Questions about pannier mounting
 

I'm in the process of installing Pelican 1550s on my '11 990R with Happy Trails SU racks...my question is, at what angle should they be mounted? Does it matter? I've seen several pictures of the KTM factory systems and the panniers seem to be angled to match the seat/decal lines. Is there a practical reason for this or do I mount them using the angle of the rack? Thanks!

Anyone? bump

Top angle of the bags
 

My guess, and it is only a guess, is that it angled down in front to make it easier for passengers to get on and off and for you to swing your leg over it when getting on and off when you don't have a passenger.

Another thing to consider it the height the bags need to be to clear the road surface when you have the bike leaned over in turns. Not sure what the best height it should be for that.

MZ

I've built several Pelican based systems for my various bikes and also have several factory systems. Honestly, I think its just personal taste based on the lines of the bike. Most seem to have some angle to them.

I angled the Pelican 1430s on my R1 to match the seat line.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2551/3...49a61ab6_b.jpg

The Pelican 1550s on my KLR were mounted low and with just a slight angle to match the seat since it was mostly just a pack mule. (

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7205/6...2b8f4d5f_b.jpg

Stock bags on the KTM(as you pointed out)

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...54242960_n.jpg

Here are some stock BMW bags, angled to match the seat. But I think when these get the metal bags they are flat.

http://www.bmbikes.co.uk/photos/phot...akar%20(1).JPG

Thanks for the replies. I was playing with the angles last night and liked the seat angle best. Because I couldn't come up with a reason against it, that is now the plan.

Post up pictures when they are done:D

Tour-a-tech told me there is no right or wrong way to mount panniers. Generally, for 1 up riding, panniers are mounted level to the seat with TT racks.

Happy-trail will tell you that they mount theirs at an angle for 2 up riding.

Others will say that a angle mounted pannier is to clear heals when riding with the feet off the pegs.

I think it boils down to complete owner or manufacture preference. On my KLR, I mounted the front about 5" lower than the front.

Will do... I received my fastgun locks today; made the lid keeper cables; just waiting for the puck mounting kit from Happy:twitch

Another thing to consider is the weight height, if you are not needing the off road ground clearance then keeping them lower and forward will help your handling dramatically on the shingle or sandpits.

Just my 2 cents:clap

My thought is to keep enough room for the passenger pegs, in case, by some miracle, I convince my wife to ride again (she's still pissed about the the $13G:evil). After that, it's all about keeping everything down and forward. Thanks for the input...and hey, 2mK, you guys be careful out there and g'luck:clap

You are welcome and thank you so much, likewise to keep the rubber bits down .... it's cheaper :D

I know lots of guys like the solo seat effect and its undesirable to ride your buddies around.......but......I've had to ride a stranded motorist/rider before so I keep passenger capabilities for emergency use.

You might want to consider mounting cases at the angle of your rack and symmetrical front to back. That way your cases can mount on either side of your bike and are interchangeable.

FWIW none of mine are semetrical and I have not come up with a reason to need that feature yet.

The home brew R1 and KLR racks and bags ended up being side specific due to the way it had to mount to the bike. Which I'm sure the factories run into the same issue and that is why the factory bags on the KTM and BMW Dakar are both side specific too.

Level
 

Make them level with your top box, then U can stack more gear on them 4 that adv. ride. :D :D