Aftermarket Sidecases/Saddlebags for the R12R

[alaskaflyer]

I'm getting ready to make some long trips this spring and would like to get some aftermarket sidecases or saddlebags. Does anyone have any? which brand and how well do you like it?

Thanks in advance

Gary

[Caroanbill]

No doubt there'll be quite a few suggestions (and there are a few threads on this topic) ... but let me weigh in on the OEM panniers - unless you've a specific reason to avoid them (cost etc).

Pro #1 - these are the least noticeable panniers BMW has ever made. I recently did a run around Tasmania (Australia's "south island") and considered leaving them off since we had a luggage van follow us for the sportbikes on the run. I left them on for a week on very challenging roads, carrying all my gear. Never, ever had to think about them - unlike previous panniers. They sit so close in, and are so aerodynamic (quite a bit of work above 160km/h) that you don't notice. They don't noticeably affect fuel consumption or range, either

I haven't seen any aftermarket bags that would match this claim - they're all a lot wider, sit lower (may affect cornering clearance) and appear to create their own airflow - meaning they'd affect the bike's highspeed handling noticeably, reduce fuel range and probably change cornering dynamics. I notice my F650CS BMW (GS)panniers - they affect fuel range and stability (minor above about 140km/h and major above 160km/h) - though they don't affect cornering all that much.

Pro#2 - They are truly waterproof. That's not a claim I'd make about their various predecessors (and I've had most of them). I suppose there are a few aftermaket bags that would match this - though judging by various threads, the best rider claim I've seen is "mostly" or "accepatably" waterproof.

Pro#3 - the mounting system is completely unobtrusive. Most (well, let's be honest - all) aftermarket mounts are fugly.

Con#1 - they are heavy off the bike (not an issue on the bike)

Con#2 - they cost .. a lot! (But they do add resale value, unlike aftermarket bags)

Con#3 - you can't change them to another bike ('cept an R12RT or ST, or a K12/13GT)

http://picasaweb.google.com/billstanhop ... 4265687154
http://picasaweb.google.com/billstanhop ... 0050389154

[jameson71]

I'll second everything said above. I have the OEM panniers and would highly recommend them. Definitely waterproof! Another nice thing is that they can be keyed to be the same as the ignition, and one less key is always a good thing.

[thepeacebullgrunt]

I have RKA soft side luggage and really like them http://www.rka-luggage.com/A05%20Saddle ... /sb50.html no sagging at all elegant and they look much better in real than on this link

[MJB]

I have RKA soft side luggage and really like them http://www.rka-luggage.com/A05%20Saddle ... /sb50.html no sagging at all elegant and they look much better in real than on this link

Let's see a picture with the bags on your bike....

[LumpyCam]

+1 the OEM bags.

They are waterproof, single key, huge capacity, look good on the bike, solid construction, with unobtrusive mounting options with or without a rear rack.

I just finished a six day road trip and didn't have to supplement with anything else.

btw - if you buy them at the same time as the bike they are covered by the bike's 3 year warranty, otherwise 1 year.

[alaskaflyer]

Thanks for all the responses, I must be the only one but I don't like the OEM sidecases, not to mention the price of over 1k is ridiculous in my opinion. I like the idea of spending a few hundred on sidecases and get a Mayer saddle for the same price.

Thanks again though

Gary

[deilenberger]

Thanks for all the responses, I must be the only one but I don't like the OEM sidecases, not to mention the price of over 1k is ridiculous in my opinion. I like the idea of spending a few hundred on sidecases and get a Mayer saddle for the same price.

Thanks again though

Gary

Gary - dunno what dealer quoted you over $1,000 - but for the sidecases I paid $856.00 in 2007. Have they gone up that much? I frequently see them selling brand new on Ebay for $379-399/each.

The biggest plus of the factory cases (besides what people have already mentioned) - my helmet will fit in one side, my Roadcrafter fits in the other. Use this all the time when I'm using the bike.. don't have to drag them with me, and can lock them securely out of sight. And they can carry enough stuff for me to take 2 week trips and carry my old IBM Thinkpad in one.

[alaskaflyer]

The 1000 dollar price tag was what I priced from a local dealer and that included liners and locks.

[deilenberger]

The 1000 dollar price tag was what I priced from a local dealer and that included liners and locks.

My price included locks, reflectors, etc. BMW liners are a bit of a rip.. Cee-Bailey, RKA, Kathy's Bags all make better for MUCH less $$.

[Tom Barnhart]

Has anyone mounted Jesse Odysey I bags on a R1200R. I had them on my R1150R using the mounts for a R1150GS. These mounts do not fit my R1200R. Before I start hacking and welding, I would like to hear from someone who has tried (successfully !!!) to mount the bags on a R1200R.
The Jesse's are great bags, waterproof, secure, and offer great carrying capacity low on the bike.

[Bheckel169]

I'm not a fan of the hard cases either, not on a sport bike like the 1200 R. I went with the Cortech Tourmaster Tri-bag system. For full luggage requirements I have the Tail Bag which is attachable to the saddlebags making one unit. Here are the links to each.
http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/product ... 146&cat=31
http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/product ... 147&cat=31
Here's a review of the Tri-Bag system
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/404/113/M ... eview.aspx
If it rains, they come with plastic covers that are quick and easy to install as well and you can't beat the price.
Bruce

[mogu83]

This post is really interesting as it reflects all the ways people are using this bike (R1200R) some of us consider it a great bike for touring, a fairing and the stock bags fit that purpose very well (IMHO), others see a pack mule and want to bolt on Jesse Bags (add a skid plate) and head off to where 'no man has gone before' , some want it to go back and forth to work and a tail pack is all they need, while others see a sport bike, add an aftermarket exhaust and look for throw over bags that they can quickly discard (much like a P51's belly tank) and go off to strafe some twisties. It seems the bike is a throwback to thirty years ago when you bought a bike and then had to finish building it into the vehicle that meets your individual specs.

PS: Just realized the P51 belly tank kind of dates me. Well kids that was an airplane that had a fan in the front that was used to escort bombers ( with four fans) during the BIG war our Fathers told us about. Many of us spent endless hours building models of these planes. But us old guys knew that.

[deilenberger]

It seems the bike is a throwback to thirty years ago when you bought a bike and then had to finish building it into the vehicle that meets your individual specs.

That was one of the things that really appealed to me about the bike - you aren't locked into one mode - and you get to make it exactly what you want it to be, with the option to change it to something else easily.. mine is a commuter, tourer and as much sport bike as I can take. Perfect bike IMHO.

[Tom Barnhart]

This is why I bought the R models. 1100, 1150 and now 1200. I am short legged and this bike fits me. Even the lowered GS is too tall and top heavy. Also, the handling and gearing of the naked R bikes is much better for highway driving. I like the Jesse bags because I can carry most of the weight low on the bikes and not have to strap a pile of stuff on the seat or tail. I am of such an age that I no longer need to do the extreme cornering, so the clearance has never been an issue. For my money, this is the best bike built. I can add anything I want to make it work for me.

[alaskaflyer]

I just ordered the Fieldsheer 3 bag system, only cost me 200 bucks, I'll see how well it does when I head on my trip in May. I'll post pictures when they get here.

[spoonyfork]

I just ordered the Fieldsheer 3 bag system, only cost me 200 bucks, I'll see how well it does when I head on my trip in May. I'll post pictures when they get here.

I'm researching a soft 3 bag system and I'm all but decided on Cortech TriBag. The Fieldsheer offerings look interesting but I'd like to know which specific bags you bought. Could you post a link from the Fieldsheer site to which bags you bought? Thanks!

http://www.fieldsheer.com/site2009/ff/luggagelist.html

[lewellen]

I have the OEM bags on my R1200R ('08 model). The only complaint I have about them is the odd interior geometry. It's not square. Granted this allows the bags to perhaps be more aerodynamic, but it gets irritating when trying to do things like carry a briefcase or a laptop.

On the plus side, the side-bag mounting system is so finely done I think the bike actually looks better with the mounts in place than without! (I saw an R1200R on a dealer showroom the other day without the mounts; the plastic cutouts on the tail look, well, cheesy.) Re the tail-bag mount, it looks odd to me, but there have been times when I wish I had a luggage rack.

Re soft vs. hard bags... I've had both. If you're going to go adventuring and there's a real possibility of dropping the bike, I'd tend to go with soft luggage because you're less likely to break them - or the bike! - when the bike falls on them. Re hard bags, given the mount they're less likely to shift around during riding. This is maybe not a concern, but when - as in the R1200R - there's nothing between them and the rear wheel ... it makes me nervous. Also, if your hard bag will hold a full-face helmet, you can lock your helmet, jacket, and what-have-you on your bike and out of site while you go do ... whatever. (Grocery shopping? coffee? walk on the beach?) I'm always a little leery about that with soft luggage.

Good roads,

- Lewellen

[thepeacebullgrunt]

I can't really show the luggage on my bike because I wait to have my Scorpio alarm perimetral sensor installed under the rear seat area but even if ugly on the picture below It look like much better on my "R" and seems designed for the R1200R from the very beginning.



Here is an RKA page dedicated to the R1200R side soft luggage application : http://www.rka-luggage.com/A08%20BMW/R1200R/R1200R.html

[alaskaflyer]

I just ordered the Fieldsheer 3 bag system, only cost me 200 bucks, I'll see how well it does when I head on my trip in May. I'll post pictures when they get here.

I'm researching a soft 3 bag system and I'm all but decided on Cortech TriBag. The Fieldsheer offerings look interesting but I'd like to know which specific bags you bought. Could you post a link from the Fieldsheer site to which bags you bought? Thanks!

http://www.fieldsheer.com/site2009/ff/luggagelist.html

Here is the link to the ones I bought

http://www.cycleluggage.com/fieldsheer_90020.html
http://www.cycleluggage.com/fieldsheer_90021.html

Gary