Hi

I purchased a 87 K100LT a couple of weeks ago, and I am wondering how the panniers are supposed to attach to the bike properly.

There is one key latch at the front bottom of each pannier, and it looks like a bolt at the top of each one going into the frame as well.

I am not sure if the previous owner has modified them.

Back in 1985 when I had a R100RT I am sure all I had to do was use a key to release the panniers from the bike quickly, not undo bolts.

Oh!!! You got the 87 LT.
Yeah. Well. About those panniers.
Sorry to say I have no idea.
Mine clip on and clip off.

Wait five more minutes and someone with more than a brain the size of a pea's brain will be on to answer your question.

I am just hanging round waiting for Halo to post more pictures of his resto.

Rossco

Mine's an 88 LT BanditRob but all pannier mountings are the same. Hangs on rail along the top, clips and locks in bottom front.



Can you post a picture of both the back of the pannier and mount? ( here's how) So we can see if/how it is modified.

88KE

G'day banditrob, mine are bolted on as perhaps the previous owner has done to yours. i came back from a rally where i had really overloaded my panniers and from then on they rattled abit. Solution was to bolt them up solid. no more rattle. If they are the standard BMW pannier then maybe he just did the same.

Mine have suicidal tendencies so I have two straps made out of seat belt material and goodly amounts of velcro
wrapped around the frame and panniers, like a straight jacket. ( and I should know).
RT

There are two locks/latches on each pannier, some a traditional key and lock cylinder type and some a flat key with a lift up lock cover (early style), and the panniers are supposed to slide onto the plastic frames from the back, just a wee bit, and then down a bit as the front pannier latch catches into the 'Z" frame rectangular slot near the passenger pegs. It's more of a finessed technique than a system, IMHO.

Any bolts used are the addition of a previous owner. I use rubber dome bumpers to alleviate the wiggle tendencies as they take up the space between the panniers and the frames. Charlie99 has used canopy tape of some sort with good result.

As the other gents have suggested in various ways, this is usually because the latches and frames wear and the bags wobble like a forum member at the pub after a group ride.

"wobble like a forum member at the pub after a group ride" Now THAT'S funny!

I like the rack and backrest arrangement on your bike mate. Do I see two bolts going down through your pannier on the left side?? right about where they mount to the frame???

Mine slide into the frame along the top and have two latches that hook into the frame on the front of each. No bolts here. I think what you are seeing are the loops to hook a cord or bunge strap through.

Ok I have two on each lid to hook my occy straps to, makes it easy to strap down a swag that way, cheers, mind that dont work too well if you have a pillion in a million to take that place. Your pillion seat seems higher than stock, is that an after market seat?. oh BTW my pannier bolts were domed and went through the z webbing on the frames to allow the nuts to sit out of the way so as to not hit my hand if it went in there for some reason like cleaning the zorst or wheel, etc

wngnutmv wrote:.... I think what you are seeing are the loops to hook a cord or bunge strap through.

They look like bungee buddies to my squinting eyes. I saw them on a web site some time ago and wondered if they were worthwhile.

Does a bungee cord over the seat/luggage/swag bag cause the panniers to lift and rattle in your experience guys?

88KE

K75cster wrote:Your pillion seat seems higher than stock, is that an after market seat?

I like the rack and backrest arrangement on your bike mate.

The seat could be a Corbin, the rack is a Reynolds.

They look like bungee buddies to my squinting eyes. I saw them on a web site some time ago and wondered if they were worthwhile.
88KE[/quote]

I've got Bungie Buddies in stock by the gross. They work well on single thickness panniers such as on our K Bikes, early Oilheads and Airheads, but not on the newer Hexheads and newest K bikes with double wall panniers and topboxes. They're just an old fashioned car roof top rack slider.

Yes, the seat is a Corbin. VERY comfy! but it pushes down on the side covers so they don't line up with the rest of the bodywork.

wngnutmv wrote:"wobble like a forum member at the pub after a group ride" Now THAT'S funny!

oh ! you think so .....legless is always best ....

its what we all strive for .....well a couple of times a year

gives you a nice surprise to see whats posted on the forum (when you get home) .....grins !!

but seriously our age and respect for each other prevents me us from telling tales of awesomeness and such anticks

it has to be an self experienced event im afraid ....

have fun !!!