Home made panniers

[Andy M]

 you mentioned the cross brace being a PITA when removing the rear wheel. on the BMW, even the GS the exhaust has to be removed to get the back wheel out anyway. is it me or is that totally pathetic on a bike that's supposed to have RTW capability?

 

Don't get me started. On the Triumph the rack needs to come off in one piece, then both silencers and pillion pegs  Good news is that I can now do this in about 20 minutes flat (pun intended) 

Did my dad's tyres yesterday and on the Guzzi it's one silencer and a shocker, but then you've got to raise the stand over a 2" drop to get the wheel out. That's a two man job 

My R1100R was car like and is the model i'd point all designers towards. I guess the R1150 or R1200 has yet more style over function features? The only BMW's I'd entertain again are the F650 and R80. I've worked with CAN electrics and believe me, on that alone I wouldn't take an R1200 RTW without Ewan and Charlie's silent partners following with a spare in the van 

Andy

[Steffan]

My 1100GS was the same Andy, reminds me of a certain mobile phone company that used to follow the big cheese (when visiting from overseas HQ) would follow him about with a mobile mast in a van so he never lost coverage. OK for corporate bigwigs but not my idea of a bike adventure - give me cables and a tin of lube.

Steffan

[Richard]

'Tin of Lube'....are we still on the subject here ?

[guest18]

I find these tales quite incredible 

Having to remove exhausts to change a wheel, (bad), or worse yet suspension components or subframe parts, (completely ridiculous) 
I can see having to remove a rear cross-brace as it is an aftermarket accessory and should only need four bolts and a couple of minutes (I intend using the same sized bolts as the chain adjustor so no extra tools required), but what you're describing sounds like a major design fault. It would be extremely poor design on a home built special, quite unbelievable on a supposedly professionally designed mass market vehicle 

 you mentioned the cross brace being a PITA when removing the rear wheel. on the BMW, even the GS the exhaust has to be removed to get the back wheel out anyway. is it me or is that totally pathetic on a bike that's supposed to have RTW capability?

 

Don't get me started. On the Triumph the rack needs to come off in one piece, then both silencers and pillion pegs  Good news is that I can now do this in about 20 minutes flat (pun intended) 

Did my dad's tyres yesterday and on the Guzzi it's one silencer and a shocker, but then you've got to raise the stand over a 2" drop to get the wheel out. That's a two man job 
......

[squirrelciv]

 It would be extremely poor design on a home built special, quite unbelievable on a supposedly professionally designed mass market vehicle 

Welcome to the modern world of motorcycle design. All to do with how it looks and nothing to do with how it works. To be fair, it was never designed with the home mechanic in mind, Most 'bikers' today, buy it, clean it, ride it on a sunny Sunday and get it serviced/fixed by the dealer. Jees i'm turning into a grumpy old biker

[bullet350]

anyone removed the rear wheel from an enfield or qd BSA?

throw a few bricks under the centre stand (remember centre stands?).

remove small nut on end of axle and yank axle out.

the wheel drops to the ground leaving the drum brake and sprocket in place on the swingarm!

no readjusting the chain! in and out in a couple of minutes (nudge nudge wink wink).

ah the good old days!

bullet350

[Steffan]

Yea, if only you could skip the bricks, ie if only the centrestand lifted one wheel rather than leaving both on the deck

Steffan

[002]

 It would be extremely poor design on a home built special, quite unbelievable on a supposedly professionally designed mass market vehicle 

Welcome to the modern world of motorcycle design. All to do with how it looks and nothing to do with how it works. To be fair, it was never designed with the home mechanic in mind, Most 'bikers' today, buy it, clean it, ride it on a sunny Sunday and get it serviced/fixed by the dealer. Jees i'm turning into a grumpy old biker

Dont start me on that one !!!!!!!
Working in a Dealership I come across them all !
Most cant adjust the clutch cable let alone their chain.
I have managed to upset quite a few customers by telling them what routine maitenance entails,and how often.


Jethro

[Steffan]

The thing is Jethro. in some circles opening a conversation with F*&k off you &^%** is apt to cause some offence, especially if they think they are paying... it's a funny world. 

Pat you are not alone - you grumpy old B*&#*$d 

Steffan

[002]

No !    I start with......

"Have you read your Handbook ? NO ! Then I'll Show You....ONCE!   Then YOU WILL Have to do it your F@*#ing Self 'cause I wont do it next time "


Quit pleasant,but straight to the point ! 


Jethro

[steveD]

My attitude is slightly different as most of my customers haven't got a clue about the work that I do so if they ask for something really trivial or stupid I just get on with the job and do it then charge for it. When I was teaching I was paid to show pupils what to do, now that I am self employed customers will have to pay for my services and expertise, not for me to tell them how to do a job, I keep that info to myself!

[guest18]

A pair of nice slim panniers now starting to take shape 


Of course I'm making mistakes as I go  (it's been a while since I did much fabrication!) but nothing insurmountable or expensive yet  though I don't know how much longer my pop-riveter will survive the toughest rivet shanks I've ever come across 

The only bother so far is my usual suppliers have drawm a blank on catches for the lid, I was thinking of over centre, padlockable (yeah I know, new word lol) catches but no-one I can find seems to sell them  Anyone know of a supplier? Or a better method of clamping (and locking) the lids to the boxes?

I reckon I'll go for simplicity and just use wingnuts (or nylocs if I go semi permanent) to mount the boxes to a frame, not really quick release, but secure and easy and rattle free, the KISS principle in action 

[jules]

SMUDGE TRY THIS PLACE FOR HANDLES AND OTHER HANDY STUFF
http://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/DEFAULT.ASPX

[guest18]

Cheers, will give them a go 

[Bruce]

Smudge you could also try http://www.protex.com/ they sell a wide range of fastners ,re the panniers I had off Pat whilst riding near Poole in Dorset I managed to lose one of the lids so I have got to try and make a replacment.I was heading for the ferry to St Malo to get to the Triton Club of France rally it was one of the best weekends for years good warm weather lots of good food and wine.When I refit the lids I will use overcentre clips with a spring.