Panniers wider than bars!

[barkingbiker]

I've just fitted panniers and have found that they're 35mm wider each side than the TA brush guards. I was thinking of screwing simple fold-out plastic tags on the guards as guides to help in traffic. We're heading off into the unknown for a couple of years travelling in the spring and I want to make life as easy as poss for she-who-must-be-obeyed.

Anyone had similar problems/got any ideas?

BB

[Whealie]

As long as you remember you'll have no need. And remember that the reason the rear does not hit things is because it is usually much narrower than the bars.

To have the same guarantee you'd need to swap your bars for a canoe paddle.

[Raven]

Out of interest which make panniers have you fitted? I have the Honda ones and they are the exact same width as the brush guards when fitted...

[Jacqueslemac]

Mine stick out an inch wider than the bars but as they're ally boxes I've managed to remember they're there (mainly by repeating the mantra "remember the panniers" when I start filtering).

Funnily enough I scraped the original Triumph plastic ones no end of times as they don't do any (much) damage to cars, but I'm so scared of leaving a huge groove along the side of someone's car that I've managed to avoid it so far.

I went to London today for a business meeting and had one pannier on as well as a tank bag. Oddly enough, when I took the tank bag off for the trip home (didn't need satnav) I forgot the pannier was still on.

The answer = my brain associates the panniers with touring.
Tankbag = touring!

[barkingbiker]

Good thinking Whealie. Any 'cat's whiskers' would only serve to give too much confidence.

I fitted Alpos 36 and 32L boxes on some racks that I made myself. In hindsight I could possible have made the racks 20mm/side narrower but you're right - caution is the only way.

Thanks for the common sense answers.

BB

[StumpyFingers]

I have SWmotec racks and 41 litre panniers on mine and they stick out 2 / 3 inches either side. I just remember not to filter when they are fitted.
I did hit two bollards when in france.

[sadpsych]

Have Givi Keyless (41L) fitted to my 700. Wide is not the word. But no problems. even with t'other half on the back.

[davsato]

ive never measured the ones on my varadero, i have the honda 35ltr panniers.
when im using them im aware that width is compromised so i dont filter so much anyway. it would be interesting to see if theres much difference

[TWIN BURNER]

Whealie's panniers used to stick out wider than his bars but he just whacked them against a couple of cars and they're now ok

[datsun fan]

I have seen cable ties put through a small drilled hole at the end of the plastic brush guards - seems a good idea to me.