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Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? Anything to do with the bikes equipment, saddlebags, etc. Questions on repairs and maintenance of the bike itself belong in the Brand Specific Tech Forums.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 18 Feb 2008
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Best position?
Hi, Can anyone give me the 'pros and cons' of mounting ali panniers onto my R80gs please.
The horizontal mounting position is not the problem, but at what height? My last ones used to cause me a problem when 'paddling' by the box digging into the back of my leg.
I have tried to get an idea from pictures, but am still unclear, do you set them at seat level, or just above, and if so by how much?. if above seat level, do they impede the pillion?
Many thanks
Dave
:confused1:
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Old 18 Feb 2008
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My 2p
İ have noticed they always get ın the way when paddling, the best in my opinion is to have them as far away from you as possible but consider their weight as well, if mounted at the very end of your frame they tend to raise your front wheel giving you less adherence especially riding uphill or in wet condition.
Little contribution from my experience: İ think seat level is the max height you want them at if you want to strap some additional load to your seat behind you (a tent or a "sausage" bag for example), you also want some cm of clearance to be able to open the lids without having to unstrap the bag off your seat first.
Also if the weight is kept low the bike will be much more stable, İ have noticed every inch makes a dıfference in stability.

Look here for some ideas (page 2 and 3): rtw.xtz660 - Rack page 1 (in construction)
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Old 18 Feb 2008
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Question Why horizontal?
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Originally Posted by dave ede View Post
The horizontal mounting position is not the problem, :confused1:

Actually, that is the bit I have never understood: why aren't they mounted in a tilted mode, a bit like the plastic panniers on the Triumph Tiger 1050?
Get them out of the way of your feet and "less out of the way of your legs".
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Old 19 Feb 2008
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Dave ,if you haven't already bought your panniers ,make a mock up out of cardboard and try several positions on your bike . You'll soon find out where you can fit them to best advantage .
Tilting them forward CAN help but I prefer to have the panniers level so that stuff doesn't rattle forward , if you only have clothing in there ,then it's not so important ,but I like to have heavy parts and similar stuff at the bottom of mine .

FWIW I don't think there is a right or wrong position , what's important is the position that works for you .
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