Standard BMW 1200 panniers - any benefits over alloy kit?

[JohnC]

Having decided to buy the BMW panniers (and topbox) for the new 1200 I'm buying, well now I'm not so sure. I have Metal Mules boxes on my 1100 atm and I think they are a very good system, which I could keep with just the replacement MM frames (£230).

Has anyone moved from MM, or even Zegas etc to BMW kit who can tell me of any potential benefits or drawbacks? Or even anyone who has went from the standard 1200 panniers to alloy cases, what were your thoughts.

I like the neat fittings of the standard cases as they are very unobtrusive, but then I could just fit the (ugly?) MM frames when I'm touring and use the BM top box for the daily commute etc.

 

[Dale]

John ... advice from newbies is dangerous, but here are my thoughts on the pannier issue ...

I bought the std vario cases about a year ago .. findings so far ...

The good points:
"expandability" is REALLY usefull. I have them in the narrow setting most of the time when commuting = less wind resiatance & easier to get through the traffic.
One key fits everything
They are LOTS cheaper than the Hepco / Touratech options in this market(especially when you consider that the brackets come standard on the bike while with the others the brackets are another cost)
If you remove the rear seat and carrier, you have a nice large flat deck accross the back that is perfect for a duffel bag or tent for loger trips.
I've had mine on gravel roads at cruising speeds (60mph) often enough and the latches, etc have never shown signs of popping off or wear.

Bad points
They open sideways and all your stuff falls out if youre not carefull. Liner bags will help solve this problem, but you do loose some space by using them.
The expanding lever takes up some space inside.
They need to be lubricated occaisionally (mine got "stick" after about a year).
If you have a pillion ... I'm not sure the top box is sturdy enough to use as a bach rest - looks a bit flimsy to lean against for my liking.

Finally, they are not as strong as the metal options - if you drop the bike at speed with them on, they will break. I have had 2 slow speed (<40mph) oopsies with them on and they were fine.

In short, for a cross africa trip, I'd go for the metal ones ... for everything else the vario cases are more usefull.

Dale

 

[Tim Cullis]

Agree with everything Dale says. The BMW panniers are really well designed and I've gone back to them after two trips with Jesse panniers. As to the side loading, it only takes a moment to lift the vario panniers off the bike and set them down on their side, then top load. When touring I use them in the narrow configuration with a luggage roll across them, then there's space for purchases on the way back (normally tins of magret de canard and bottles of calvados). As you can see from the picture you can get six litres of Red Bull in the left-hand pannier in narrow mode.

Tim

 

[Tartan Terror]

That's some serious caffine refreshments there Tim!!! Planning a sleepless weekend were we??

 

[JohnC]

Cheers all