What are your favorite airhead sidecases?

[JAMESDUNN]

I am quoting here from the 2005 Bob's BMW catalog. Quote; "Beginning in the early 70's, the Krauser company made suitcase-style detachable saddlebags for BMW's that were very popular, and became virtually standard equipment. Then in 1978, BMW,stiffing Mike Krauser, issued their own luggage called Classic Bags,they were nearly identical to the Krauser design. In 1981, the new standard BMW panniers were called Touring Cases. Then in '85 Integral cases appeared on some bikes, eventually becoming standard on all but GS/PD models." End quote.

What type of bags do you have on your airhead? Do you like them and why? Have you some "other" solution, like the use of ammo cases for example? Or, perhaps you prefer soft luggage? Or?

I have touring cases on my '78 RS. I like the nice square design, but am not fond of the small keys and the spring loaded locks. Still, I do prefer them over the system cases on my Oilhead, that although more aerodynamic, do not hold as much or pack as easily!

 

[Yarddog]

I've got the cheesy BMW/Krauser bags on my 78 R100/7... No support available any more for them, no keys available, nothin'... I know others swear by them, but in my opinion, they are flimsy...but, they are what they are, and I'm not gonna spend a bunch bux replacing them!

 

[BUBBAZANETTI]

i like the touring cases on my current 84 better than the krausers that were on my last 84, they just seem less flimsy. overall, i felt the system cases on my 99R11S featured a much more stable mounting system and seemed very durable, but their shape did make packing a bit more difficult.

i know a gent up in new england that has a set of top loading wixom bags that look like an early form of more squarish jesses or touratech bags. were i to do an "adv resto" on the ST i might try to source some of those. i've never had a top loading bag but they seem so much more practical.

 

[20774]

For my eyes, I like my Wixom bags that came with the bike...I'm 2nd owner. They have chrome outside rails which adds a small amount of "bling". It also came with a Wixom top trunk with intergral pillion back rest...it will hold a helmet. I didn't like the weight up and back like that, so I swapped that for a Reynolds back rest. There's also a B&S rear rack. This combination has provided enough space for me to travel solo for 2-3 weeks. It gets a little dicey if someone else is along...but that hasn't happened for years...!

 

[murphychuck]

I have a pair of Vetter bags on my '83 R100 and I get more compliments on them than I ever did on my Krauser bags on my '76 R75/6. See pic!

 

[Yarddog]

...and I'll bet they are simply better built, too!

 

[ultracyclist]

murphychuck

Those are some of the coolest side cases that I have ever seen!
And they are probably built like a brick s***house.

 

[akbeemer]

Jessie bags on my R100GSPD. The Trek series bags. Large and well built.

 

[rocketman]

I've got the cheesy BMW/Krauser bags on my 78 R100/7... No support available any more for them, no keys available, nothin'... I know others swear by them, but in my opinion, they are flimsy...but, they are what they are, and I'm not gonna spend a bunch bux replacing them!

Pretty much any local locksmith (if you can find one, that is) can fit some old luggage style keys for them and I Always strap them when carrying a load as they have been known to pop open or come off. They are a bit on the thin side material wise, and the later ones (not sure of the actual maker but they look just the same) are slightly wider, they will fit a full face where as the older ones are just a tad thinner, the difference seems to be in the lid being slightly deeper. Still mine have held up for quite a few years and tons of use fully loaded. The top loading type have pretty flimsy lid latches, I had a set that the lids came off once or twice and the cases are not quickly removable though they did make better ice coolers

RM

 

[AnnapolisAirhead]

I have a set of white Krauser that I keep, just because they are white but they don't hold much. I like the look of them on /5 and /6 bikes.

On later Airheads I prefer the larger BMW touring (square) bags of the '81-84ish era. I can fit my full faced helmet, gloves and a bottle of Gatoraid in one, and my riding paints and jacket in the other. Worked out well when I commuted to work and couldn't really walk into the snooty professional office dressed in ATGATT/gladiator garb. I can't quite fit my Winter jacket in one with the pants, but that's ok.

 

[JAMESDUNN]

I have a set of white Krauser that I keep, just because they are white but they don't hold much. I like the look of them on /5 and /6 bikes.

On later Airheads I prefer the larger BMW touring (square) bags of the '81-84ish era. I can fit my full faced helmet, gloves and a bottle of Gatoraid in one, and my riding paints and jacket in the other. Worked out well when I commuted to work and couldn't really walk into the snooty professional office dressed in ATGATT/gladiator garb. I can't quite fit my Winter jacket in one with the pants, but that's ok.

+ one on the '81-84ish bags.

 

[murphychuck]

Not only are the Vetter bags real cool looking,they are also built much better than Krauser bags! They are easier to take off and you have to lock them to the frame to keep them on. Krauser bags have a history of popping open on hard bumps. I know someone who lost over $2000 worth of electronic goodies when his bag popped open in heavy traffic. I keep my rainsuit in one bag and still have room for my helmet and my jacket fits in the other. If you can find a pair of Vetters,buy them! You won't be disappointed!

 

[r60us]

For my pre '70 airheads, I preferred the Enduro bags simply because they looked great. Functionally not all that great. Perhaps the repros are better.
For post '69 airheads, I preferred the Krauser styling, but mostly used BMW touring cases for the improved locking systems. Today I would use the new Krauser style repros.

 

[PGlaves]

Wixom top-load bags like I had on my /5. The suitcase things the suits at BMW have favored for 30 years are just awkward. Try to carry a bag of tools in one of those things. They're awful for real stuff. OK for underwear but awful for useful things.

 

[Brettendress]

I like my Wixom, for looks,. and they actually keep things dry and hold a lot.

Brett Endress
Altoona Pa

 

[lkchris]

I am quoting here from the 2005 Bob's BMW catalog. Quote; "Beginning in the early 70's, the Krauser company made suitcase-style detachable saddlebags for BMW's that were very popular, and became virtually standard equipment. Then in 1978, BMW,stiffing Mike Krauser, issued their own luggage called Classic Bags,they were nearly identical to the Krauser design.

The BMW bags were made by Denfeld, which apparently was more successful at working out a supplier relationship with BMW. Had Krauser been "stiffed" as the writer so easily claims, there would have been lawsuits, etc., and there weren't.

I've had a set since around 1979 and if I were looking for new ones today would go for some of the replicas sold by Bob's BMW and others.

The "touring" cases of '81-'84 aren't bad either, and some information that maybe not everyone knows is that there are actually two generations of these. The later versions are redimensioned a bit and fit the mounts much more tightly, and of course the later locks--keyable same as your ignition--are a big improvement, too.

 

[Yarddog]

Pretty much any local locksmith (if you can find one, that is) can fit some old luggage style keys for them and I Always strap them when carrying a load as they have been known to pop open or come off. They are a bit on the thin side material wise, and the later ones (not sure of the actual maker but they look just the same) are slightly wider, they will fit a full face where as the older ones are just a tad thinner, the difference seems to be in the lid being slightly deeper. Still mine have held up for quite a few years and tons of use fully loaded. The top loading type have pretty flimsy lid latches, I had a set that the lids came off once or twice and the cases are not quickly removable though they did make better ice coolers

RM

We've got a great locksmith up in Goleta, so I'll take yer suggestion and trot those puppies up there and see what they can do!

 

[jforgo]

Worked out well when I commuted to work and couldn't really walk into the snooty professional office dressed in ATGATT/gladiator garb.

Just do it - let them get over themselves. You might be surprised who you meet if you do.

 

[virginiapi]

>What type of bags do you have on your airhead? Do you like them and why? Have you some "other" solution, like the use of ammo cases for example? Or, perhaps you prefer soft luggage? Or?<

My 1990 came with the intergral bags. On our first cross country run they leaked like a sieve. I replaced them with 36 liter Givi's and have been happy ever since. The Givi's cost less, hold more and are stronger then the intergral bags. And they don't leak.

 

[sgborgstrom]

I've got Jesse bags on my GSPD, I like them a lot. There is a set of Givi bags on my K100RS that used to live on my R100S (with Hannigan ST fairing, dynamite touring combination) and later on my F650 Dakar, they hold a lot and it was nice to be able to simply swap bags between bikes.

There is something aesthetically pleasing (to me) about the looks of a 70's era airhead with Krauser-type bags, a real "Gentleman's Express" look. The big-tank R75/6 I'm restoring with "S" fairing will probably get a set, though I did just win a pair of Ortlieb dry bags at an auction...