Who TF thought up side opening panniers?

Flashpoint

Flashpoint

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And why??

I love my FJR but hate the side opening panniers. If I had the time and skills I would glue them shut, cut off the tops and hinge them.

The only feasible solution it seems is pannier liner bags that would attach to the inside and be openable from the top. Anyone have any experience with them? Found a set on Amazon but they are $90 with shipping and that's not high for good quality I guess but these come from China, and it's not clear exactly where they open and therefore if I would be happy with them

Or maybe there are aftermarket top open panniers that would fit the FJR?
 
tagged for interest.

top opening “saddle bags” are one of the things that have kept me on the big, fat touring bikes I keep riding.

Why BMW, Gold Wings, and FJRs cling to the side opening bags I don’t know.

And this is not to diss them either.

I’d like to like them more, because the dinosaurs I ride, even when brand new, aren't always “all that”.
 
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fieldgrade said:
Why BMW, Gold Wings, and FJRs cling to the side opening bags I don’t know.
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The bags I’ve used on BMWs are made to take off the bike and carry into your room. You lay them on their side and open like a suitcase. I actually prefer them. Maybe they are doing something different these days
 
Red Marley said:
The bags I’ve used on BMWs are made to take off the bike and carry into your room. You lay them on their side and open like a suitcase. I actually prefer them. Maybe they are doing something different these days
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I’m thinking about their big touring bikes. I may be talking out of school.

I pack a lot of stuff in a Harley bag. I could take it off and haul it in, but it would be heavy. And dirty with road dust and grit.
 
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The bags on my ST1300 pop right off and you carry them in just like a suitcase. They open all the way flat and you pack them just like a suitcase too. Never had a problem finding anything in them either. I guess it's just what you get used to?
 
SPST said:
The bags on my ST1300 pop right off and you carry them in just like a suitcase. They open all the way flat and you pack them just like a suitcase too. Never had a problem finding anything in them either. I guess it's just what you get used to?
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So something like this?


Indian 041.JPG


.
 
I’m diggin that red Wing in the background.
 
The FJR bags pop off also with the turn of a key and are designed as luggage. I only use luggage when I am on an overnight trip. I estimate that to be about .01 percent of the riding I do (hasn't happened yet). I just want to be able to use them attached to the bike for everyday tasks.

I also have a huge Givi? trunk that pops on and off the back and I'd really like to leave it off the bike unless I was on a trip, but I leave it on most of the time because it's just so much easier and stuff stays more accessible and organized. Just like it would in a top open pannier. 😁
 
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don't get your pannier liners in a bunch
Stay Free of all this stress
Always take a deep breath before freaking out
practice packing them so you get the Maxi-mum stuff in a compact space
 
With top loading bags, you have to dig all the way to the bottom sometimes to get something. With clamshell type bags, I can open them and see everything that I have in there. Seems much easier than unloading a whole bag just to get to what I need at the bottom of it.
 
I go in and out of my bags while on the road way more than I would taking them off on trips, as @Flashpoint observed.

I reach in my left bag to swap gloves, or glasses at a light without getting off. My wallet is in there, when I stop for gas, never getting off the bike. Garage door opener also in there. I could put smaller pouches on the back of the windshield or on top of the tank I suppose, but the hard bags are lockable if I get off at a stop, so I prefer to use them.
 
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SPST said:
With top loading bags, you have to dig all the way to the bottom sometimes to get something. With clamshell type bags, I can open them and see everything that I have in there. Seems much easier than unloading a whole bag just to get to what I need at the bottom of it.
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I can't speak to that because I've never had a top open one, but If you load a side open bag even close to full of various objects you have a mess on your hands when you open it. Maybe the bag liner is the way to go. Still interested in feedback from anyone who's tried them.

GREAT BIKERS GEAR - Pannier Liner Inner Luggage Bags For YAMAHA FJR1300 TDM900 (Red) Pair Motorbike https://a.co/d/43LVsyL
 
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SPST said:
With top loading bags, you have to dig all the way to the bottom sometimes to get something. With clamshell type bags, I can open them and see everything that I have in there. Seems much easier than unloading a whole bag just to get to what I need at the bottom of it.
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No, not really.

.
 
Flashpoint said:
I can't speak to that because I've never had a top open one, but If you load a side open bag even close to full of various objects you have a mess on your hands when you open it. Maybe the bag liner is the way to go. Still interested in feedback from anyone who's tried them.

GREAT BIKERS GEAR - Pannier Liner Inner Luggage Bags For YAMAHA FJR1300 TDM900 (Red) Pair Motorbike https://a.co/d/43LVsyL
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I've never had a problem when opening my side open panniers in the 100k miles that I have put on my bike. Even when fully loaded on cross country trips it has never been an issue.
 
SPST said:
I've never had a problem when opening my side open panniers in the 100k miles that I have put on my bike. Even when fully loaded on cross country trips it has never been an issue.
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I think it has a lot to do with WHAT you carry in them. Clothing, etc would be no problem. Try putting 10-20 separate hard items in it and get back to me.
 
Anyone considering bag liners should check ebay. The only one I found on Amazon (there was another but feedback from someone with my exact bike said they didn't fit) is $90 with shipping. You can get them on eBay from the UK for about $65 with shipping.
 
Flashpoint said:
I think it has a lot to do with WHAT you carry in them. Clothing, etc would be no problem. Try putting 10-20 separate hard items in it and get back to me.
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I've put everything imaginable in them through the years, from almost empty to slam full. Never had a problem finding anything or having stuff fall out. I also never had any issues with the same style bags on my old '94 ST1100. Put 85k miles on that one. Like I said, I guess it's whatever you get used to using.

I don't use bag liners. I just use x straps to hold things in place.
 
SPST said:
I've put everything imaginable in them through the years, from almost empty to slam full. Never had a problem finding anything or having stuff fall out. I also never had any issues with the same style bags on my old '94 ST1100. Put 85k miles on that one. Like I said, I guess it's whatever you get used to using.

I don't use bag liners. I just use x straps to hold things in place.
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I can't even put a bag of groceries in it without it wanting to fall into the clamshell, and having to hold crap in and clip the x strap together is awkward. And using the x strap means you're not using the full capacity of the pannier. I carry lots of relatively small hard items and in a clamshell bag they would not stay put or even stack on top of each other without tumbling down/out when it's open. Glad yours works for you.
 
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An option is to use packable travel packs like used in suitcases and travel backpacks. I had a few I used on my bags for a crotch rocket when I went for all day rides or a weekend ride to the coast or mountains. I prefer clear but mine were low quality and are junk after 10 years.
 
SPST said:
I've put everything imaginable in them through the years, from almost empty to slam full. Never had a problem finding anything or having stuff fall out. I also never had any issues with the same style bags on my old '94 ST1100. Put 85k miles on that one. Like I said, I guess it's whatever you get used to using.

I don't use bag liners. I just use x straps to hold things in place.
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Can you carry a twelve pack, intact, in your clamshell?
 
fieldgrade said:
Can you carry a twelve pack, intact, in your clamshell?
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Probably. Never tried. It would definitely fit in my Givi topbox.

I can get my wife's size small FF helmet in the side cases. I don't think that would happen with a top loading pannier.
 
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