Having recently acquired a 1988 K100RT with some ..erm.. "well loved" 1st gen BMW panniers (the ones with the flippy cover over the toy lock) I realised that not only are all the hinges quite worn, but I also only have the key for one pannier, the other having been replaced at some point.

So, I'm thinking it might be time to buy a replacement set of panniers and being new to these bikes was hoping for some suggestions.

I'm also wondering if there is a top box which will hold a full face helmet as well. I really like the look of the original top box, but it pretty much just holds a shoebox!

Thanks in advance

My RT had the BMW panniers and I could fit a flip face helmet in them. My top box also took one but recently got a new helmet and it now doesn't fit in the top box.

 Hi Sparkplug !

I thought some pic's could be helpfull here ? (Courtesy to BMWK.nl for the pictues !)

The panniers build from 1984-1992 have their emblems 'side by side' and a sliding kind of handle to carry them around (if you ever like to do so... ) Here's a pic:



The panniers from 1992 - 2000 have the emblems above eachother and a folding handle. Like this:



I don't know your helmet-size, but I never managed to get a full-size helmet in the 22-liter topcase; here it is:



The 35-liter topcase holds 1 helmet but, to my opinion, looks very 'bulky' on the bike. Also you need the special brackets to extend the Z-carriers and hold the base-plate for the 35-liter version. They where standard in Europe on the K11LT, from 1992 onwarts.
Like this:




Succes in making the right choice ...

Mine are the 84-92 ones currently

I can get a helmet in the side pannier but I forgot to mention that a lot of my riding is with a pillion so it would be great to have somewhere for a second helmet.

So aside from an extension bracket for the bigger top box all these would fit on the original pannier rails without modification?

Are there aftermarket options worth considering?

Also, does anyone have a picture of an RT with the bigger top box fitted?

Thanks for the replies so far

Not a real BMW top box but a Givi one and my helmet will not fit in.

Thanks for the pics.

The Givi plate looks like the standard one and I know some of their top boxes will fit a crash helmet. I used to have one years ago on my old Honda and it was actually a very good top box.

Is that mounted on the standard BWM frame or is it a special part?

Sorry for asking so many questions - but I need to learn my way around this bike. After ten years of owning my old R1150GS I'm afraid I know nothing about any other bike!

I suspect that the frame for the plate was made by Givi for the K100. It was set up this way when I bought the bike a few years ago.

Don't apologise for asking questions, we all do it !

The later panniers with the rubber scuff blocks on them are the best looking in my opinion. They will be expensive unless you are very lucky on ebay! the second generation of the 84-92 panniers also had a change of locks. The type 2 lock faced inboard on the side panniers and whilst it was useful having the bigger key the type 3 with the key slot facing outwards is by far the most user friendly. 

Regarding top boxes the K1100 35L one pictured above is good but the support brackets are surprisingly errrm, flexible and they also require the removal of the grab handles.

I found the original box too small so bought a Givi kit to get the rack off it (per ainsjac's photo) and I now have an F650 box fitted bolted to it which takes 1 lid.



The side panniers fitted above are Krauser K2's which are 25L each and have their own mounting rail with integrated indicator (requiring the removal on the original rears) I also have a 42L set for touring and camping and 40L top box to match but that too will not take a helmet (no problem with the side panniers tho.)

K2 top box


Full K2 set 42L makes the bike 1m wide !!!


25L slim it down for day to day use

One of the things I like about the K2's is that the side opening is a door rather than a clam shell like the BMW ones, making them more watertight and also things are less inclined to fall out on opening.

That's my 2 cents worth!

sparkplug wrote:Mine are the 84-92 ones currently

.............

Also, does anyone have a picture of an RT with the bigger top box fitted?

Thanks for the replies so far

You're lucky.. when I bought my K11LT (late july 2015) I took these pic's of both my bikes, standing proudly in front of my shed.
You can see clearly the difference between the 22 and the 35 liter topcase. (Again: it will only hold 1 helmet ! Givi's big topcase would be the better option if you need space for 2 !) Mine also has the backrest -with room for speakers- installed.






Indeed, as mentioned, you´ll need an additional bracket to mount this bigger topcase and, when owning a tail with grabhandles: those handles need to be removed (just a question of 3 bolts each.)

Edit: 88KE is right about the support brackets of the big case: they tend to wiggle ! I noticed on mine that there are silentblocs on the inside of the bracket, where it meets the tail. Seem to be factory-fitted and they limit the sidewarts movement to just millimeters. I had no vibrations on my recent trip to France with the K11, so it seems to work fine !

Krauser K2 bought off eBay......Krauser will sell the rails with integral indicators and wiring, plus also fitting kits.

Panniers off and support rails visible:


Panniers on and top box and all the camping gear:


I intended painting hem but the motorway visibility and the enhanced reflection of the rear light decided me not to.

You can only open them or take them off with the key so they cant open on you r fall off, something the BMW panniers are prone to doing. Also, you don't spend half an hour wriggling them on and off.

88KE did the ideal, has the smaller ones as well as the 42 litre ones. BMW panniers AND top case add up to 80 litres. The larger Krauser K2 on their own add up to 84 litres.

Thanks for all the replies so far, and for the pictures. They really help!

I currently have Metal Mule panniers on my R1150GS so I'm used to 1m wide!

in fact let's see if I can post a pic of the old boxer…



I actually really like the look of the Krausers. Definitely worth more investigation. The million dollar question - will they hold a helmet?

Photo seemed to work!

So here's my dad with what is now my K100RT. 

As you can see, he was the real Father Christmas and the bike is called Rudolf, pictured here amongst friends

My helmet is a flip face and fits in the 42 litre Krausers. The doors and panniers are plastic and very strong but flexible enough to take the helmet. Its a Nolan Grex 9.1. It doesn't fit in my top box whereas my last one did.

I can arrive at destination and leave my bike gear in the top box, boots in one pannier and helmet in the other one.

The bike width with the Krausers on is 96cm. The EU maximum legal width for a motorcycle and trailer is 1m.

88KE did a nice job with the vinyl wrap on the Krausers.

Oh, one more thing, they make good seats!

After much debate and consideration I've decided that I don't want to change the character of this bike too much and fitting a different top box or taking off indicators and hand rails will do just that.

So my compromise would be a new set of more modern side panniers in black plastic and leave the top box as is.

Helmets can simply be secured to the bike with a cable lock and a cargo net.

So a quick scout on ebay has brought up this set from Sherlocks:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-K1100RS-1995-10-420-miles-touring-luggage-panniers-pair-/161820687160?hash=item25ad43bb38

Is £200 a sensible price for these? I've seen others for around half that, but in poor condition.

I'm sure these are a little more expensive than a private sale might be and I don't mind that too much as long as you all don't think this is over the top (and as long as none of you buy them first )

They look the business and having all the locks on one key is good. I would agree they do look much better than the Krausers. By the time you buy the carrier frames and Krausers anyway you will spend the same money. You may look and find a helmet that will fit inside the panniers too.

Go for them. But buy some spare hinges and change them often, they are cheap but don't last very long.

 well, it looks like I just bought some new panniers…

Where do you buy hinges from? Think I will get some as spares.

Thanks all for the help and suggestions. I'll take some pics next week and post them up for you all.

sparkplug wrote: well, it looks like I just bought some new panniers…

Where do you buy hinges from? Think I will get some as spares.

Thanks all for the help and suggestions. I'll take some pics next week and post them up for you all.

Well done !! They look very fine to me !
For the hinges ? Look at Realoem.com, give in the last 7 digits of your VIN and take a look around the parts / categories listed.
I did for mine (1992 LT) in this example-link; you'll find the hinges listed as no. 1 in the drawing.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/nl/showparts?id=0526-EUR-07-1992-89V2-BMW-K_1100_LT_0526,_0536_&diagId=46_0209

Then look up the partnumber, copy-paste it in Google and I bet you'll find a supplier !
Also: I learned that most BMW-dealers have them in stock; the costs are limited, about 6 euro's over here.
Each pannier has 2 hinges, btw...

Check them on arrival of your panniers; if they are 'all dark' and no cracks in the middle: you're good. Order 2 of them for future use just to be sure.

Changing them is simple; you see a small nodge at the end, that needs to be lifted free (small screwdriver does the job...) Then simply slide forward to remove / re-install. (Sometimes a woosh of WD40 helps sliding )

Happy transporting....

Jos.

Thanks GTJos - very helpful