Empty Panniers

[BobA]

On a very brief rideout Sunday morning I passed two BMW 1200GS' and an 1150. All three were out riding their sparkly bikes with panniers and topboxes.

Now I do confess to hardly ever removing my cheapo plastic topbox off of my RD04 (mainly becasue the release mechanism is rusted solid!!), but I can't for the life of me understand why these people were out riding on a sunday with all that luggage space, which I suspect was empty (unless they eat more sandwiches than Sean) and just making drag and burning extra fuel.

So, all those out there with full luggage, do you ride around with it on your bike empty?

In fact, I can't remember the last time I did a fancy poll, so I'm gonna make this thread one...

[ian porter]

don't get it myself,

top box, yes, if nothing more than it's useful to have somewhere to put your helmet.

but panniers are for when you're lugging stuff around and should stay at home if they are going to be empty.

you do tend to see a lot of GS's with them on all the time though, probably the Ewan and Thingy effect again

[Nessmuk]

I've often wondered this when I've seen blinged up GS's, of which there seem to be more and more. Mind you there is a BMW dealer near where I work.

It ruins your chances of filtering, but I reckon that cos they've got them they put them on. They've paid £600 or more for some panniers and want people to see them.

[Buggles]

I always have my topbox on, since it contains some additional tools, extra gloves, first aid kit, etc...

But I'm not riding with the panniers on when I don't need 'em. In fact, on short weekend rides, I'll pack everything in the pannier, and stick the remainder under elastic straps on the back to avoid having to take panniers.

They go on when I leave on a big trip, that's it!

That said, I have the gobi panniers, so I could use them to smuggle booze or something

JB

[Wigan Chris]

in general day to day use i always have my top box on, somewhere to put my helmet, bring home shopping etc.
If im just going out for a blast then it comes off.
I never have my panniers on unless im packing the bike, and even then i avoid them if possible in favour of a topbox/rollbag combo so i can still filter etc.

[winxp-master]

The last time i had my panniers on was the last National in Ullapool i think... Even this years TLD i used tank bag and tail bag+top box.

I usually always have my top box on for reasons already covered, tool kit, puncture kit and somewhere for the helmet and gloves when i'm eating my chip butty

Theres no extra drag with my top box on when i'm in front of it

[sean]

Last month alone I did just over 5000 miles, I never bother taking the panniers off as 90% of the time I'm carrying something or other around with me. the rest of the time I just cant be arsed removing the boxes as they are quite thin and dont make any difference to my filtering anyway. I dont really use the bike for fun as its a work hack.

[digitalcaptive]

I'm gonna stick up for these GS guys...........have you seen the amount of tools you have to carry to fix these things on the move

[davsato]

as with the majority, i keep the topbox on
a/ because its not in the way
b/ its handy to put helmet gloves and jacket in if im gonna be strolling around
c/ its nice to have some secure luggage capacity when needed, you cant think ahead all the time.

i wonder if having it on all the time makes any difference to fuel economy?
i put the panniers on when im going to be using them, i dont keep them on because they are in the way and they are bloody expensive! also they are easy to take off, just as easy as the topbox. perhaps thats one reason ally pannier owners keep them on?

[Tony Varadero]

I'm gonna stick up for these GS guys...........have you seen the amount of tools you have to carry to fix these things on the move

I am sure you have made some new GS'rs friends today