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.

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[ Tim | History - NW Italy/French Rivera, Swiss Alps, Morocco | 2016 - Greece > Albania > Macedonia > Kosovo > Montenegro > Bosnia > Slovenia > Austria ]

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

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My memory is becoming that good, I should be able to organise my own surprise party soon

only on when needed.

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2000 Africa Twin
http://two-up-ona-twin.blogspot.com

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

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

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.

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Paul "Every county of England, every country of Europe and every (part of every inhabited) continent of the Earth" 94% done! What's left? Central America, East, Central and West Africa, Australia & New Zealand

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.

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

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My memory is becoming that good, I should be able to organise my own surprise party soon

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

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..

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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.