Mounting BMW Panniers on Tenere 700?

[Zebco Kid]

Hello,

 

 I recently sold my BMW R1250GSA, and I’m waiting for my Tenere 700 to arrive. 
 

I have BMW aluminum panniers that are very well made. Is there a way to properly mount those on the Tenere, or do I need to sell them and start over?

 

Thank you. 

[Canzvt]

I guess the question really is: Now much do you want to spend? Anything can be done, if you throw enough time and money at it.

[williestreet]

Depends on the rack you will use on the T7 an the design of your Boxes.

Easiest/cheapest way is to fab up Hockey puck mounts if your boxes will allow it.

 

Post a few pics of your BMW boxes so we can see what we are working with.  

I have made a few homemade mounts that work great and are very inexpensive to make.

 

[Dougie]

I think they’d be way out of place on a bike this slim.  You’d lose the feel and advantage. 

[jdub53]

I believe the BMW aluminum panniers are built by Touratech, and they are indeed very stout (had them on my old '07 GS Adv). As stated already, I'm sure you could adapt them to some brand of T7 pannier rack, but of course you'd be giving up potential volume due to the large cutout in the right pannier for the BMW's muffler.

 

I don't have hard pannier racks on my T7 and I might be wrong, but the pics I've seen have the right pannier sitting further out to clear the T7's stock exhaust. Unless you can adapt the BMW pannier racks to your T7 and keep that right box in close/tight, it's going to be sticking way out due to its width - probably wider than the handlebars.

[AZJW]

Moved to Parts and Upgrades. Vendor threads are for discussion of that particular vendor's products.

[electric_monk]

13 hours ago, Zebco Kid said:

Hello,

 

 I recently sold my BMW R1250GSA, and I’m waiting for my Tenere 700 to arrive. 
 

I have BMW aluminum panniers that are very well made. Is there a way to properly mount those on the Tenere, or do I need to sell them and start over?

 

Thank you. 

Post a picture of the boxes and whatever racks you have on the T7. I fitted an old set of Därrs boxes on mine without any issues

[Hibobb]

1 hour ago, Dougie said:

I think they’d be way out of place on a bike this slim.  You’d lose the feel and advantage. 

Dougie,

I agree 100%... but I got the stock aluminum panniers anyways. I told myself I could pop the boxes off in 30 seconds if needed, but I never have yet. I keep my warm riding stuff in one side and a box of donuts in the other... Be prepared (as the Boy Scouts say)!

[jdub53]

33 minutes ago, jdub53 said:

I believe the BMW aluminum panniers are built by Touratech, and they are indeed very stout (had them on my old '07 GS Adv). As stated already, I'm sure you could adapt them to some brand of T7 pannier rack, but of course you'd be giving up potential volume due to the large cutout in the right pannier for the BMW's muffler.

 

I don't have hard pannier racks on my T7 and I might be wrong, but the pics I've seen have the right pannier sitting further out to clear the T7's stock exhaust. Unless you can adapt the BMW pannier racks to your T7 and keep that right box in close/tight, it's going to be sticking way out due to its width - probably wider than the handlebars.

Quoting my earlier post, but out of curiosity I just checked the Touratech website and it appears their T7 pannier racks would probably work perfectly for the BMW panniers. Best bet would be contacting Touratech directly to confirm.

[Zebco Kid]

Good morning.

 

Thank you for your time and thoughts. I've attached photos of the BMW panniers. The comment about the cutout is true...but the width is the same on top (if that makes sense).

The thing about the BMW panniers is that besides the locking mechanism, they're held in place with mating flanges on the panniers and the racks.

 

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

 

I have emailed Touratech twice, but I've only received promotional emails in return...like "nobody's home."

 

I should mention that I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a commuter on the bike, soft panniers really aren't a choice. The contents and the panniers will be stolen in light speed. I always imagine parking it outside a sporting venue...where the thieves know you're gone for a couple hours...and nobody working the lot is going to get involved. Definitely need to be locking. I understand the size issue...and perhaps I need to sell these and get a thinner profile locking pannier.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 8, 2022 by Zebco Kid

[Dougie]

24 minutes ago, Hibobb said:

Dougie,

I agree 100%... but I got the stock aluminum panniers anyways. I told myself I could pop the boxes off in 30 seconds if needed, but I never have yet. I keep my warm riding stuff in one side and a box of donuts in the other... Be prepared (as the Boy Scouts say)!

I get the advantage. Especially in built up areas. Ease and security.  I saw my mate’s GS boxes the other day and they just looked huge. Maybe they were the larger size? Hard to tell with a load of old escorts (cars not magazines) and half bikes in his living loom.

[Hibobb]

Stock Yamaha Panniers and mounts

 

 

 

 

[Dougie]

You’re probably right with the touratech frames, and probably quite a few other main stream makes with the same sized hoops. Worst case (no pun intended) scenario, is slightly altering the brackets on the boxes. Unlikely to be needed though. 
If it doesn’t work out, I bet they fetch more money second hand than the Yamaha boxes do new.

Edited May 8, 2022 by Dougie

[Hibobb]

18 minutes ago, Zebco Kid said:

they're held in place with mating flanges on the panniers and the racks

Zeb,

 

How much to buy the stock BMW rack system, and cannibalize them to fit the T7?

Ideally, you can get a used set off a crashed bike

[Zebco Kid]

Hibobb,

 

I have no idea...but I would imagine the connection points, etc. are pretty proprietary to the design of the bike. Somehow, I don't think BMW is trying to make anything universal. Rather, this is the domain of 3rd parties. That being said...great idea. I will look.

 

Dougie,

 

I think you're right about fetching a good amount for them. They're practically new. I sold the GSA with 12k miles back to BMW...as I was the lucky winner of a lemmon. Won't be going back to BMW again. The worst customer service imaginable...but this wrap is for another string.

 

Back to panniers!