Vario Panniers - inner bags needed or not??

[cjdad76]

I have the BMW Vario panniers that came with my bike, but to date have never used them. With previous bikes I have always used soft luggage so have no experience with hard panniers at all.

Can somebosy tell me:
1) Are the panniers waterproof? (I am riding up to Scotland this weekend so they will need to be!!)
2) Is it best to use liner bags? (Which I don't have and seem to be ~£45 a pair)
3) Can I not just stuff my clothes etc. into the panniers?

Thanks.

 

[thomo57]

Mine are waterproof , I find it easier to use the inner bags leaving the panniers on the bike and when you pull up outside a posh hotel, it looks a lot better than walking in with a selection of Aldi and Lidl carrier bags IMHO

 

[earthmover]

My Varios have been completely waterproof through some seriously wet weather. I use them in the closed position, as I don't need the extra space. I have a cheap holdall that fits perfectly inside the right pannier for my clothes.
Mark

 

[Georgeeboi]

I was in the same dilemma untill I was pointed to buy the Argos cool bags that are waterproof look good and are £10, or pay £40 for liners that are not even waterproof OH and they fit well.

 

[rce]

Mine have never leaked and been through some bad weather, just watch out for losing the rubber feet. I took the rubber feet off and bolted replacements on.

Tried liners but you lose a lot of space, so clothes and stuff go in a fold up rucksack from Decathlon, everything else just gets stuffed in for camping.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Inner bags .....................all the way

So much classier, when going into the bunkhouse

 

[rce]

Inner bags .....................all the way

So much classier, when going into the bunkhouse

Tesco or Asda ?

 

[v8legend]

I've got the liners, but I'm not sure that they are waterproof. I've been through some pretty crap weather, and the panniers have never leaked at all. The liners do take up some space, but make packing etc much easier. I've got the BMW liners, but there are cheaper alternatives out there.

 

[Dave56]

Try this link cjdad7. If like you say you will use them rarely why go to the expence of tailored inner bags when these suit the purpose ideallym

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=278808

 

[Georgeeboi]

As posted above!

 

[Rasher]

I always use liners as it is just so convenient and saves carrying dirty panniers in and out of your house / hotel.

My Vario's where waterproof, plus I use rollup vacuum bags so I can get more stuff in each pannier - and this also means even if a pannier did leak everything would be dry.

I also happen to have a set of Cee Baileys rather excellent pannier liners for sale, these are in excellent condition and I am selling all three for half the BMW cost for two (£75 Inc Postage)

 

[moody]

Try this link cjdad7. If like you say you will use them rarely why go to the expence of tailored inner bags when these suit the purpose ideallym

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=278808

Thanks for the link
I went to Agos today and bought some of these.
They are now £9.99 a pair but are still a bargain! ( you need 2 pairs)

 

[cjdad76]

Bought the Argos bags as recommended and they were perfect.

Just back from 5 days on a very rainy Scottish trip and panniers were waterproof, and the 'liners'(!) were much easier to handle than lumping the panniers everywhere.

Thanks all - sound advice again!

Chris

 

[DeanoBeano]

Are the rubber feet available to buy separately? I've just picked up a set of panniers and noticed one of the rubber feet is missing leaving an open hole.

 

[Sharik]

Motorworks can supply the rubber feet. As with all thing BM disproportionately expensive. When fitting, apply some adehsive that can flex, not superglue.