Panniers do you or dont you !
 

Hi todays burning question is ....
First let me explain.
I,ve had my GS for about 3 years now and during that time unless going away some where the panniers remain in my garage. Mainly because I don't think that they are very ergonomic and they restrict my filtering ability.
However my friend who also rides a GS keeps his panniers on the bike all of the time and is giving me grief for not doing so. So there is a pint of something for either of us resting on what the majority of your opinions are on the response to the burning question and it is if you ride a GS do you keep the panniers on or not.
Got to be an easier question than the in or out one.

Me, personally, I keep mine on all the time. I've a few reasons for this.

The main one is that my Tiger 800 has a well known, utterly moronic, frame design whereby a moderately hard impact to the pillion foot pegs can bend the pegs. As the bike has no separate subframe that can lead insurance companies to write the bike off for no reason other than a bent peg. My boxes touch down before the pegs, I do drop the bike fairly regularly, so it makes sense.

I don't ride narrow single track, so have no issues there. I don't filter a lot (no commute) but I don't find the boxes limiting when I do - one you get over the psychological element and realise that they are the same width as the bars. The bike is heavy anyway, so I don't notice their weight.

I also like to have the storage, I mostly ride to places, rather than just for a jolly, so even empty boxes are useful - I can store my jacket and gear while I hike.

From an asthetics point of view, I prefer them on. The bike has an unsightly gap between the rear frame and the rear wheel and the difference in size between front and rear looks silly - the boxes conceal it. I've nice black boxes, they suit the black bike. Also, as much as I hate to admit it, they do look "adventure-y" and that's just cool.

Wow Arma thanks for responding so quickly to my question, the only problem I have is that I am tending to agree with you.
Particularly with regard to the boxes protecting the frame because I haven't fitted any crash bars at all to the bike.
For now I wont tell my friend about your comments. Thanks again.

I leave panniers in garage unless i need them. Found they were a real drag on my old klr650. I do keep top box on, out of convienience... ugly as it may be.

I only fit mine when I need them, as you say they restrict filtering and make the bike feel heavier than it actually is.

R1200GSA, the panniers live in the shed until a trip requiring the storage necessitates.
I run a Metal Mule top box when the panniers are off, so I still have storage for day tripping.
Generally speaking, when the panniers go on, the top box comes off in favour of a 45l dry bag.
With a pillion..........depends on how much shit she wants to carry :thumbup1::rofl:

only on when needed.

Exactly the same. Metal Mule top box to allow city filtering, Metal Mule panniers and Enduristan roll bag for trips.

Same for me; BMW top case for day trips, Zega Pros and Ortlieb dry bag for longer trips, although the vast majority of my riding is long trips.

Pretty much same deal for me. I've had several bikes with 3 hard bag pannier set up and for commuting, errands and daily short distance use I find the top box alone is the way to go.

It fits my helmet and can hold a bit of gear, groceries or whatever. Also locks up ... even though it's far from truly secure. It "looks" secure. :innocent:

Once on the road I add the two side pannier boxes and either go with top box or duffel top bag. (for camping) (never BOTH)

But if your side panniers aren't too wide (like no wider than your handlebars) then they should not be too much a distraction in traffic. If side boxes are too wide, change them out ... or on BMW ... they "accordion" IN and OUT ... so put them IN for Urban traffic work.

Same for me, except Ortlieb bag. I must admit, I do wonder about the riders I see in full "expedition" mode going to the shops!

They've got to eat too ya know :rofl:

I always leave panniers on.
Can come in handy, and to me they're part of the bike anyway so they should be on.
Just my view of course :smiliex:

Off unless I'm on a trip- the GS is enough of a lump without more bits hanging off it, but I never use the bike for general errands or stuff like that..

Mine are off until I need them. Not enough room in the garage to leave panniers on the bikes. And most of the time, I can stuff what I need in my back pack or an Ortlieb dry bag strapped to the pillion.

I ride a 1300 Pan European so not really relevant to your GS question but I'll answer anyway.

I always leave my panniers on for two reasons:
1. The Pan doesn't look right without them
2. As the bike gets older and the colour fades the panniers are fading with the rest of the paintwork.

Rachel Anne

Hi again everyone just to say thank you for taking the time to respond to my question.
Having read all the information that you have provided I have decided, drum roll, to for local excursions stick with just the top box. That will provide me with somewhere to keep my puncture repair kit and pump. But if go anywhere that will result in me having to walk around I will fit all of the boxes which will provide me with storage for my jacket boots helmet.
Rachel I understand what you are saying as I use to own an 1100 Pan and aesthetically it just did not look right without them fitted.
Fortunately I think my GS looks ok without the panniers fitted.
I think you may know two of my friends Micky and Brian on another Forum I use as well. What a small world it is !
Thanks again everyone.

Mine are never on unless I'm on a big trip. Metal Mules are quite boxy and cause drag plus I prefer the pared down look.
Similarly I hate the look of a sports bike with huge top box. It may be practical for storing your lid but...sandals with socks are practical!

I first had "saddle bags" on my HD FLHSTC & found them useful for all sorts of things, when I moved to adventure bikes, I installed Jesse hard luggage on the KTM 990 & left them on all the time because, #1 I was use to having storage & #2, well , it just looked damn sexy. I've gotten so used to having them I see them as just part of the bike & my current BMW R1200 GS just feels "naked" without them.

I do....
 

The first thing I get for a new bike is panniers and I keep them on all the time. Right now : Suzuki DR650 and DL650. A motorcycle isn't too useful for me if there is no where to stick a rainjacket, or a shopping bag or the books that have to go back to the library.

I always carry my flat tire kit, tools etc - for the DR650 it includes 2 tubes, and tire irons etc: for the DL650 a much smaller plug kit, but a small compressor goes with me as well.

You can (and I have) get a flat just scooting around town. With your kit, it becomes a 15 -60 minute delay. Without it, it's a half day or more, getting someone to help, getting the wheel off and getting across town to a shop, etc.

I could use a topbox i suppose but I despise them.:thumbdown:

and yes, I can frequently be found wearing white socks with my sandals.:cool4:

...........shu

I love my self made panniers. They protect my bike when falling of and store my stuff rain and burgler proof: http://reisemotorrad.eu/?report=seitenkoffer

Bwahahahaha
I can't believe you admit to that:clap:
Topbox is the solution to all that you wish to carry, but we can't help you
in that you like to fall over frequently :oops2::rofl:

Panniers off unless I need the carrying capacity. I will still filter, it just makes it more fun on an Xt1200z with a 48l one side and a 38l the other.


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I have a pair of Metal Mule 38L panniers that fit on both my Bonneville T100 and my XT1200, most of the time they sit in the cupboard under the stairs and I'll use my Givi 45L topbox for commuting etc. However, when riding two up my missus likes them to be on as she figures it gives added protection to her legs; she may have a point.

However, the panniers frequently come out for trips to the supermarket, especially at Christmas when the 'Crimbo beer sledge' makes an appearance, you can fit many a 'slab-o-ale' in those panniers. In the past I've had to strap a couple of slabs to the pillion seat, but that says more about my drinking habits than it does about the Metal Mules.

Late and only partially relevant reply...

I had an Ducati ST2 with panniers (OE aftermarket option). I only used them a couple of times but while I did, I did some filtering. All seemed OK but then I realised the panniers were wider than the bars and I must have missed several cars by millimetres. So afterwards I took them off and I have to say I prefer the look of the bike without anyway.

I ride a standard GS. I only put on the shitty looking plastic expandable panniers when I need them - they look horrible. Far prefer the adventure GS pannier system as they look rugged and if I had an adventure GS then I'd certainly leave them on as they look great. God I didn't think I was so vain:(