I ditched the panniers ages ago, and rely solely on BMW soft bags. Small for day to day stuff and the large (52lt) for a week or more away. Considering that the panniers are 6+ kg each empty, that's a heck of a weight saving regardless where it puts your CG!

Personally it's of little consequence to have the weight on the rear carrier

 

How/ where do these attach? Luggage rack I assume? Easy attach/detach?

Thanks,
Brad

PS Probably a silly question, now that I think about it

 

I always feel better with the weight lower down - for what ever reason Peter

 

lower centre of gravity

 

Lower CG is always better for handling.

 

If it's just me I remove the top and side cases. I have a T-Bag that attaches to back and carries everything I need.

 

I am all Panniers... My top case got heavier and furry'er...

 

lul - Do you have a tank bag and the liner bags for your panniers? I'm thinking about your comment regarding ease of use of your top case and am wondering whether you happen to use it because you don't use the other bags I've mentioned.

Personally I favor the panniers first and add the top case only if necessary. (But the liner bags are especially convenient).

 

I have the BMW tank bag but only because it came with the bike, I'm not a big fan of it or any tank bags for that matter (they just get in the way).

I will look into the pannier liners (don't have them right now), but they don't solve the inconvenience of opening side ways. I guess I look at panniers as "destination" storage that only get opened at the motel, and top case for stuff I use during the journey, things like camera, notepad, pen, map, water, etc.

 

The panniers are always on my bike. The right one carries tools, plugs, compressor, assorted gloves, jacket liner, heated gear, etc. The left bag is generally left empty to carry my notebook, job folders and a hat. When I reach my destination the hat and work items are swapped out for my helmet and gloves. The top case is only used on extended trips and when my girlfriend rides with me (to keep from leaving her at the last stoplight!).

 

When on a trip, as soon as I arrive at my destination I put my top case in the hotel. Always ride with panniers otherwise.

 

Do you feel a huge difference in handling between loaded top case and panniers in 1 up riding situation?

Riding solo with 15~20 pounds of gear in the top case, I hardly notice any difference in handling with or without the top case in the twisties. I always ride with the panniers.

Sometimes I can feel some buffeting when riding solo on the interstate with the top case. It may caused by the air stream converging behind me, hitting the front of the top case.

 

I ride always with panniers and mostly with the top case mainly because it so convenient and accessible. Having said that, I do notice the bike "slips" through the wind a bit easier without the top case. So, if I am in the mood or have the opportunity to run through some nice roads, leaving the top case at home is not a bad option. I typically load my left pannier with rain gear and tools. The right I put my helmet in when arriving at my destination so the top case get everything else. As far as weight distribution - in theory (as you already know) lower is better, but in practice, once I hit the throttle, the issue never comes to mind. You automatically adjust so a big non-issue for me.

Chuck

 

I've never removed the top case off my bike. Dont know what it looks like without it.

 

Personally, in these crowded Islands, I always try to avoid using panniers/side cases on any of my bikes - they come out for touring or load carrying duties only.

I guess this relates back to me clipping a car with my side case when filtering in heavy traffic years back, when another car pulled on me. Luckily no damage done, other than a scuff on my box. Ever since I like to leave my bikes unfettered by luggage, unless it is actually needed. Like others, I always use the top case when taking a pillion, largely for safety sake - sometimes need to use it solo, but then it does seem to interfere with aerodynamics at times. Incidentally, before anyone interjects, I ran my GT with a Givi Top Box, rather than OE for it's QD qualities.

In the UK I am often amazed at the enormous luggage some folk carry on their GSs. When I asked one guy, with probably 180 litres of space, he showed me a spare pair of gloves & a small first aid kit. Apparently he used the boxes as seats & table when camping, maybe once/twice a year. Where is the sense in that - the lack of aero efficiency must leave the bike feeling very strange at speed or strong winds.

Still, when it comes to my old H-D Electraglide, common sense goes out of the window. That Batwing is like a barn door at speed (relatively speaking) & I have chrome bars protecting the side cases. Sure looks pretty on a sunny day though.

Ride Safe ............................ KEN

 

Boxes and GS'es I always wonder what they put in there, they are so wiiiiddde

 

When I tour, I carry my own food so I use the panniers plus method:
\

 

If you think a top case causes problems, wait till all those birds start flapping their wings at the same time. Can't compare to any crosswind pushing against that little top case.

When I tour, I carry my own food so I use the panniers plus method:
\

 

Chicken sammiches?

 

Ok, here are my real solutions:

I use the jarhead backpack for touring. It sits on the rear seat and does not prompts the instability topcases do (not gonna argue about this, you can love your topcase's pragmatic value and I agree with that, but a topcase at the end of a bike's rack has to be the worse place to put a vector force on a motorcycle, that's just physics folks).

when I am commuting, I often use the RTP electronic box coppers use. In its OEM form it contains the amplifier for the police christmas light tree. I installed those truck yellow light which if I want, would run/blink with the turn signals.

I used a topcase once on an RT. It was a Givi 55 with light and the works. The day I took it off, I felt like I had gotten my RT bike back.

For many months I chased around trying to fannagle a bracket to sit the topcase behind me over the rear seat...never could find a solution.

I have a friend who loves his topcase, says he don't even feel it...ok!

 

I always load the panniers with the essential items. Lower CG, and the bike is built for that.
I also use a BMW 28 liter top case, as kind of a "glove box" for my trips. Its smaller and doesn't seem to have the wind buffeting issues of the 52 liter case.
Since I have a GT, I may also use a WP duffle bag on the rear seat for longer trips. (I always ride solo) Been doing this set up for many years when on my RT. Its all good.

 

I could not find where the BMW softbag was made for a GT. There is a small one I think. But I did not see the 55 liter large for sale for a GT.

If you got resources please post them

 

They are both listed in the accessory catalog: small soft is ~$186.00 and the large soft is ~$229.00...

I'll discuss both with my dealer on Tuesday and post back what I find out...

Now that you mention it, it looks like the small soft bag would fit ok on the GT luggage rack but the large soft would extend over either side of the luggage rack onto the tops of the panniers...I'll look into it...

Try this link for storage bags, below: Go to Gear and Parts, then go to the Storage Bag Brochure...

http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/us/en/index.html

 

The soft bag is a "universal" fit, you can either strap it on the pillion seat with the ties provided or it straps over the luggage rack. I have used it on my GT (rack fit) and a K1300S (Pillion strapped) and it works really well. Peter

 

I've worn out my Mk1 55 litre bag and am on the Mk 2, which is a little less rigid on the rack. Both fit exactly the same: there is a webbing strap underneath (as with the small bag) which rides over the tail of the rack, and the straps go onto the grab rails to hold the bag in place. If you have panniers installed it comes close to, but not quite on, the rear of the panniers. Without the panniers it is self supporting anyway.

The web strap is inside a larger fabric fairing which will hold the bag in place, but it will then sit further forward on the rack and may need the forward straps relocated to provide stability. Also, there is a brass ringed drain hole at the very end of the fabric fairing which will chafe on the tail and remove all the paint/coating. At least there was on the Mk 1 small bag, my last K16 bore the scars!

 

Now that I come to think about it, I thought I tried the 55 on my GT while I was getting Danes' mod installed at Escondido BMW...and it did not fit.

Since my memory doesn't serve me well, I am hoping I am wrong about that memory and that it does fit.

Wind1, let us know

 

Some photos (just quick snaps with the iPhone!):

The small bag, note the strap inside the web and the drain ring:

Not straight here, I normally would line it up otherwise the padding on the sides will chafe on the rack:

From the front:

The new (Mk 2) 55lt bag is not as rigid as the silver Mk 1, and I'm not as impressed overall. This is a quick install for the photos, it would be straightened up and secured more tightly for road use: