case panniers.

The bike came with standard pannier racks (these http://www.moto24.co.uk/bmw-rear-rack-for-aluminium-bags-r1200gs-adventure.html). I am planning trip to Gibraltar, Portugal, Austria and Ireland this year.

Question: Do you think I would need hard panniers? if yes what should I buy which would be compatible with the existing rack. My budget is about £300 to 400.

Thanks

 

[pedro]

If they've to go on those racks, then only the 1200 Adventure panniers will fit. You should be able to pick up a set within budget on here or eBay.

 

[Bryn]

Best option is to go for the Genuine GSA panniers if you already have the racks

They look right, and hold plenty

Personally I wouldn't want to do a trip like that with soft panniers...

Welcome to the site BTW

 

[Fanum]

There are many many panniers out there.......some are cheap and plastic crap, overpriced and just bling, some are weak and thin ally boxes that are still overpriced but will do the job a bit better.

BMW OEM panniers are cheap to buy at the moment, because so many dealers have had them as a freeby with a new bike for the last 8 years.......the reason they are being sold off though is because they are crap for pretty much anything apart from a quick trip to the Ace Cafe or Tesco with a bunch of stickers on them off Ebay for countries that people have never been to

There is, in my not-so-humble opinion, only one manufacturer of panniers that is worth the money....Vernatechs, hand made in the garage by our very own Vern here on the forum.

Look up 'Vernatechs' and 'worldbeater' in the search function and have a read of the threads......they are cheaper than a set of BMW panniers, FAR stronger, they are custom made to size and they are well known for making women moist at 200 yards

One particular post HERE and I quote......

It took 12 years of GS'ing for Vern to grindi me down to have a set of Worldbeater Panniers, I've travelled with several other makes and been witness to the failings of many brands of panniers......and now have to admit Vern's are simply THE Best and not as expensive as many others.......should've bought them in the first place

...AND I wasn't paid to say that

That's on THIS THREAD.

If you buy any other type, you will always regret it when you finally come to your senses.

No, I'm not paid by Vern, not do I have any business interest with him......
he's just my weekend lover and I call him Amanda

Being serious for a moment.....type in 'panniers' on the search function, crack open a can of beer and sit back and read

 

[pedro]

The OEM ones aint really that bad. They get marked pretty easily with salt etc, as they are bare aluminium. Theyre easy to get on and off the bike and I've lost one of them at around 70 on the motorway (my fault), which remained relatively unscathed.
They've also worked perfectly in a number of different countries I've visited , although I must admit I've never been to the 'Ace Cafe'.

 

[zool]

#### Abunch of stickers on them off Ebay for countries that people have never been to ####



Damn right, Rivington barn in Lancashire seems to be a mecca for those 'just in-between' a trans sahara/LWD/LWR/Paris-Daker excursion !!

Eeeerm, just off to the pyranees in 3 months time & just after the TT in June (before i get flamed for being too hypocritical)

 

[zool]

Eeeerm, just off to the pyranees in 3 months time & just after the TT in June (before i get flamed for being too hypocritical)

Okay i know, the TT isnt exactly a once-in-a-life-time-adventure . . . but its a start, and at least i'm out there mixing it with the R1, ZX10R, GSXR boys - keeping our end-up !!

 

[Fanum]

The OEM ones aint really that bad. They get marked pretty easily with salt etc, as they are bare aluminium. Theyre easy to get on and off the bike and I've lost one of them at around 70 on the motorway (my fault), which remained relatively unscathed.
They've also worked perfectly in a number of different countries I've visited , although I must admit I've never been to the 'Ace Cafe'.

They're not really too bad....but because they are bare aluminium, they not only corrode at the slightest hint of salt, but they also mark everything inside them with ally oxide.

Oh, and they're not really that bad, but they fall off at 70 MPH on the motorway

I can STAND in mine, and I'm 20 stone.....I have had two people standing on top of them to get a better view of a band as well.......try that with BMW OEM ones and you'll end up standing on crumpled tin foil or seriously hurt, or both.

I've thrown mine down a 30 foot granite slope about 35 degrees steep in Tafraoute, picked up the bike and just smiled at the little scratch on the side of the pannier......David Hale dropped his bike on the same slope and had zero damage IIRC........photos to prove.

I'm in danger of getting evangelical about this now, but seriously, you could attempt to kick the living shit out of a pair of Vern's panniers with your biggest stompiest off-road boots on and you'd end up more hurt than the panniers would......do that with a pair of BMW panniers or many other makes and you'd be carrying your kit back in plastic bags hanging off your bars


Compare the prices of a full set of Vern's panniers to a full set of BMW panniers, and sorry, the BMW ones are utterly, totally and utterly SHIT in comparison

 

[ac/dc]

Thanks Gents,

Bryn - Thanks for the welcome, excellent forum, so far.

Fanum - I agree, manufacturers have about 45% profit margin with dealer getting about 20%. Better off buying something hand made and with a story to it. I will send email to the craftsman at once, if they cost the same then I am still looking. Spot on with the sense of humour BTW.

Pedro - Cricky, did you manage to get the pannier back from the motorway or pulled up a chair on the hard shoulder for its endurance test observation

Zool - Nothing wrong with Ace Cafe, a bit overrated, but I would prefer the Yak milk tea in Tibet.

 

[pedro]

I did point out out that it was my fault that the pannier fell off. I'd locked the frame lock through one of the loops on my pacsafe instead of the frame. Rider error due to riding 800 miles and it being 4 in the morning.
Fortunately traffic was rather light and I managed to retrieve it prior to an HGV distributing my dirty laundry over a large area. Only a few scrapes to the corners to tell the tale.

 

[(RIP) Miff]

Zool - Nothing wrong with Ace Cafe, a bit overrated, but I would prefer the Yak milk tea in Tibet.

With that attitude, you're going to fit in perfectly here

Welcome in.

 

[bowser]

panniers

For what its worth.

BMW ali - comments as above.

Verns - well built I have a pair hold loads top notch, downside is that they do not quickly detach.

TT panniers - comments as per BMW ones, uncoated ali, they do QD and reasonably well built but very expensive.

Metal mules - never had them, they are well built but eye watering expensive, I dont particulary like them but you takes your choice, they are easy to get off, nicely annodised.

Ard cases - well made good value, not owned a set but know people who do and are very happy.

Stalkoffer - My misses has a set, if you want removable panniers then I personaly think they are the best value and best made, you can get good value liners made to fit.

Jessies - They are well made but more expensive than metal mules, and personaly dont think that they justify the cost but they do look nice and work very well.

www.heavyduties.ro - I bought some crash bars and bits for a KTM from these guys and they were very good to deal with, not seen the panniers but there was a right up in adventure bike mag a few issues ago, cheap but well made for the money.

There are loads of others out there.

for my mind, Verns worldbeaters if you dont need to QD them, Stalkoffers if you do, both made in the UK both by little firms and you can go and meet the guys making them. Both on the forum, for Quality both stack up against the big boys in the market and knock spots off them.

 

[Blackal]

If you are looking for a good result for less than £500.......

Get a pair of BMW panniers (£450 second hand?)

Or- get a pair of Ard Cases, and a Holan Rack to suit. (could be £500+)

The downside to the Ard Cases is that they are not quickly detachable (and you need to empty them first)

But:

You can spec them to whatever size you want (I went for ones the same dimentions as "skinny Mules".)
They are extremely well-built and beautifully-finished.

Al

 

[lockyv7]

Jesse luggage makes a kit to fit there luggage directly to the GSA mounts and have a distributor in the UK www.twowheeltrekkers.co.uk

and there not the only luggage to fit directly to the ADV mounts, i build these,

But i am a little far away being in Australia and i dont ship to the UK as there are enough people trying to scrape a living from building bike luggage and im sure thay dont want someone else trying to take food from there table.

Cheers from sunny downunder. when its not friggin raining.

 

[harks]

If you are interested i have a pair Vario panniers for sale .Pm me for details if you like.

 

[Paul S]

IMO go for the BMW ali panniers - you say you want them for trips to Gibraltar, Portugal, Austria and Ireland not the Road of Bones and so more than adequate for what you need

Got my set with a new 2006 GSA and they have now been transferred to a third GS and so now 6 years old and no problems

 

[Big_Steve64]

What you will find with GSA OEM alu panniers is they are 1) expensive and 2) Expensive 2nd hand.
That means you can buy them, use them for your trip and then sell them for a top price if you don't want to keep them.
Keep your eyes peeled for a 2nd hand pair. If your quick you will be able to buy them and then sell them with no loss at all. Like money in the bank. Which is true to many of the aftermarket GS parts. Exhausts, screens, HIDs etc.

Panniers are the number 1 item that people buy for their GS

 

[Radio-active]

Hi all,

I bought a BMW R1200 GS Adventure 06, two months ago, excellent bike so far (Change from an R1).
I bought soft pannier last month, Oxford x60 (these http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/58131). While these are good for around town shopping and trips around UK but I want your suggestion on upgrading to hard case panniers.

The bike came with standard pannier racks (these http://www.moto24.co.uk/bmw-rear-rack-for-aluminium-bags-r1200gs-adventure.html). I am planning trip to Gibraltar, Portugal, Austria and Ireland this year.

Question: Do you think I would need hard panniers? if yes what should I buy which would be compatible with the existing rack. My budget is about £300 to 400.

Thanks

Hi,

Try giving Roger at ARD Cases (Cambridgeshire) a ring (ardcases.co.uk ) he will make you up a set of bombproof Aluminium cases made to measure for your bike, I think he charges 375 quid a pair these days and will powder coat them whatever colour you want....Im not sure how the attachments work with his cases on the BMW pannier rack but i'm sure he can work a way round that.
I had a pair off him for my Africa Twin made from 2 + 2.5mm aly and they were brilliant and were totally waterproof...stronger and more robust than the BMW set I have now...

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Jessies win for me which is why I have them. You might be lucky and get a set on eBay for your budget. Things might have changed but when I was looking for hard luggage people were paying well over the odds for the GSA ones.

 

[RATCATCHER]

panniers

metal mule are the ones! have the balanced set look great from behind with the exhaust tucked in out of the way!not cheap tho!!