Vario panniers - heat resistance

[Johnny Davies]

Hey All

I gonna get some vario panniers soon for my next euro trip. Just flicked through some posts here and it seems some folk have experienced some melting issues with their exhaust side pannier, particularly when they have an aftermarket exhaust set-up.

I have a the full Remus set-up on mine and the number plate has felt the effects slightly and the backing plastic has come away slightly but it hasn't melted.
Does the exhaust side vario have a heat shield of any kind? Or is it a case of pot luck and see if the exhaust melts the pannier? I have an extender but reluctant to put it on cos it looks rubbish.

Has anyone else had a problems with this or has BMW done something about this? I know there are lots of metal alternatives out there, but they are not for me - don't like the look of them (beauty in the eye of and all that).

Cheers
JD

 

[Tartan Terror]

There is a metal heat shield on the pannier in question and the pannier gets warm but this is the first I've heard of any melting!!

 

[GSmonkey]

If I remember, some of the very early panniers came without the heat shields, but the ones I bought in late 04 had them fitted. I had the Remus can only (standard headers), no baffle and didn't have any problems with the panniers, despite a charred numberplate and indicator.

You shouldn't have any problems.

 

[dudlow]

My exhaust side pannier has a nice little hole in it !! Even with the extension on the Remus it melted the heatshield. I only use the boxes on long fast Euro runs, maybe that has something to do with it. I don't blame BM, cos it would not happen with a stock exhaust. What the hell.......... its only a little hole.

 

[earthmover]

I have a Bos end can, and my Vario's are on the bike 90% of the time with no problems.
Mark

 

[Bear]

No problems in14k miles with Vario panniers and standard exhaust.

 

[Johnny Davies]

Thanks

thanks for the feedback - I'm gonna go with Vario's and see what happens - I'll keep you posted.
Cheers
JD

 

[GSwadd]

I have a Staintune muffler that has a thinner wall than standard and no problem with the vario pannier or the contents inside.

 

[ALEXG]

I have the Vario panniers and a full Remus system with carbon can . No luggage melt problems whatsoever . I did have some problems with the number plate but solved this firstly with some sticky backed aluminium and then more permanently with the MC Concepts stainless steel crud catcher thingy that is , of course , no longer available but there must be similar products on the market .

 

[GSmonkey]

I...stainless steel crud catcher thingy that is , of course , no longer available but there must be similar products on the market .

I just bought a cut to size piece of 2mm ali sheet from ebay for less than a fiver and put it behind the plate...........job done

 

[Brahma]

Bad news- I just did 3,300 miles on vacation and did melt a hole in my pannier. VERY bummed out. Stock exhaust, and pannier has th4 metal plate. The issue is that the melt hole is NOT near the metal plate! If the plate was longer, it wouldn't have happened.

 

[jeffers]

vario's

got a standard exhaust on my 04 1200, recently done a trip around europe without any probs, 42 deg heat, at some points we were going very slow owing to the fact that a couple of the people could not deal with the twisties and bottled it but thats another story, and the bikes were getting mega hot, also days of flat out riding, again no probs, all in all well impressed with the vario's.

 

[harry]

thanks for the feedback - I'm gonna go with Vario's and see what happens - I'll keep you posted.
Cheers
JD

Hi John
I have a pair of Vario Panniers in quite good condition, v small ding and slight scuff on rear edge of right one, otherwise all sound. Interested?
harry