badger
Registered user
looking for some new luggage for my 1200gs.Be interested to get peoples opinion to wots best soft or hard luggage.Read several reviews but still non the wiser.
soft or hard
- Thread starter badger
- Start date
Toyo
Registered user
If you are looking for some ali cases, not new but in very good condition- I got a pair of 45 Ltrs metal mules for sale which were on my 1200.
Too big for my little bike now
Too big for my little bike now
Depends on what you want to use them for and what you intend to carry. Many bods simply fit the boxes and carry air around as it adds to 'the look' and (that all important) 'presence'. That or they spend their lives terrified that someone will break in and steal their possessions when parked in Tesco.
Work out what YOU want, LOOK at the alternatives and then buy what suits YOU. It's the radical, self-reliant approach that comes with motorcycle and in particular 1200GS GS ownership. You are a rebel, close to the edge, independent of the herd. Live the dream.
Work out what YOU want, LOOK at the alternatives and then buy what suits YOU. It's the radical, self-reliant approach that comes with motorcycle and in particular 1200GS GS ownership. You are a rebel, close to the edge, independent of the herd. Live the dream.
scottpa
Registered user
I had always used soft luggage (panniers). It didn't seem worth spending hundreds on getting hard (luggage that is) when they were going to get used 2 or three times a year (again the luggage 
).
When I got the GS, I found that the exhaust fouled the panniers and so I bought some givi rails to try and keep the panniers off the exhaust but the rails meant that the panniers would not fit. So ended up getting some givi panniers from ebay for £200. Again, black plastic givi boxes don't go with the rufty tufty image of a GS. However GIVI now do the trekker range which looks a bit more in keeping with the GS.
Conclusion. It is horses for courses. I personally don't see the point in riding around with hard metal luggage fitted all the time. It makes the bike wide and difficult to filter with and makes you look like a Ewan and Charlie wannabe. Some like that image.
For a couple of trips a year, spend £70 on some soft luggage (if you can get it to fit the exhaust).
Mr Wooton of this parrish, may I suggest an exhaust/luggage protector to stop softies melting onto the exhaust?
Regards,
Alan
).When I got the GS, I found that the exhaust fouled the panniers and so I bought some givi rails to try and keep the panniers off the exhaust but the rails meant that the panniers would not fit. So ended up getting some givi panniers from ebay for £200. Again, black plastic givi boxes don't go with the rufty tufty image of a GS. However GIVI now do the trekker range which looks a bit more in keeping with the GS.
Conclusion. It is horses for courses. I personally don't see the point in riding around with hard metal luggage fitted all the time. It makes the bike wide and difficult to filter with and makes you look like a Ewan and Charlie wannabe. Some like that image.
For a couple of trips a year, spend £70 on some soft luggage (if you can get it to fit the exhaust).
Mr Wooton of this parrish, may I suggest an exhaust/luggage protector to stop softies melting onto the exhaust?
Regards,
Alan
I struggle to understand this obsession with hard luggage 
I use a soft tail pack for general use and that big bag for touring (managed to do a week in northern Spain with the GF with just that). There were a couple of guys with loaded GSAs on the ferry with full hard luggage (both solo riders) - one guy had one pannier stuffed full of coat hangers
I rest my case
I use a soft tail pack for general use and that big bag for touring (managed to do a week in northern Spain with the GF with just that). There were a couple of guys with loaded GSAs on the ferry with full hard luggage (both solo riders) - one guy had one pannier stuffed full of coat hangers
I rest my case
Dave78
Registered user
Both my BM's came with hard luggage.
The RS with system panniers, and a givi top-box..
My GSA with the ali panniers.. I also got a ali top box for day to day use, and my lid fits in there when I get to where I'm going.. 99% of the time if I've got the panniers/top box on the bike, it's because I've got something in them.. or intend to on that trip..
The RS with system panniers, and a givi top-box..
My GSA with the ali panniers.. I also got a ali top box for day to day use, and my lid fits in there when I get to where I'm going.. 99% of the time if I've got the panniers/top box on the bike, it's because I've got something in them.. or intend to on that trip..
On my Gs i have the Gs one's (side one's)they dont leak either in the rain,but did try bin liner's first just incase.
And for a top box i bought a GIVI Monolock top carrier of this forum,and later got a Trekker 47ltr to fit it of this forum as well on here,although you can only get 1 helmet and my HienGerik coat in it.
And for a top box i bought a GIVI Monolock top carrier of this forum,and later got a Trekker 47ltr to fit it of this forum as well on here,although you can only get 1 helmet and my HienGerik coat in it.
I struggle to understand this obsession with hard luggage
What a strange comment.
It depends where you are travelling to, what you are planning on taking with you, and if you are planning on leaving the bike unattended with valuables in. If you are just taking clothes and general items of low value, and aren't leaving the bike unattended, then soft luggage is fine. If you are taking a laptop/ camera and other valuables, and don't want to cart them round with you while you stop for lunch for an hour or two, then lockable hard luggage is the way to go.
AFTER weighing my boxes on my GS 1200 
Fit a set of boxes, lots of variations but they are all boxes, and forget about them. You'll be sorted for everything from Timbuktu to bringing beer home from 
s (or a Waitrose curry as I did from Salisbury last week!).
s (or a Waitrose curry as I did from Salisbury last week!).
An ape, badger , and walrus up to now
AFTER weighing my boxes on my GS 1200
A good point - full set of luggage must add 30 odd kilos to the weight of the bike so like carrying a small child around wherever you go - no wonder the Hilltop remap is so popular
Just believe a bag does the job 90% of the time
But how can you stick stickers on soft luggage ?
Time Traveller
Registered user
I use both. (well at least on previous bikes)...I've yet to go anywhere on my bavarian tractor. Mine came with Vario panniers and a top box.
I prefer the hard luggage, just cos you can lock and leave it, its easier to open and close, if you just want to get something out at the road side. I'm not sure about aluminium luggage (not owned any so I am prepared to be corrected) I would think everything gets coated in black Al crap, and must be easily damaged in comparison to ABS plastics, which are virtually indestructable (I don't include the varios BTW, I would think they are easily damaged cos of the expandy mechanism thing)
The advantage to soft luggage is if you got weird shaped things to back they will be a bit easier, and they are cheaper, and they don't split if the bike topples...apart from that.
horses for courses.
I prefer the hard luggage, just cos you can lock and leave it, its easier to open and close, if you just want to get something out at the road side. I'm not sure about aluminium luggage (not owned any so I am prepared to be corrected) I would think everything gets coated in black Al crap, and must be easily damaged in comparison to ABS plastics, which are virtually indestructable (I don't include the varios BTW, I would think they are easily damaged cos of the expandy mechanism thing)
The advantage to soft luggage is if you got weird shaped things to back they will be a bit easier, and they are cheaper, and they don't split if the bike topples...apart from that.
horses for courses.
badger
Registered user
cheers for the thoughts.think i'll try the cheaper soft option 1st and see how it goes,before going mad and spending a shed load of cash.
A good point - full set of luggage must add 30 odd kilos to the weight of the bike so like carrying a small child around wherever you go - no wonder the Hilltop remap is so popular
Just believe a bag does the job 90% of the time
On my last three bikes the panniers and top box combined weighed under 30Kgs when full with enough kit for two of us for a fortnights trip.
Sure you can save that 30Kg if you are happy to wear just your bike kit for two weeks night and day, just hope I never end up sat near you in a restaurant.
Hard lugguage is great, once you try it you won't go back.
It tends to be quicker to fit, more waterproof, highly unlikely to fall off, is far more secure (both from theft and getting wrapped in your wheels or burned by the exhaust)
It is also so easy to get stuff out / put stuff away without wrestling with ties / tape / bungees etc.
The stuff lasts for years (decades) and holds a good residual value of you ever want to sell it on.
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