Sorting out your own bmw luggage motorcycle setup is generally the first big task owners tackle right after getting their bike home. There's just something about a BMW—especially the GS or RT lines—that practically begs you to load it up and vanish for a week. But if you've ever spent an hour in a rainy parking lot fumbling with a bungee cord that simply won't stay place, you know that not all luggage is usually created equal.
When you begin looking at choices, it can get overwhelming pretty fast. You've got factory options, high-end automotive aftermarket brands, and "universal" bags that state to fit every thing but usually fit nothing. Let's break down what really works and why you might choose one style over another.
Hard Situations vs. Soft Bags: The Big Choice
This is the age-old discussion in the riding community. Honestly, presently there isn't a "right" answer, but there's definitely a right answer for how you ride.
The reason why Hard Cases Gain for Touring
If you're mostly sticking with the sidewalk or doing long touring, hard panniers are hard in order to beat. They're protected, for one point. You can walk into a diner with regard to lunch and not get worried that someone will be going to cut open your bag with a pocketknife. Almost all bmw luggage motorcycle systems use the single-key system, as well, so your combustion key opens your own boxes. It's a little detail, but man, it makes living easier.
Difficult cases are furthermore generally waterproof perfect out of the box. You don't need to pull over and scramble with regard to a rain cover when the sky opens up. They furthermore give the bike a certain "look" that just seems right.
The Case for Smooth Luggage
On the flip side, if you're having your GS into the dirt, you may want to look at soft luggage. Here's why: if a person tip the bike over in the rock garden (and let's be actual, it happens to the particular best of us), a hard aluminium box can bend or maybe break your subframe. Soft bags just squish. They're also a lot lighter, which you'll certainly appreciate when you're trying to manhandle a 500-pound machine via a sandy clean.
The particular downside? They're a problem to secure. You're usually dealing along with straps and buckles, and they aren't exactly theft-proof. But for pure adventure driving, they're often the particular smarter play.
Understanding the BMW Vario System
In case you bought a R1200GS or R1250GS, you've probably seen the particular Vario cases. These types of are pretty smart. They have the mechanical lever inside that lets a person expand or contract the width of the bag.
It's ideal for lane-filtering or when you're just driving around town and don't need the entire "wide-load" setup. After that, when it's period for the large trip, you turn the switch plus suddenly you've got significantly more room. Simply a heads-up, though: the mechanism takes up a bit of internal space, and they're produced of plastic. They're tough, but these people won't survive the high-speed slide as well as metallic will.
Going Rugged with Light weight aluminum Panniers
For the "world traveler" vibe, aluminum is the way to go. BMW's OE aluminum cases are built like storage containers. They're top-loading, which is a huge plus. If you've ever used side-loading cases, you know the frustration of opening your handbag and having your clean laundry spill away onto the sidewalk. Top-loaders keep almost everything contained.
Another pro-tip: aluminum cases make great get away chairs. When you're at a site and there's no place to sit, you simply pop the bicycle on the center stand (or take the box off) and you've got a sturdy seat. It sounds just like a small thing, but after ten hrs in the seat, a seat is definitely a seat.
What About Top Cases?
Some individuals hate the appearance of the top situation, saying it can make the bike look like a delivery scooter. I obtain it. But from a purely functional standpoint, a top case is the most convenient bit of bmw luggage motorcycle gear you may own.
It's the perfect spot for your helmet when you stop, or even for things you need to grab rapidly like a spare pair of gloves or a camera. As well as, if you actually ride two-up, your own passenger will love a person for it. It works as a backrest and makes all of them feel much more safe on the back of the bike. Just don't overpack it. Putting too much weight that high up which far back can make the front finish feel a little bit light and "vague" in the edges.
Aftermarket Options Worth Considering
While the factory BMW stuff is great, it's also costly. Brands like Touratech, Givi, and Mosko Moto have been producing bmw luggage motorcycle accessories for years, and sometimes they actually improve on the initial design.
Touratech, for instance, really manufactures a great deal of the recognized BMW branded metallic luggage, but their own line usually has different mounting points or extra accessory loops. Mosko Moto may be the precious metal standard for smooth luggage right now—their stuff is actually indestructible and designed by individuals who clearly spend a lot of time within the dirt.
If you're upon a budget, Givi offers some wonderful plastic and aluminium options that are usually often half the particular price of the particular dealership parts. A person might need a certain mounting rack, however the savings can become worth the extra installation time.
Packing Smart for the Long Haul
Once you've actually chosen your own bmw luggage motorcycle setup, you've obtained to figure away how to pack it. The greatest mistake people make is putting weighty items in the top case or even at the extremely back of the panniers.
You want your largest gear—tools, locks, extra fluids—as low plus as far ahead as possible. This particular keeps the middle of gravity tight. I'm a huge enthusiast of using packaging cubes or "liner bags. " Instead of taking the particular whole dirty pannier into your hotel room or tent, you just grab the inner bag plus go. It maintains your gear arranged and protects your clothes from the particular aluminum dust that will can sometimes rub off inside metal boxes.
Furthermore, always leave a little bit associated with "buffer" room. You're inevitably likely to buy a souvenir, grab some snacks, or even shed a level of clothing as the day gets warmer. If your hand bags are stuffed in order to the gills whenever you leave the driveway, you're going to be frustrated simply by noon.
Maintaining Things Maintained
We don't frequently consider "maintaining" luggage, but a small bit of treatment goes a lengthy way. If a person have the Vario cases, keep the development tracks clean. In case grit and sand get in there, they'll jam upward and become the nightmare to shift.
For aluminum cases, verify the gaskets every season. If the rubber gets dried out and cracks, they will won't be waterproof anymore. A small bit of silicon spray can keep those seals elastic. And for the particular love of just about all things holy, maintain your locks lubed. There is nothing worse than being tired and hungry at the end of a long ride and getting your key click off in a stubborn lock.
Final Thoughts on Your Setup
From the end of the day, the particular best bmw luggage motorcycle configuration will be the one that will lets you overlook it's even presently there. You want something that doesn't rattle, doesn't leak, plus doesn't replace the dealing with of the bicycle so much that you stop enjoying the curves.
Whether you go along with the sleek manufacturing plant plastic cases, the rugged "ready for your Sahara" aluminum containers, or a collection of lightweight gentle bags, make absolutely certain it fits your specific riding style. Every riders is different. Some of us need enough gear to survive the month within the backwoods, and some of us just need a place to place the laptop and a rainfall suit for the commute. Figure out which one you are, bolt around the bags, and get around. The particular road isn't likely to ride itself.