Panniers or not ?

[twg1]

I did not go through with the buying a new GSA towards the end of last year , i decided to stick with the XT , But getting the itch again to ride something more in keeping with my size , the xt feels like a moped on stilts !

So have been speaking to the dealer i have used recently seem to have a good deal on the table , but i cant make my mind up on panniers and top box or not .

I have a metal mule top box on the xt i used to use on the previous gs's and i still have the rack , i knew there was a reason i kept it !!!!

So do i go with the bmw box's or save the money for now and get the panniers and rails from MM later. if i go with the BMW box i can recover some of the cost buy selling the MM box and rack . Or is there something out there better value than either.

Keith

 

[Wapping]

Whichever you chose, make sure you can take them off when you get to your hotel........ it will save you asking if you should........

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

I've got the Varios on my GSA ....... I prefer them

 

[Big_Steve64]

who knows?

When I bought my GSA in 09, I paid extra for the panniers.
I got home and put them on a shelf I had made in the garage. I sold the bike 14 moths later. The panniers had not moved. That's because I had to work so much overtime to pay for the panniers I couldn't get away to use them.........

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

GPWM

 

[GS_or_bust]

I reckon you will be able to pick up some cheap BMW panniers in a years time when the water cooled GSA comes out and the panniers aren't transferable.

 

[Paul S]

I've got the Varios on my GSA ....... I prefer them

I've got BMW Ali ones on my GS......I prefer them




They were also fitted to my previous 2 GSA's

 

[Paul S]

I did not go through with the buying a new GSA towards the end of last year , i decided to stick with the XT , But getting the itch again to ride something more in keeping with my size , the xt feels like a moped on stilts !

So have been speaking to the dealer i have used recently seem to have a good deal on the table , but i cant make my mind up on panniers and top box or not .

I have a metal mule top box on the xt i used to use on the previous gs's and i still have the rack , i knew there was a reason i kept it !!!!

So do i go with the bmw box's or save the money for now and get the panniers and rails from MM later. if i go with the BMW box i can recover some of the cost buy selling the MM box and rack . Or is there something out there better value than either.

Keith

Question is what sort of "deal" will the dealer do now as part of the package

 

[Georgeeboi]

I got varios thrown in the deal for FREE.

 

[sidestand]

Keep your Metal Mule topbox - the GSA ally one is no better & you'll save yourself about £400

Then get whatever panniers you fancy - but remember the racks for the ally ones should come on the GSA as standard & you can always pick up a set of panniers on here or on Evilbay at less than dealer prices.

 

[t'other dave]

If its a good deal get the panniers, simple.
Dave

 

[stever1]

GPWM

HUH ?

 

[twg1]

Had a think and going pannier less for now and use the mm top box.

Save some money for fuel so i can use this one as intended unlike the other 3 in the past !

Keith

 

[oyster]

Money Saved!

Hi Keith, I was unlucky to buy my GS on the day before Free Panniers were offered! Having overcome the rage, i bought a pair of used Varios of this site from a local Member to me, which has worked out very well over the last 2 years. Apparantly, the reason they offered free Panniers after i purchased mine, was of a price increase starting 1st June 2010!
Don't forget there is no 'free service' as there was with your Yammie,so the money saved,not going for the Varios,will be needed for the expensive servicing! Enjoy your new ride

 

[twg1]

Best is start on haggling over the service now then!

Keith

 

[autogs]

Keep your Metal Mule topbox - the GSA ally one is no better & you'll save yourself about £400

Then get whatever panniers you fancy - but remember the racks for the ally ones should come on the GSA as standard & you can always pick up a set of panniers on here or on Evilbay at less than dealer prices.

pannier racks are not standard fitment,there an option

 

[twg1]

It has dynamic and premium pack's so has rails on it.

keith

 

[Pablo1]

Whichever you chose, make sure you can take them off when you get to your hotel........ it will save you asking if you should........

are you suggesting the bmw ali ones are easily nicked ?

 

[snaponphil]

My threppence & more

It has dynamic and premium pack's so has rails on it.

keith

Hi, got new GSA last June, mine has rails & got the free panniers in the deal from BMW, dealer did deal on the matching top box at time of purchase so reduced cost.
They are LIGHT being alloy..!
I'm glad I got panniers as went touring & they hold lots, are fairly secure when locked to bike, they are sturdy as WHEN I fell off all the weight landed on the n/s pannier, I thought it was a gonner, hardly a mark.! Wow..
I bought used inner bags & use the bags all the time rather than laptop bags etc, very Stylish & water 'resistant' zippers.
The lids are hinged both sides so either flip forwards or flip rearwards, when open i use the lids for snack trays, a tin of coke & a bag of crisps etc..
When closed you can mount bags on top either using the inner liners or a roll bag & bungies.
Now for slightly bad bits..
Not 100% waterProof, but close enough for me..
Not very thick alloy, (to keep weight down) so when stuffed full to the brim then some, sides splay or distort making closing lids slightly difficult. ( I've defo overfilled mine) but they always return to original shape.
Oh, nearly forgot, being top loaders the stuff loads from the top, unlike vario's which are slightly annoying to totally fill to the brim & when u do stop on side of road less spills out onto floor..

Ok.. I've now sold my vario's so I'll keep the alloy adventure ones..

Hope this helps.. Totally unbiased view.. (I'm not sure which I like the look of best) sometimes the adventure ones look a little less refined.. :beerjug

 

[snaponphil]

Security

Ah, I nearly forgot... Security..
I have travelled with laptops & camera gear..
When on the bike I use a 'pacsafe' Bowden cable looped through the racking to the panniers & lids.
I have in the past needed to leave them in the open & I chained them round a tree with the 'pacsafe' cable.
They have been attempted to be removed by vagrants when I parked near a city train station which I thought was safe, wrong! But no permanent damage done.
(I was a little stressed on my return though)

Goodnight..