Using BMW panniers off road

**IanT** · #1 1 Jun 2001

Anybody got any experience of using the standard BMW panniers off road on the 1100 or 1150GS. I already have a set and don't really want to buy another set of panniers just for off-road use so I was planning to strengthen the mountings in some way. If anybody has had any problems with these I would been keen to know as it will help me work out where the weak points are and hence where I need to focus my efforts.

Cheers

Ian

**peter theuwissen** · #2 6 Jun 2001

Hi there,
Bmw-panniers can be fine IF you have a metal RACK! Otherwise its crap: not to repair if you drop the bike, and one day you will.
Peter

**Ian Wood** · #3 6 Jun 2001

If you are going to use the standard BMW plastic panniers stick to the bitumen. I took a big hit in a pothole and when I looked behind me both panniers had come off. Although they were only loaded to the recommended weight (10 kg if I remember correctly) one had broken around the moulded hooks and the other had come off when the plastic support rail snapped under the impact. Needless to say both cases shattered into small bits when they hit the road doing their best impression of Barnes Wallis's bouncing bombs.
I have now gone back to using Gearsack throwover bags which have never given me the slightest trouble.

**Julio** · #4 2 Jul 2001

I think you'll be wasting your time they are just not upto the job. Why go through the pain of trying to tape them back on when they fall off.

If you do not want to spend much money either go for soft luggage or get a pair of DAER aluminium panniers, £50 each, you will need a rack made for them. Works out alot cheaper than other makes.

I'm having a frame made for my Dakar for a pair of these.

Cheers

Julio