Vario Panniers in Demand

[KelvinG]

I have Varios attached to my R1200 GSA as i didn't like the look of the ally boxes. I've toured around europe with them and as yet the only problem i've encountered is the rubber foot on the left hand box came off. Other than that they have been totally reliable totally waterproof and completely practical.

 

[cockneyjanner]

I've used mine a lot over the last couple of years and have been really pleased with them. They have accepted enough luggage for trips away 2 up, and have always been waterproof. I accept that some of the internal space is taken by the expansion mechanism but personally think the overall design is superb.

 

[andyclift]

The same cannot be said for my BMW metal boxes

Try measuring the metal boxes. My "standard" Zegas" look huge but are exactly the same width as the bars on the left and about 35mm wider on the right. In practice, if the bars go through so will the panniers.

I don't have the Varios to measure but I guess that expanded Varios, which are still less useful than Zegas, are wider.

The one advantage with Varios is that they look smarter but ther bottom line is that I use panniers to carry things and the Zegas are vastly more practical than the Varios.

 

[Davy F]

Very happy with my Varios

I like mine fine. I also have the inner cases and although they do take up a little bit more room, do make it easier in many other ways. They've been totally waterproof while on the bike and best of all, easy to take off the bike and no ugly pannier girders left behind (although I do like the GSA's set up).

I have heard in some cases that in a spill, the metal panniers have bent the rear subframe. Given the choice of losing a Vario and having the rear of my bike bent and twisted, I'll take the former.

 

[Our Gee]

With regard to the Razor Sharp Exhaust Shield, one of the first jobs I did after taking delivery of my new GS was to remove the Shield and file the Edges to a smooth radius. (you shouldn,t have to though)
Mike Tee

 

[VAL. H.]

I had a pair of varios on my bike.

They looked great, did a fair job, they never leaked, the mechanism never failed or became stiff, they never fell off, I never cut my fingers on the heat shield, I never got stuck in traffic, they never failed to carry what I wanted to put in them.

I liked my vario panniers.

I only had one issue with them. Space, I wanted more.

I sold them because I wanted some bigger more rugged panniers, and I couldn't justify keeping them when I knew I'd never really use them once I had the new ones.

There simple as that.

Ebay is a wonderful place.

Val.

 

[GrinningGSer]

Try measuring the metal boxes.

BMW metal boxes are approx 1m wide, which is about the same as the bars (I cannot be precise cos muffs are covering everything at the mo)

The vario boxes, when collapsed are, if I remember, no wider than the engine.

Strangely, it is the engine width that I think about when filtering, rather than the bar width, which is a bit dumb really in hindsight, but the bars on a GS are usually above car touching height anyway, so it is what is lower down that matters most, except for vans... and their mirrors stop me anyway

 

[GeorgeH]

Buying my varios on Saturday

Well I'm impressed with my mates vario panniers so I've ordered a pair. I'm off to Southport on Saturday to buy mine...

 

[Rat-on-a-GS]

Mine have been fantastic.....do not understand all the moaning TBH