W.T.F.??????????

[Fanum]

They don't need an airhole!! Have had a pannier and top box set for over 3 years. Sure, in hot weather they lids are not as easy to open but its no big deal. I see the need for an air hole.

Good to see BMW sticking to their usual Mickey-Mouse approach to rectifying problems.

Oh yes they do.....

We had a BMW top box that was opened at 9000 feet plus in the High Atlas to get some sarnies out....a day later down at near sea level, the sides of the box bowed inwards with the pressure difference and we had to drill a hole in the fekker to get it open

Don't forget these are supposed to be for bikes that do RTW's, even if most are only taken down to the Ponderosa or the Ace cafe with nothing in but for a cranberry and halloumi pitta bread sandwich

It may not be the most subtle of things, but at least they've addressed the problem

 

[WindyChuffer]

Oh yes they do.....

We had a BMW top box that was opened at 9000 feet plus in the High Atlas to get some sarnies out....a day later down at near sea level, the sides of the box bowed inwards with the pressure difference and we had to drill a hole in the fekker to get it open

Don't forget these are supposed to be for bikes that do RTW's, even if most are only taken down to the Ponderosa or the Ace cafe with nothing in but for a cranberry and halloumi pitta bread sandwich

It may not be the most subtle of things, but at least they've addressed the problem

Good point; i give you that. But the BWM solution looks to be a bit mickey mouse as looks like it is compromising the waterproofing. I'd have thought that some kind of screw valve that maintained the waterproofing would be far more appropriate; all possible.

 

[Richard M]

Tou do realise that posting this will result in existing GSA luggage owners inundating BMW dealers tomorrow demanding to have their Aholes sorted!

Let’s all call Customer Services and then visit our dealers.

 

[Roberto]

Whatever it is, it looks crap.

 

[oldrascal]

Good point; i give you that. But the BWM solution looks to be a bit mickey mouse as looks like it is compromising the waterproofing. I'd have thought that some kind of screw valve that maintained the waterproofing would be far more appropriate; all possible.

I'm not sure that there is any way water could get in unless you were doing some serious river snorkling . The 'nostrils' are downward facing and any water ingress would just as quickly drain out. The air hole is some 5cm higher. I suspect that, appearance aside, the BMW boffins have thought this one out well.

But what surprised me is that so few of us are aware of this alteration to specification........ Surely all of the '09 bikes have this?

 

[Fanum]

Good point; i give you that. But the BWM solution looks to be a bit mickey mouse as looks like it is compromising the waterproofing. I'd have thought that some kind of screw valve that maintained the waterproofing would be far more appropriate; all possible.

Hard to say without looking at the thing taken apart....don't forget it's got to be a two way valve rather than a one way valve( far easier more elegant looking thing)

It's not hard to design something that's water tight but not air tight in the space that they have within that plastic wart as pictured....I'd say the issue is with aesthetics rather than waterproofness (ooop, made up word alert!!), and let's face it, none of us ride a GS 'cos they're pretty

 

[Bryn]

Got a pair and I can say there's never been water get in through the breather


saying that I've not been out in the rain with them on yet

 

[KarlC]

Should have got Varios since the poor build quality plus slidey in outy mechanism thingy means air/water/mice have free passage; so no buckling of sides

 

[(RIP) Miff]

It's a microphone.

For years, people in BMWs have been called "Airholes". It's shouted at them as they drive down the street. Obviously the factory have got to hear about this. To see if it's true, they've fitted a microphone. This is the latest micro device, that is a combined Microphone, recorder, GPS locater, and GPRS/3G transmitter.

Everytime someone shouts "Look at that airhole in that BMW" it records the moment and position, then transmits it "back to base".

Obviously, this only happens to those drive BMW cars, but they want to see if it happens to the bikes too.

Something has obviously got lost in the translation ........


So, whilst it ISN'T an airhole, it is obvious where your confusion came from

Happy to help.

 

[Ogmios]

ahh FFS easy to see...

it's a feckin' great big white arrow