Micatech bag complaints? Anyone?

I'm in the process (like many people) of narrowing down what panniers to get, and I'm leaning towards the Micatech bags (Pilot as V2's seem to have same bike width as the 12" pilots but are smaller).

Anyone with them have complaints about them they want to air?

i've never had Micatechs, only seen them. they look fine, a bit large, like having two gigantic toasters on each side of the bike. seemed to be made well with a good capacity. i didn't study the rack (which i hold more important than the boxes themselves) so i can't comment. they seemed to be priced about right, same as Jesses, same as Touratechs, etc.

all i can say is this:

if i ever, ever consider buying a side-opening pannier again, i'm going to slap myself. what a PITA. what i needed was never in the front, things spilled out no matter how many bags i used, and taking the actual box off the bike often required removing most of the contents since the mounting pucks are deep inside the pannier.

on the whole they look fine. i think it could be a solid move.

costly they are!

I like 'em. The only downside seems to be the left-hand side one (adjacent to the exhaust) gets too hot for storage of heat-sensitive things, like chocolate, for example..... but that can be fixed by placement of a heat-shielding material on the outside of the case.

The other minor downside is that they block access to the lock to remove the seats (which you can get around with pull wires to bypass the locks).

I have never had anything fall out when opening them up and we pack them pretty full for multi-week 2-up camping trips. I previously had Jesse to loading cases, and much prefer the side loading Micatechs.

I have bothe the panniers and the 55ltr top box, nothing finer!!! almost 50,000 miles on them with no problems and no leaks!! Super fast on and off, bullet proof!! I am listing mine on the forum for sale because i'm selling the bike, along with a Russell and a Marsee Twist lock tank bag.

The left one is smaller, warmer, more prone to stuff falling out, and it blocks the lock. But these are all manageable problems and well worth it, IMHO.

I put my expensive stuff in the right one. My laptop fits perfectly across the wheel-side wall. I use Eagle Creek's Pack-It system to keep things organized. There are several work arounds for the key issue.

-duane-

I had the system cases on my 06 gs and did not like them. Too flimsy (plastic) and not big enough. Have the BMW aluminum cases (side and top) on my 07 GSA. They are OK but tend to turn anything light colored that is put into them black. Always have to take something off the bike in order to get into the side cases. Have the Micatech side cases and the largest top case they make. These are the cases to keep. They hold probably more than half again what the BWW aluminum side cases hold and there is absolutely no comparison on what the top case will hold. I have a 17 inch Macbook Pro, a Nikon D80 in a camera bag, a pair of binoculars, a rainsuit, 3 hardback books, gloves and number other smaller items in the top case and it will still hold more. Have never had anything fall out of the side cases because of the way they are made and I do not have to unload something from the bike in order to get to the sidecases. I seldom take the seat off so the case is not really a problem. And besides they have service second to none. I had a very small leak in the top case and called Sue. She said send it back and I did. They fixed the leak, put a larger rubber gasket on and repowdercoated the case. No charge. Service second to none. My next bike will also have Micatechs.

The folks that manufacture the Micatech's are a customer of mine I've known for 14 years. (I repair the CNC metal fab. machinery) and I have seen the product being built. All TOP notch engineering and build quality. Bikes everywhere being fitted and such. These panniers are the best no-compromise design I've seen. This is 37 years of motorcycling and 31 years of professional metal fabricating experience talking to you.

Everyone likes to make fun of the way they look...

Until they look closer, and see how they're built.

i love my new Micatechs. I've had System cases and Jesse's. There's no comparison. Huge capacity, unparalleled customer service the highest quality.
I'd buy them again in a heartbeat.

I wish I could fit my helmet into the right side case. I have an XL Arai that won't fit inside the right case as advertised.

Installed used Micatechs on 2008 GSA. Took a little 2 week, 5600 mile camping trip.
1. Huge bags. If you need bigger, check the Ford or Chevy truck catalogue.
2. Very well made. Strong aluminum, simple construction.
3. Very easy to use. I love the semi-side loading. When the lid is open, it never pops off the strap (unlike OEM occasionally). Plus, the lid has a 1/2 inch lip that holds stuff that is sitting on the lid.
4. Yes, you have to install a seat-opening wire or string, no big deal.
5. When the bags are off (most of the time in my day to day) the racks are the least obtrusive of any on the market. MUCH less so than the OEM erector set.

I had BMW Vario system bags on my '06 GS. They were replaced of this past winter with Micatechs.

LOVE the new Micatechs. Side loading these bags is not a problem and NOTHING falls out even when stuffed to the max with gear.

Heat in left bag has not been an issue and I recently added the Excel exhaust extenders to ensure it stays that way.

They are stout and waterproof. I tested both (oops) and rode 8 hours through much rain and wet roads. All dry all the time.

The seat key thing is kind of a pain, but not really a big deal with the wire installed.

Plus, their customer service is about the best you'll ever find from any vendor.

Good luck.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

I swiched from vario to micatec and have never looked back. I love these bags. When I first installed them I thought they may be to big. But after using them they are perfect. I would highly recommend them to anyone. There customer service should be a model to all companies.

Thanks for the feedback.
But two questions.
1) Blocking the seat key, is this the mounting bracket or the box that blocks the lock?

2) Do the locking mechanisms lock both the lid/door/flap from opening as well as lock the boxes to the bike or is there some other lock? From the pictures I've seen it does not appear as though you have to open the box to remove it from the bike.

Indeed, this one of the best parts of the Micatech Pilot bags...

But this has changed with the V2's. Now we have an erector set, outsourced to SW-Motech.


I know the Micatech folks well, great people, great product - but in my couple years of absence (sold my GS w/the Micatech Pilots, moved to Oz), I'm surprised to see this change with the V2 product. Although, I'm sure there is a very, very good reason.

Would love to hear feedback on the new V2 kit from folks.

To answer your questions
1. The bags block the key for the seat. I put my plastic key in there then put the bags on cant take the key out but you can use it to take the seat off. With it being black dont even notice that it is there.
2. With the bags locked you cant get the bags off the bike. The bags are mounted from the inside. Must take them off from the inside. Can take them off in less than 2 min.