What are your pannier / top box recommendations?

[Urban Rider]

Bought the GSA last Sep and didn't go with any luggage as we didn't have any trips planned for the near future. Now, it seems that may change with x2 weeks off in Sep so i need to start thinking about panniers/top boxes.. I had the TT Zega special system on my 1150 GSA and was very pleased with them. Not so much with the top box as the base plate kept cracking so i ended getting rid of it and only using roll bags on the rear rack which i may do again. I know the BMW oem panniers are made by Touratech but here are a lot of other options out there so what are your recommendations?

 

[Nutty]

I just use the BMW top box, and some Kreiga bags strapped to it depending on how long I'm away for. But I don't take a pillion. The good thing with the BMW stuff is it all works off the ignition key, plus you use the original luggage racks. If you don't want BMW panniers, by the time you've bought different racks and panniers, you'd probably pay close to the price of discounted BMW luggage anyway. I'm sure Simon would do you a good deal on panniers, or you could try the German site.

 

[Clifton]

My GSA came with mounts so I bought the factory side cases and they've been OK. I did have the bare aluminum interior coated. Were I to do it again I'd buy Bumot cases which are heavier gauge aluminum and anodized. They fit on GSA mounts and are less money than the ones BMW sell. http://shop.bumot.eu/en/catalog/id/93.html
I haven't used a top box in years preferring a roll up Drybag when extra capacity is needed.

 

[ShakeyGS]

On a new GS LC TE;

BmW GSA spec cases £1000 +

Vario Cases £650

SW Motech Trax Evo Plus mounting rails and kit. £580

My bike will be sporting the Trax Evo kit bought from Motohaus (great comms and service).

 

[Camel Toe]

just travelled from Yorkshire to Sth Wales last weekend in rain......opened both BMW panniers and i could have kept goldfish in them...in fact there was so much water in i could av kept carp in....

 

[Clifton]

I've had both and IMO top load bags are soooo much more functional than side load ones, particularly on the watercooled GS with it's silencer and tiny case on the right (up hill) side. With the bike on its side stand it's difficult to load the large left bag as stuff falls out before closing the lid. The up hill right bag is easier to load but it's so small not much fits in it. One advantage of side load bags is they remain accessible with a top bag sideways across bags. I just position the Drybag longways on the rear seat and rack to have access to the top load side bags.

 

[batman1]

just travelled from Yorkshire to Sth Wales last weekend in rain......opened both BMW panniers and i could have kept goldfish in them...in fact there was so much water in i could av kept carp in....

Something very fishy going on with your boxes.....I have BMW vario's on my GSA-LC, I previously had them on my GS-LC, they have been through all weathers but have never leaked a drop!

 

[matchbox]

When I load my Varios I take them off bike and load loke a suitcase!

 

[ShakeyGS]

just travelled from Yorkshire to Sth Wales last weekend in rain......opened both BMW panniers and i could have kept goldfish in them...in fact there was so much water in i could av kept carp in....

Don't let anyone carp in your panniers!

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Do you really need panniers? If you are in hotels every night you could probably get away with a decent roll bag.

The way I see it is you are in bike gear all day and in reality, how many changes of evening clothes do you actually need for a two week trip?

Most peopel where the same stuff everynight and launderettes are everywhere.

 

[Camel Toe]

Do you really need panniers? If you are in hotels every night you could probably get away with a decent roll bag.

The way I see it is you are in bike gear all day and in reality, how many changes of evening clothes do you actually need for a two week trip?

Most peopel where the same stuff everynight and launderettes are everywhere.

Roll bags are good but if ya stop anywhere on route for a wander around ya stuffed.....

 

[oxforshirerider]

Bought the GSA last Sep and didn't go with any luggage as we didn't have any trips planned for the near future. Now, it seems that may change with x2 weeks off in Sep so i need to start thinking about panniers/top boxes.. I had the TT Zega special system on my 1150 GSA and was very pleased with them. Not so much with the top box as the base plate kept cracking so i ended getting rid of it and only using roll bags on the rear rack which i may do again. I know the BMW oem panniers are made by Touratech but here are a lot of other options out there so what are your recommendations?

I can't say enough good things about the Metal Mule panniers I've got. Sure they look a bit agricultural, but I think thats part of the appeal. I use the smaller Metal Mule Max 22 topbox every day for my commute into London, it easily holds laptop, daily clothes, various tools and all the other bits & bobs you could want on a daily basis. I bought some Metal Mule Max panniers (31l & 38l) for my Triumph Tiger 800, which I was able to swap straight onto the BMW after buying some frames from Metal Mule (great team there and they gave me a small discount for my second set of frames purchased). So now I have 22l top box, 31l on exhaust side and 38l on drive side.

The bike has gone over a few times with the Mule's on, they are a bit scratched up but remain intact and water tight, they are really easy to take on and off quickly and locks feel pretty solid (enough to make a tea-leaf move onto the next bike anyway).

Mine are now coming on 4 years old and work like a charm, happily recommend both the company and the product, as neither have let me down!

 

[Camel Toe]

I can't say enough good things about the Metal Mule panniers I've got. Sure they look a bit agricultural, but I think thats part of the appeal. I use the smaller Metal Mule Max 22 topbox every day for my commute into London, it easily holds laptop, daily clothes, various tools and all the other bits & bobs you could want on a daily basis. I bought some Metal Mule Max panniers (31l & 38l) for my Triumph Tiger 800, which I was able to swap straight onto the BMW after buying some frames from Metal Mule (great team there and they gave me a small discount for my second set of frames purchased). So now I have 22l top box, 31l on exhaust side and 38l on drive side.

The bike has gone over a few times with the Mule's on, they are a bit scratched up but remain intact and water tight, they are really easy to take on and off quickly and locks feel pretty solid (enough to make a tea-leaf move onto the next bike anyway).

Mine are now coming on 4 years old and work like a charm, happily recommend both the company and the product, as neither have let me down!

I'll have a look at those.....

 

[The Other PaulG]

I've had both and IMO top load bags are soooo much more functional than side load ones,

+1

There are plenty of good options available, but I've found I could get a lot less in clamshell style cases -I find top loaders significantly more practical.

It's up to you, but if you buy non-BMW ones it might be easier to retain them and fit them to your next bike, should it not be a beemer

PG

 

[Nutty]

It's up to you, but if you buy non-BMW ones it might be easier to retain them and fit them to your next bike, should it not be a beemer

Wash your mouth out!

 

[Reckless]

Thinking about the Givi 58 litre Trekker Outback - it looks big but is actually 2 inches narrower than my smaller top box - just need to be sure about how it rides on th bike - has anyone tried one or owns one?

 

[pietervn]

G'Day,

2015 GSA

I currently have the OEM topbox as well as the BMW Small Bag. I like both and use both, the topbox does give one more security that the soft luggage. I also have SW-Motech panniers: the panniers are great, the mounting system(s) crap. I first had their rack system, but there was more than 10mm play on the exhaust side. These were the quick release racks. I exchanged them for the adapter racks that fit onto the GSA OEM frames. They are slightly better for mounting but are flimsy. The frames can be bent and the panniers move slightly when locked onto the frames. I don't use them off road, they will never last. The panniers are good quality though. The only reason I got them is that there was no hard luggage available in Oz, and I had a two week road trip coming up. If I had the choice I will rather go for OEM or any of the other good systems like BUMOT or Globe Scout, they also use the OEM frames.

For panniers I now use some soft panniers made by Andy Strapz. They are excellent, waterproof and very sturdy. They are also a fraction of the weight. There will handle any off-road excursion with ease. We are going away in June of a three week trip to the Centre of Australia and I will be using OEM Topbox and Andy Strapz Soft Bags.

Cheers,

Pete

 

[Jays]

I need to get some panniers for my GS LC which should be delivered soon. I've used the alloy GSA panniers on my previous Hexhead and they worked well but of course with some clever planning by BMW, they don't fit LCs!
I'm considering ZEGA Mundo panniers......has anyone any experience of them?

 

[stever1]

Thinking about the Givi 58 litre Trekker Outback - it looks big but is actually 2 inches narrower than my smaller top box - just need to be sure about how it rides on th bike - has anyone tried one or owns one?

I have the outback 58ltr box on my new GS. Its fine, as is the matching pannier kit which is a 48ltr on the nearside and a 37ltr one on the offside. Only SLIGHT down side is the N/S pannier lid catches the corner of the box.

 

[Foggy19]

Panniers

I was fortunate that my bike came with Touratech Zega panniers, expensive new but the build quality and fit are the dogs nuts