I've tried plenty of luggage options for the BMW R1300GS but this is the stuff I live with

The human race has managed many great feats in its evolution – one of which being the power to invent ways of not having to carry all your chattels about your person while riding a motorcycle. And I’ve tried them all on the BMW R1300GS this year. 

Previous updates

• Update one: First impressions
• Update two: The GS fails to start after getting wet
• Update three: Building the miles and riding with a pillion
• Update four: The good, the bad and the fugly
• Update five: Is the R1300GS too heavy off-road?
• Update six: Covering over 1000 miles in under 24hrs

I was hoping to tell you about BMW’s clever new central-locking panniers for the 1300, but I never got to try them. Early iterations suffered ‘locking events’ that didn’t match the wishes of the user (they wouldn’t unlock!) – resulting in a redesign of the system. So, I had to go down a different route.

The panniers you see here are Wunderlich X-Cases (£669.90), which deliver 36 litres of stash in each aluminium unit. They’re very nicely made, fit securely and snugly to the bike via the bespoke rails (£229.90), and – brilliantly – you code the locks to your BMW key.

I much prefer top-loaders, but the plastic internal ‘bucket’ usefully stops your contents falling out when you open them, and there are nets supplied, too. Fit, finish, durability and design are all near-faultless – with only one entry in the ‘cons’ column: if you open them when it’s been raining, they consistently drop about an egg cup’s worth of water into the lid, meaning you introduce water to pannier when you close it.

• Related: Best universal luggage for your motorbike

I also used the firm’s ‘Click’ tankbag system with the 3-litre bag (£109.90 – plus tank ring, £39.90), which proved equally brilliant. Beautifully made, secure, nicely designed, and also perfect in every way bar one: if you get caught out in the rain and the separate cover isn’t fitted, it soaks up water like a sponge and its contents will be soaked.

I tried BMW’s Black Collection Rear Bag (small, £192), too – and capacity (35l, expanding to 42l) and construction compliments (it’s nicely made) aside, I can’t think of anything good to say about it. Horrible to look at, not great to use, and it fills with water, so even if you’re using the waterproof liner it’ll be swimming. Avoid. 

However, the BMW Vario Topcase (£553.51) is a delight. It features central locking (which does actually work), great build quality, an internal power socket, vanity light, adjustability (28l to 36l), a backrest for your pillion, and looks great. Not cheap, but it is lovely.