Motorcycle Luggage carriers, baggage and panniers: 5 things to look out for
Posted on 2009/03/14
Motorcycle panniers: how much space do you really need?
The most important decison to make when buying motorcycle panniers as an accessory to your BMW GS is deciding what volume or carrying capacity you need: the more stuff you’re bringing, the bigger the panniers have to be, the more they cost and most importantly: the heavier the bike will be. It’s easy to get carried away and bring everything you could possibly need in terms of motorcycle tools, clothing for all possible weather conditions, etc. Don’t forget that every extra item you bring will make the bike heavier and dont kid yourself - you WILL drop the bike at one point. If you’re on a tough track, repeatedly picking up a heavy bike single handed can become very demoralizing. Bottom line is - only bring what you absolutely need. Many motorcycle trip reports state: “I wish I only brought half as much stuff”, or “Decide what you want to bring, and then remove half of it”. Nothing’s better than traveling light!
Types of motorcycle luggage and baggage systems for your BMW GS
Once you’ve really decided what you want to bring, its time to pick something that will hold it all. At the simple / cheap end of the spectrum is a simple rollbag. Several manufacturers make roll bags or duffel bags especially for motorcycle travel. These can fit anything from 20 - 80 L and are strapped over the back of the bike, behind the driver using bungees or straps. Companies like Ortlieb make “dry bags” out of strong waterproof material in which you can store your contents, or simply put your backpack or sportsbag inside. These bags are relatively cheap and good quality and protect your goods from water (even when fully submerged) and dust and rocks. The disadvantage is that your stuff is harder to get at: you have to remove the bag from bike, pull your backpack out and then get whatever you need out of that bag. So quick access is out of the question.
Other rollbags have a zipper, so you dont need an inner bag and you could in theory get at some of your things without having to remove the bag from the bike.
Attaching rollbags to your BMW GS
If you’ve set your mind on a rollbag to carry your stuff you have to make sure there is a luggage rack on your bike to attach it to. All BMW GS bikes Most dual sport motorbikes have these and even Japanese race bikes might have a basic one. You might also be able to strap the bag over the passenger seat, but for BMW GS bikes this is not necessary. You’ll also need some straps to tie the bag to the bike. Again several options are available to attach your motorcycle luggage to the bike: Luggage straps, bungees or Rokstraps. Adjustable luggage straps are the kind you can wrap around a suitcase to stop it bursting open, or even to strap cargo to the roof your car. They are strong somewhat useful for strapping motorcycle luggage down and available from most outdoor shops. Bungees are probably a better option, but like luggage straps they keep your stuff on the bike, but dont stop it from moving around.
On several occasions I’ve noticed my rollbag hanging off to the side of the bike after bumpy rides. Rokstraps have a range of straps dedicated for motorcycle luggage and are probably your best option. They come in fixed or tailored lengths and according to their website hold weights of up to 100Kg and don’t unravel. They aren’t that expensive, so these are definitely your best option. Finally, you can also use a net made out of elastic bungee type material, which can be stretched out to hold whatever is underneath it: rollbag, sleeping mat and whatever else you decide to shove under there at the last minute. They are cheap and convenient but like bungees dont necessarily hold heavy items in place during bumpy rides. Why not go for a system that uses several of these options? Bring lots of spares, since they might break or get stolen.
Soft panniers as an accessory for your BMW GS
Panniers are the type of bags that hang off the side of the bike, behind the rider and come in soft and hard versions. Soft ones are cheaper, lighter, might not require a special rack and wont get damaged by vibration. On the downside, they are easier to vandalize and rip open to get at the contents and easier to damage during a fall. When over packed the zippers or seams could break and they offer less protection from the elements (despite what the blurb might say about being weatherproof). They can also tear under load, are harder to clean and might get burned by the exhausts running right past them. One way to improve the functionality of soft panniers is to buy or build a simple lightweight rack to attach to the bike. You can then attach the panniers to this rack which will stop them from dangerously swinging around and getting too close to the exhaust. Despite several negative points, there is still a time and place to use them for example when taking short trips in your home country (assuming these trips wont involve the rough stuff).
Hard motorcycle panniers for your BMW GS
Hard motorcycle panniers are the most “serious” option you can fit on your BMW GS, offering the best protection from the elements. Several companies make well tested and trusted panniers, of varying cost. Hard plastic ones are available and often seen on city touring bikes, but these will most likely get damaged after week long bone rattling rides, with or without falls. Aluminum boxes are a better option, the Touratech Zega panniers ones being seen as the top of the range ones. However with the required rack they can cost over 1000USD. Other reputable companies make motorcycle panniers in cheaper and varying sizes.
The basic hard motorcycle panniers won’t have curves or beveled edges - they’re just a hard square metal box. This means that in the event of a fall, the sharp corners can cut in to the ground and cause the panniers to rip off the rack / bike or at least get damaged more. Rounded corners and beveled edges could prevent this type of damage. Another nice addition to your hard motorcycle panniers are a type of “hold all” bag that slides inside. In theory you could use any type of bag that fits but dedicated ones are available and BMW has special ones for the GS range (at a cost of course). Either way, it would be handy if they had a zipper which opens along the side of the bag so you can flip it open. With this kind of set up, you can get at your stuff relatively quickly without having to take everything out to get at that one item lying right t the bottom.
BMW has a range of dedicated hard panniers for the BMW 1200GS.
Luggage racks to hold the motorcycle panniers are beyond the scope of this article, but are an essential element of your motorcycle luggage system and not to be overlooked.
