Tips of surviving spore traffic with panniers

[slayer2cool]

Hi to one and all

 

I am curious and seeking tips, helps, advices from all riders of all age, sizes regarding how you survive riding your bike in singapore traffic with panniers. Especially those sports touring, adventure touring bikers who has panniers as wide as a small car hahaha.

 

Currently I'm riding a GS and I have the aluminum side boxes. It's really good and convenient when it comes to storage space. Problem is, it's as wide as my handle bar, approx 800-900mm in width which is ridiculously wide for a bike. How do you filter through traffic with these things? I used them once in a while when I want to make space in my store room hahaha

[gohjohan]

I don't squeeze much and just like cars, I follow behind traffic. If I can, I ride such bikes out of peak hours. Less cars the merrier. As long as traffic's moving, I'm sure you'll be ok

[Hydher]

avoid peak hours.

 

Cheers

[altya]

avoid peak hours.

 

Cheers

 

2nd this...

 

Or get a 2b side bike that is easier for u to lane split...

[papabread79]

It is easy to squeeze a GS with panniers simply because the panniers are of the same width as the handlebar.

 

In short, its the rider.

[slayer2cool]

When traffic moves, it's easy to judge gaps and distance. Problem with my panniers is that I cannot cut in too abruptly cos the wide butt might hit the car. When traffic is really crawling, the gaps and distance are nearly non existence and that's when being forced to cut in abruptly I had my fair share of knocks and bumps haha.

 

But I'm definitely trying the avoiding peak hours strategy though I work in jurong island, so that will be tough cos of shift change at 7 and 8 am hahaha.

[kinwei]

Considered top case only for commuting?

[slayer2cool]

That's what I'm doing now. Just want to try to fully utilize the side box and take advantage of its conveniences. Saw quite a number of ppl who can ride through traffic quickly even with huge panniers. Wonder what is their secret.

 

Also I felt panniers forces me not to die die filter through every road condition (thus safer) and it acts like a big crash bar too in case of a fall and it makes your bike visually bigger and thus ppl can see you better. Haha

[papabread79]

Trust me, all u need is a better awareness of ur bike's dimensions. GS with the original panniers, as long you are confident the bars can pass thru, then it's all systems go! Just throttle!

 

I had difficulties on my Tiger Explorer with Trax 45L panniers though.

[nfs_unlimited]

bro I riding S4 with e21 side panniers, not as "fat" as ur GS so for me 98% of the time I hav no problem splitting. Jus to share a few "findings"- I found tat tugging/hugging ur thighs tightly to ur fuel tank helps build up ur ability to gauge passable allowance in advance and also confidence in lane splitting more quickly. But it'll still take time so meantime just ignore the bikes behind u and focus on the road in front, which helps also.

 

another "trick" I found was to always standby to "shoot" blasts of high beam whenever u see a car moving nearer to the lane divider, which 78% of the time they r intending to filter left/right, with/without signalling. So whenever u see cars moving nearer and nearer to the lane divider just blast a few shots and 88% of the time they'll move off to their "rightful" place i.e. back in the jam.

 

Last but not least whenever u see a widening gap in between cars ahead of u in a slow moving/stagnant traffic, jus blast off anyways as 68% of the time there'll be a car from left/right will try to filter left/right and fill up the gap; 88% of the time tat car will be a taxi.

 

Basically u'll hav to anticipate wat the driver's trying to do next jus by a little twitch. jus my 2 cents.

[slayer2cool]

bro I riding S4 with e21 side panniers, not as "fat" as ur GS so for me 98% of the time I hav no problem splitting. Jus to share a few "findings"- I found tat tugging/hugging ur thighs tightly to ur fuel tank helps build up ur ability to gauge passable allowance in advance and also confidence in lane splitting more quickly. But it'll still take time so meantime just ignore the bikes behind u and focus on the road in front, which helps also.

 

another "trick" I found was to always standby to "shoot" blasts of high beam whenever u see a car moving nearer to the lane divider, which 78% of the time they r intending to filter left/right, with/without signalling. So whenever u see cars moving nearer and nearer to the lane divider just blast a few shots and 88% of the time they'll move off to their "rightful" place i.e. back in the jam.

 

Last but not least whenever u see a widening gap in between cars ahead of u in a slow moving/stagnant traffic, jus blast off anyways as 68% of the time there'll be a car from left/right will try to filter left/right and fill up the gap; 88% of the time tat car will be a taxi.

 

Basically u'll hav to anticipate wat the driver's trying to do next jus by a little twitch. jus my 2 cents.

 

Guess the high beam helps tell drivers quietly that a bike is coming. I used to horn abit here and there but think they find it very offensive haha. A friend of mine said using the fog light does the trick too but that's a tat expensive to get for now. Haha

[gohjohan]

That's what I'm doing now. Just want to try to fully utilize the side box and take advantage of its conveniences. Saw quite a number of ppl who can ride through traffic quickly even with huge panniers. Wonder what is their secret.

 

Also I felt panniers forces me not to die die filter through every road condition (thus safer) and it acts like a big crash bar too in case of a fall and it makes your bike visually bigger and thus ppl can see you better. Haha

 

I'm sure you know for BMW, they specially manufacture their panniers to break away from the bike upon heavy impact? I'm not sure how your panniers will be when it hits the ground with the bike and you on top of it. Once broken, can be replaced though, but it won't be cheap and time for the spare parts to come might be a while. That's my opinion. I might be wrong.

[papabread79]

I'm sure you know for BMW, they specially manufacture their panniers to break away from the bike upon heavy impact?

 

All panniers are designed in that manner, not just BMW.

 

Dont regard BMW bikes as god-like. Only the staff at PML are.

[heng22]

. But it'll still take time so meantime just ignore the bikes behind u and focus on the road in front, which helps also.

 

Please do not ignore the bikes behind u.

 

Please do give way as a way of courtesy and it is also a win win situation. Other bikes get to go ahead and you also won't feel the pressure.

[ber]

mine is the smaller e21 and not the aluminium kind. I just follow the traffic and try not to go between.

[slayer2cool]

So base case, minimize filtering through traffic hahaha. I admit, BMW bikes are not perfect and they are just like any other bikes and I didn't know that the panniers are designed to break off on impact. Haha but I guess judging from the weld joints I see on the racks and boxes, that would be the most probable.

 

And I agree with letting other bikes pass you as soon as you can, I feel it's the most basic courtesy when filtering traffic, panniers or no panniers.

[gohjohan]

So base case, minimize filtering through traffic hahaha. I admit, BMW bikes are not perfect and they are just like any other bikes and I didn't know that the panniers are designed to break off on impact. Haha but I guess judging from the weld joints I see on the racks and boxes, that would be the most probable.

 

And I agree with letting other bikes pass you as soon as you can, I feel it's the most basic courtesy when filtering traffic, panniers or no panniers.

 

 

There you go. That's how I survived too.

[stoner]

IMHO, its all about getting use to it... Rode a couple of big tourers in my time, from GL1500 to STX13, currently now on Kawa tourer with a mirror span of 1m apart which is wider than the GS.

 

While i dont avocate lane splitting, at times is unavoidable. One important tip is to use your legs and hug the tank tight (not too tight till your legs camps) and have your right feet on the rear brakes on stand by.

 

Using the reak brake heavily when there be a need to stop fast. As bikes in our class have ABS & Link brakes in which we can take advantage of. Engaging the rear brake does activate some % of the front, thus helping to slow fast without the front fork diving down too much. At times, when the traffic does build up(like a jam), I cover my front branks using the 2 finger method.

 

Try this out (practice) in a empty carpark to help you understand your own bike braking behaviour better.

 

Hope this helps.

Edited February 11, 2014 by stoner

[stoner]

Double post

[Keoni]

When traffic moves, it's easy to judge gaps and distance. Problem with my panniers is that I cannot cut in too abruptly cos the wide butt might hit the car. When traffic is really crawling, the gaps and distance are nearly non existence and that's when being forced to cut in abruptly I had my fair share of knocks and bumps haha.

 

Avoid swerving or cutting in abruptly if the clearance isn't big enough. Just drift over gradually with the flow of traffic (this will take some planning to see which vehicle you want to get ahead of). Forget about 90-degree crank course manouvres like what the malaysian cubs do. If gaps are non existant, then have to kuai kuai follow the queue lor. Who ask you to ride so big bike? By the way, my panniers are wider than my handlebars.

[Keoni]

double post deleted

Edited February 14, 2014 by Keoni
double post

[blue_ave]

I use my handlebars as a gauge. If I think my handlebars cannot go between traffic, I'll just queue behind. Especially on PIE peak hours when there'll be a long string of Malaysian cubs behind. Some drivers will give a little space if they notice my panniers, but even if they don't, its no fault of theirs as I shouldn't be riding in between traffic in the first place. No need to be upset, safety always first.

 

Only problem with my 40L HnBs is when going out of SG at Woodlands checkpoint BIKES lane. Confirm will brush against a metal pole or pillar at least once to reach the passport reader. Then I'll go 'Sh*t!' in my head.

[slayer2cool]

I use my handlebars as a gauge. If I think my handlebars cannot go between traffic, I'll just queue behind. Especially on PIE peak hours when there'll be a long string of Malaysian cubs behind. Some drivers will give a little space if they notice my panniers, but even if they don't, its no fault of theirs as I shouldn't be riding in between traffic in the first place. No need to be upset, safety always first.

 

Only problem with my 40L HnBs is when going out of SG at Woodlands checkpoint BIKES lane. Confirm will brush against a metal pole or pillar at least once to reach the passport reader. Then I'll go 'Sh*t!' in my head.

What bike are you riding??

 

Haha it's not that I ride bug bike, I just didn't realized it can be quite wide with panniers and the handle bar, 800mm minimum lol

[slayer2cool]

****edit double post****

[Keoni]

I avoid the biometric lane at Woodlands checkpoint. I would either graze the wall or hit the poles or go really slow and hold up everybody.