Vario vs GSA alloy Panniers

[Wrinkly]

Hi Folks,
I would be very interested as to people's thoughts on the pros and cons of both vario and gsa alloy panniers.
Which and for what reasons are the better panniers.

Thank's for your views,

Steve.

 

[WindyChuffer]

Depends what you want to do.

Varios are a bit fragile. Don't even think about going off road with the vario panniers. If you want rugged, go for the alloys.

 

[Achim]

Horses for courses

On the other hand, if you don't go off-road the Vario panniers are brilliant: they expand to tour, they "compress" for riding around town (and expand again to store your helmet and shopping).

The inner bags make packing and unpacking VERY easy and should be considered essential. The whole kit is very well designed.

You also don't have ugly scaffolding to look at when you take off the panniers... !

Achim

 

[pedro]

Well,

I don't like the varios, they're fragile and you can't fit very much in the left one. They open out the way, which makes it difficult to get to your stuff if you're tight for space, ie- on a ferry.
GSA Panniers- plenty of room, top opening, easy to remove. I lost one at 60mph (my fault) and it survived with only a few scuffs.
I'm not too sure about the security of the varios either. Those plastic locks wouldn't cope with much.
anyway, depends what you're looking for, but I prefer the GSA Aluminium panniers. I've even fitted a set of Holan rails to my 1100 so I can use them on that as well.

 

[RideTheWind]

I ordered my GSA with Varios. I changed to the alloy ones. After a month I sold them and the box and returned to the Varios. 99% of my riding is road riding and I find them great for the long trips. They don't look like a morticians’ slab either. Fit loads in. Down to what you need them for I guess and personal taste. Varios save a fortune in Autosolve too. Actually, it doesnt matter cos I just polish the spokes more

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

My Varios did the job on a 5,000 mile trip this summer. All on road, carrying camping gear and everything else....along with a roll pack bag. I'd only go for boxes if I were thinking of more off road trips.

 

[earthmover]

I bought the varios originally because they were cheaper. I keep them on the bike 99% of the time, in the closed position. The only time I expand them is if I put my helmet inside the right hand one. I've had no issues with them at all, but up to press I haven't had the bike on its side on them to find out just how strong they are. If I got full size panniers, I wouldn't be able to get in the garage!
Mark

 

[Big Lee]

If you have the H&B engine bars on the panniers don`t touch even when expanded when you drop it. DAMHIK

 

[Yonkyo]

On the other hand, if you don't go off-road the Vario panniers are brilliant: they expand to tour, they "compress" for riding around town (and expand again to store your helmet and shopping).

The inner bags make packing and unpacking VERY easy and should be considered essential. The whole kit is very well designed.

You also don't have ugly scaffolding to look at when you take off the panniers... !

Achim

What he Said