Can someone tell me what the options were/are for the panniers. I recently purchased (and I'm very happy) the "standard" black panniers, but I've seen whispers of a larger lid. Does this simply replace the standard pannier lid to increase the capacity, if so by how much. Your collective wisdom and humour would be appreciated.
Yeah - you just replace the lids to make 'em bigger. Not sure what the extra capacity is, but the ones I've seen need "Wide Load" on a yellow board across the back of the bike :tongue: Personally I'd rather take less stuff...
Know where you're coming from matey. My Mrs is actually pretty good, but still not ready to travel as light as me. It was a running joke when on tour back when I had a GS that I'd kept it secret from her that the Vario panniers could be expanded. (I hadn't, but I always tried really hard to keep them compressed whenever I could). :biggrin:
I've never had a bike with panniers before and have scratched one on a wall (repaired), scratched the shiny bit on another wall (replaced), clipped a Mondeo filtering (pretended not to notice) and flipped a traffic cone over squeezing through roadworks in Brum. I won't be getting anything wider.
Off the top of my head the standard panniers give about 50 litres and the larger lids add about a further 20 litres total, IIRC. I tend to use the top box more often than the panniers.
Trouble is there's nothing guaranteed to destroy the carefully thought-out lines of a bike more than a top box. Ugh. An unnecessary evil imho.
I have the standard panniers which are just about useable, they are awkward to pack and don't hold very much. Out of choice I would have the Touratech ones which are superior, problem is the price is superior also. The Trax panniers are pretty good, had then on a BMW F800, just cant justify the extra cost especially when I have the Duc ones already. The Duc ones are the best looking on the bike. Speed_Triple, Totally agree, top box turns the bike into a monstrosity, however they hold a lot of gear compared with the panniers. God send for me earlier in the year when in Monaco, I was able to stash my helmet and jacket in the top box while my pals had to lug theirs round in the stifling heat. Jimmy
I got the Ducati top box and panniers Panniers look better than the top box, but keep finding myself using the top box because its so practical... Looks crap on the bike though!!! :frown:
I've got the standard panniers and I wouldn't want to go any wider but they are a bit crap because of the cut out for the exhaust. I keep toying with buying the Touratech pannier mounts then getting a pair of panniers made up to my own design so I get the size and shape I want but I don't use them enough to really warrant it. I'd just get them anodized black so they didn't look too out of place and punch anyone that suggested putting a load of stickers from different countries on them :biggrin:
I have a GT and the stock 'WIDE LOAD' variety. But they go on and off easily (as does the box) and i only use them when i need to, so, i reckon i have the best of both worlds :wink:
Hi Aircon. I have a set of wide pannier lids in red but they have not had the extra clips installed for the front n back clasps. Spoke to dealer today and am expecting a call to advise how much they will cost. Happy to part with them if you're interested, modded or un modded. Let me know. Rivets
Hi, I have a mutley, standard pans are 29 litre , you can fit a full face in the near side but not much in the exhaust side! Extended lids are 36ltr so you can fit a full face helmet in either side. Top box is 48ltr where you can fit two ff helmets in. got to be careful filtering through traffic with pans on tho! Hope this helps, vince
If you want some good value panniers check these out Motorworks BMW Motorcycle Specialists - Shop - Spares and Accessories I'm sure other places advertise them as well. I looked at a set recently and the quality for the money is spot on!
Pannier clips should be fitted FOC by your dealer, mine were, as the lids don't close properly without them! The panniers don't hold much but look stylish. BTW does anybody know how to fit the larger pannier lids, I'm guessing you have to extract the metal pin, I've had a go but am concerned about breaking the plastics! Vince
My understanding is the standard panniers are 58 litres for the pair, and the larger pair is 74 litres. To be fair, even the wide ones are no wider than the handlebars, or so I'm told.
You require a drift slightly smaller than the pannier lid pin and a small hammer. From memory the pins only drive out one way which is obvious when you look at it. I don't recall any problems although another pair of hands would have helped. Andy
