luggage, part luggage or naked!

[cpettifer]

I normally have top box fitted most days for my work stuff. When I have slightly more luggage to take with me I'll swap it for the panniers. If I need even more space I'll go with all three. If I need more than that I have a Kreiga US20, a Kreiga US10 and a medium sized tank bag.

If I need a map of where I'm going I'll possibly take the tank bag with any of the above combinations. Most of the time I know where I'm going though or just pull over and refer to my phone / google maps.

[2kwacks]

I must say I am very puzzled by you guys who bought a bike that comes with luggage, then leave that luggage in the garage and use a tank bag or rucksack  ;D

For me, the topbox never comes off, and the panniers only get put on if I am away for a few days and need the extra space.

Martin.

well I can't speak for others, but I purchased the gtr1400 for mostly long distance touring, the panniers are good size and with a top box as well I can carry everythink I need to. however! for local ride out's and general commuting here and there, I use the medium sized minear bagster tank bag. can't see the point leaving the luggage on when there's sod all in them. I agree the standard exhaust dose not to the bike any favors with the panniers removed, that's why I fitted a remus carbon hexacone exhaust, now I happen to think the bike looks excellent with or with panniers :)

[Boomer]

Topbox always (contains lock, waterproofs, bungees)
Don't take panniers as I filter most days, although way less than when I was commuting to Crawley.
Panniers if I need extra capacity or when touring.

I have a tankbag but hate it as it restricts the steering.
Smaller tankbags are mostly useless so I rarely use it. Use it more on the GTR1000.
If I need to carry more then I bungee it on top of the topbox or on the back seat if riding solo.
Sleeping bags and similar can be bungeed on top of the panniers wrapped in a binbag.

Panniers make the bike too wide for daily filtering.
I'll still filter with them fitted but much more cautiously/slowly

[2kwacks]

Topbox always (contains lock, waterproofs, bungees)
Don't take panniers as I filter most days, although way less than when I was commuting to Crawley.
Panniers if I need extra capacity or when touring.

I have a tankbag but hate it as it restricts the steering.
Smaller tankbags are mostly useless so I rarely use it. Use it more on the GTR1000.
If I need to carry more then I bungee it on top of the topbox or on the back seat if riding solo.
Sleeping bags and similar can be bungeed on top of the panniers wrapped in a binbag.

Panniers make the bike too wide for daily filtering.
I'll still filter with them fitted but much more cautiously/slowly

I have the bagster minear tank bag, it's a medium sized bag at 12 ltrs unexpanded. will expand to 21 ltrs, but suppose I will never use it expanded. unexpanded at 12 ltrs is ample room for those items we tend to use and need easy excess to in hurry. it's designed when attached to the bagster harness the steering is not restricted, I have no problem applying either full lock. suppose it what your use to really. I use a bagster tank cover and minear bag on my zzr1400 and found it to be a "god send" when touring the french,swiz alps and italy, never found it a hindrance at any time, even on the twisties ;D when walking around I just used it as a back pack. also comes in dam handy on those long motorway stretchers to lean on :)

[kwarrgtr]

I must say I am very puzzled by you guys who bought a bike that comes with luggage, then leave that luggage in the garage and use a tank bag or rucksack  ;D

For me, the topbox never comes off, and the panniers only get put on if I am away for a few days and need the extra space.

Martin.

errr... the flexibility of having luggage on/off was one of the attractions of the bike (although pales into insignificance) once you actually ride. For anyone that filters (like me) cant see why you'd leave panniers on unless you had to? My back to biking bike was a Deauville (oh lord, let the piss taking commence), - fixed panniers - but I still maintain it was a great re-introduction to biking.
Ruck sack is obviously so convenient and zero impact for getting thru city traffic.

[Kwikasfuki]

Aye, but removing the panniers has no impact on filtering as the front is equally as wide

[kwarrgtr]

ohhh ...alright!! but they must weigh 'something'.... ergo fuel used when not needed....

[Lonewolf]

ohhh ...alright!! but they must weigh 'something'.... ergo fuel used when not needed....

Thats got to be splitting hairs!

[Boomer]

Aye, but removing the panniers has no impact on filtering as the front is equally as wide

When did you last filter?
The widest part of my bike is the mirrors.
Apart from that the next widest part not counting the panniers is the fairing where the mirrors mount.
So, when filtering I can put one wing mirror above the car mirror, and on my other side that mirror goes below the other cars mirror. Try doing that with yer panniers on.
Crunch, pannier trashed, car mirror and probably door trashed, and if you've attached your panniers too solidly you may also be lying in the road.

Again if you only filter occasionally, you won't understand the difference.
If you filter every day it won't be long before you start leaving the panniers at home.
My pet hate is ST1300s as although the panniers are removable, if you do the bike looks like it's had a crash.
So, they always ride with panniers on and will not get out of the way to let the rest of us through.

Martin, the Deauville panniers are pretty narrow, unless you fitted the wide pannier lids.
Park your GTR next to a Deauville and compare rear ends.
I would love a Deauville as the design is superb.
Only 4 problems, it's a Honda,.....  ::) and it's dull, gutless and bland.  ;D

[kwarrgtr]

yeah well i thought hair splitting was cumpulsory around here  ;D  ;D ;D  ;D

boomer - sounds like your a regular filterer - like me. One of the big +'s of my bm 800st was the ability to fold in the mirrors on a really tight squeeze...

[100milesaway]

When did you last filter?
The widest part of my bike is the mirrors.
Apart from that the next widest part not counting the panniers is the fairing where the mirrors mount.
So, when filtering I can put one wing mirror above the car mirror, and on my other side that mirror goes below the other cars mirror. Try doing that with yer panniers on.
Crunch, pannier trashed, car mirror and probably door trashed, and if you've attached your panniers too solidly you may also be lying in the road.

Again if you only filter occasionally, you won't understand the difference.
If you filter every day it won't be long before you start leaving the panniers at home.
My pet hate is ST1300s as although the panniers are removable, if you do the bike looks like it's had a crash.
So, they always ride with panniers on and will not get out of the way to let the rest of us through.

Martin, the Deauville panniers are pretty narrow, unless you fitted the wide pannier lids.
Park your GTR next to a Deauville and compare rear ends.
I would love a Deauville as the design is superb.
Only 4 problems, it's a Honda,.....  ::) and it's dull, gutless and bland.  ;D

Only 4  :o""""""""come on Boomer there are more than that ;)

[Kwikasfuki]

When did you last filter?

Pah, I routinely do 40 miles of filtering.  All i know is if the front of the bike is going through, then the rear is following.  :)

If the bike isn't going through, I pull in the mirror and carry on (as the pannier are set lower down).

[Lonewolf]

What's filtering??   ;D

[Rusty]

Coney .... I have to say I am not a lover of tank bags but they have come a long way in the last few years ... a friend of mine with a Versys came to France last year with a Quick Lock Tank Bag  around the fuel cap and was very pleased with it ... no tank marks and very stable, so from that little experience i would give them the thumbs up ... no idea of price though !

[Lonewolf]

I think they are comparable with the Bagster bags but the important thing is you dont need to spend the same again for a tank cover.