The R1250GS Adventure is my second adventure bike, and my first – a Yamaha Tenere – taught me a thing or two. I splashed out on official panniers for that bike and, while the security they offer is fantastic, they’re also heavy, fragile (don’t ask…) and expensive. All of which meant I knew I wanted soft panniers (together with a lockable Motorrad aluminium top box) on the GS.
There are myriad GS soft luggage options, of course, but I own a couple of Kriega bags and they’ve proven fantastic: durable as hell, cleverly designed (if a little intimidating in their complexity on first contact) and beautifully made.
Checking out the Kriega OS32 panniers online, the design and versatile OS-Platform mounting system (no straps across the seats, plus you can mount a range of other Kriega bags and accessories) looked like a good bet, so I placed the order.
Ease of fitting
Conscious that only a wet-behind-the-ears novice fits new stuff to their bike the day before they leave on a big trip, I gave myself time to fit the Kriega kit and test it out on local rides.
Looking back, fitting was pretty straightforward (enjoyable, even), but remember I said their stuff can appear intimidating when you first crack it out of the packaging? That was undoubtedly the case here, though I was also struck by how beautifully made all the parts were. There’s a lot of super-durable, expensive-feeling plastic here, together with tactile aircraft-grade aluminium and indestructible-feeling Cordura. I also noticed how smartly-designed the instructions were (unlike those BMW supply for coding your key to your new top box’s lock).
The first frame was on in about 20 minutes and the second probably half that again. The panniers themselves require no adjustment before fitting, and their mounting system is fiendishly clever, becoming second nature almost immediately.
Security of fitting
This was a concern. The big upside of the Yamaha’s metal boxes was their security, both in the sense that they’re hard to break into or steal and, once on, they’re not coming off by accident. I also had a Kriega US Drypack set-up that often became un-hooked at one of its four fixing points, though it was a use case (hanging onto the back of a Laverda 750SF’s seat hump) likely well outside Kriega’s envelope of intended usage.
To fit the panniers to the frames, you simply feed the top straps into slots in the frames, whereupon buckles on those straps fit against the back of the frames, holding their weight.
This might not sound like a big deal but in truth, it’s genius. The bag is now essentially on, if not secured, so you’re not supporting its weight as you complete the rest of the process.
And the rest of the process is simply feeding the bottom straps through their slots, popping the hooks into the loops, pulling the straps tight and tucking their ends neatly out of the way. Done. And I’m happy to report that nothing so much as flapped, let alone worked loose, in some 2500 miles and some toppy cruising speeds (thank you Germany).
As for anti-theft security, the bags use a roll-top design and the mounting straps would make getting in a faff while the bags are on the bike, though a determined thief definitely could. For extra peace of mind were you regularly leaving the bike unattended in public there are lockable Kriega Steelcore Security Straps. I haven’t invested yet but likely will.
Capacity and ease of use
When I made my choice, three sizes were available – 22 litres or 32 litres and 38 litres – and I plumped for the middle option. The OS38 has since been discontinued, so the OS32s are now the largest size available – and I’m delighted with them. Even packed to the top they don’t stick out as far as the BMW’s cylinders or fuel tank, so filtering isn’t impacted in the slightest.
The bags retain their vaguely boxy shape even when they’re empty, making packing easy, and there’s an embarrassment of capacity if you’re touring solo.
As mentioned, ease of use is first class. Really flawless.
Weather protection
With a heavy-duty liner, Kriega claims the bags are waterproof – and in my experience that’s true. Most of my week away was sunny and warm, thankfully, but the deluge that hit a couple of hours outside Calais was a monster. My socks are still wet four months later… But the OS32s didn’t let in a drop.
Conclusion
Factor in both bags, the frames and an adapter to get around the exhaust on my GS and the Kriega set up isn’t cheap – and getting on for hard luggage money.
But this is a brilliant, brilliant system, both as it stands (it looks great, works great and gives complete peace of mind while you’re riding) and in terms of its future-ready versatility. Everything feels built to survive a thousand years and the Kriega eco-system means you’ve got options; bigger or smaller panniers, various Drypack combinations and the super-cool overland-ready fuel and water containers, should I find discover some bravery and get into the kind of riding the bike was designed for.
Kriega OS32 Soft Pannier
