When I was having my test rides, I had a look at Royal Enfield’s metal panniers, which fit the frames the bike is supplied with.
In essence they are a copy of BMW’s very good metal panniers, such us you’d find on the GSA. Several other manufacturers also copy BMW’s panniers, imitation being the most sincere form of flattery.
Royal Enfield’s offering are OK. Not as large a volume as BMW’s or other manufacturers’ panniers but size is not everything, They are certainly not as expensive as BMW’s and are probably not as well made. I meant to look properly but I think the Enfield panniers might be riveted, as opposed to BMW’s which are welded. This reduces costs for RE, enabling them to sell their product cheaper. The disadvantage comes in that if you bash a welded pannier in a fall, it is usually possible to bang the welded pannier back into shape. That is not so easy on a pannier that is pop riveted. That being said, how many panniers actually get bashed so hard that they distort?
The method of holding the panniers to their carrying frames differ. BMW’s have a very simple and quite clever ‘slide in place’ interference fit, then locked in place by two separate hasp locks, front and rear. All in all, very good. RE’s use a lock (I think copied from other manufacturers’ panniers) which turns from the inside, to lock the pannier in place. This is OK and I guess works. The downside is that the pin or axel that the lock turns on leaves a quite pronounced nut sticking out inside the pannier. I guess that a luggage bag might catch on these, making it awkward to pull the bag out? A small thing perhaps, but maybe something to consider at least.
The good news is that there is then a lot of choice of alternative luggage available for the RE. Micky uses the very practicable plate which replaces the pillion seat and ties a soft roll bag in place. Simple and effective. Posh Pete does something similar but with the addition of soft bags. Givi offers alternative hard panniers, larger in volume than RE’s. I haven’t looked at these so I am unsure how they lock in place and / or as to whether they use the standard RE carriers. There is then a wide choice of third party, throw-over bags, some of which do use the RE’s standard frame as a support. Ventura (luggage I really like) also offers their take on things, too.
In short, lots of choice to suite every bod out there, which is a good thing. No doubt everyone will have their favourites, just as they do with tyres and gloves.
In essence they are a copy of BMW’s very good metal panniers, such us you’d find on the GSA. Several other manufacturers also copy BMW’s panniers, imitation being the most sincere form of flattery.
Royal Enfield’s offering are OK. Not as large a volume as BMW’s or other manufacturers’ panniers but size is not everything, They are certainly not as expensive as BMW’s and are probably not as well made. I meant to look properly but I think the Enfield panniers might be riveted, as opposed to BMW’s which are welded. This reduces costs for RE, enabling them to sell their product cheaper. The disadvantage comes in that if you bash a welded pannier in a fall, it is usually possible to bang the welded pannier back into shape. That is not so easy on a pannier that is pop riveted. That being said, how many panniers actually get bashed so hard that they distort?
The method of holding the panniers to their carrying frames differ. BMW’s have a very simple and quite clever ‘slide in place’ interference fit, then locked in place by two separate hasp locks, front and rear. All in all, very good. RE’s use a lock (I think copied from other manufacturers’ panniers) which turns from the inside, to lock the pannier in place. This is OK and I guess works. The downside is that the pin or axel that the lock turns on leaves a quite pronounced nut sticking out inside the pannier. I guess that a luggage bag might catch on these, making it awkward to pull the bag out? A small thing perhaps, but maybe something to consider at least.
The good news is that there is then a lot of choice of alternative luggage available for the RE. Micky uses the very practicable plate which replaces the pillion seat and ties a soft roll bag in place. Simple and effective. Posh Pete does something similar but with the addition of soft bags. Givi offers alternative hard panniers, larger in volume than RE’s. I haven’t looked at these so I am unsure how they lock in place and / or as to whether they use the standard RE carriers. There is then a wide choice of third party, throw-over bags, some of which do use the RE’s standard frame as a support. Ventura (luggage I really like) also offers their take on things, too.
In short, lots of choice to suite every bod out there, which is a good thing. No doubt everyone will have their favourites, just as they do with tyres and gloves.