Panniers BMW or ZEGA??

[Mouse]

No problems at all in that area. I imagine that my dealer has correctly set up the height of the mushroom head locking bolt on the holder. Apparently if this is wrong you can have problems, but I never have.

Once that bolt is set correctly you shouldn't have to do any adjustment.

 

[GSmonkey]

Suppose that would explain this picture in the GSER gallery:

Apparently height from top of washer to top of stud should be 27mm +/-2mm.

 

[AusSteve]

A few more thoughts on Jesse

A few things I forgot to mention about the Jesse bags that I liked:

1. There's a bracket that allows the top-box to be mounted on the pillion position (see photo) using the locking mechanism already on the bike - just like BMW's.
2. Because the panniers hold a fair bit and are fairly deep, the weight can be placed lower than with other luggage systems. My personal approach is to carry the weight low in the panniers and reserve the top-box for helmets and riding gear when away from the bike (i.e. it's almost empty when riding).
3. There's an agent in Germany that serves Europe and the UK - he e-mailed me after I e-mailed Jesse, although it did take a while.

Steve

 

[motozen]

German Jesse bags agent:

www.kiwibob.de/eng

Price is: 999 Euro

 

[Hwlffordd]

The only downside in my mind is that you really have to take the side boxes off the bike to pack them, which you wouldn't have to do with top loading ones.

Not if you buy the liner bags which are very smart indeed, have lots of little small pockets in them, are expandable and fit in the panniers perfectly without removed the panniers from the bike

 

[laughingBob]

Forgot to mention I bought the BM ones. I wash my bike with a pressure washer and haven't had any leakage problems. I found adjusting the mushroom bolts to be a matter of trial and error. When I picked the bike from the dealer they weren't adjusted correctly and were so loose they nearly fell off. Now they fit perfectly with no play.

 

[aspad]

After initial worries due to a faulty locking mechanism on one bag (replaced the next day), I have now become a fan of the bm panniers. They go on/off easily and fit well on the bike when its moving ie they don't seem to alter the dynamics of the bike too much and are probably right for 90% of my touring needs. If you were going RTW maybe something like the Jesses would be worth it but for everyday use the bm bags work fine - they do let in some dust on dirt roads but I pack my gear into re-usable supermarket bags (the ones made of hemp or something with a flat base) and this keeps all my clothes clean and allows for very simple packing/unpacking

 

[Cone Bolt]

After 6-7 weeks of running the bike in all weathers with the BMW luggage I have noticed the following:

The expanding mechanisms became stiff to operate, so stripped them down and gave liberal coating of silicone grease, OK now.
I left the pannier lids open in the garage overnight and in morning had to lift lids upwards while closing otherwise they didn't want to shut.
Had to give all the seals a liberal coating of silicone grease otherwise the lids tended to squash the seals rather than sliding over them.
Rust had set in around the cut outs required for the topbox carrier stays gave it a dose of silver Hammerite seems OK now

Adjustment of pannier bolt was a bit hit and miss. Make sure that the bolt is Loctited in as they can work loose when riding without panniers fitted and they cost £14. All in all would I have bought them without a deal........probably not. Will be buying a Xega topbox when I can afford it but that is only because I don't like the ugly BMW topbox support stays and the fact that it won't take a BMW full face helmet unless it's lying on its side then there's no room for owt else. If they made a box like the 1150GS ADV metal one I'd have one like a shot.

 

[TerryM]

Notice how the BMW panniers clip onto plastic clips at the edges of the luggage rack, and lock onto that metal pin in the center.. just don't drop your bike too hard or the plastic clips will snap off.. Jesse bags are narrower, and hold a lot more, and are much more sturdy... no worries about dropping the bike if you ride off road.. If you don't ride off road, the bmw cases will do fine, but I heard they are not 100% waterproof and you would be wise to use a waterproof liner, as the expansion joint will let some water seep in.. at least, that's what i read in a bike magazine. by the way, don't bother emailing Jesse.. they never seem to reply... you need to call them on the phone.. shipping to the UK is probably a fortune.. unless you they offer sea mail...

Perhaps?, but not quite true, as the OEM BM panniers have those two hook like top mounts plus the centre mushroom to locate fore and aft and vertically. Then there is another clamp, integral to the pannier, which holds the box latterally and very firmly to the mounting. If you need ultimate armour plate then only that will do, but for everything else the OEM stuff is fine and very versatile.

 

[gb's]

Width of BMW panniers

Could someone post the width of the mounted BMW panniers, if possible both expanded and compressed.
Thanks very much