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20 May 2016
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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.
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20 May 2016
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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.
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20 May 2016
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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.
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20 May 2016
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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.
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21 May 2016
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I only fit mine when I need them, as you say they restrict filtering and make the bike feel heavier than it actually is.
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21 May 2016
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Location: Outer Sydney, Australia
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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 
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23 May 2016
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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
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23 May 2016
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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.
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21 Jul 2016
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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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24 Jul 2016
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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  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.
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10 Feb 2017
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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.
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