Good or bad idea?

[Natman]

My mate back in England has just managed to get his hands on these that were developed some years ago but weren't produced for long.  Any thoughts?

[Brock]

Uggly....

[keith3po]

You can see why they weren't produced for long just doesn't look right.

[Biggles]

Yep.  Ugh-ly!

They try to look stylish, but just don't match the rest of the bike's design.
It shows why it takes professionals to design bikes (and cars).  It requires an artist's eye as much as an engineer's.

Mind you, the bike without the panniers isn't exactly an oil painting!

[Skip]

I actually think the idea of having some kind of fill-in panel when the panniers are off is a good idea, but these aren't the answer. Maybe another design project for Tipsy.   

[Whizz]

YYYUUUKKK!

[Paul]

  Fugly 

 

[StinkyPete]

Filling the holes left by the panniers is a good concept, but those BikeQuip rear panels are butt ugly.

[Gavo]

They serve a purpose and a purpose they serve .

[Sabie]

Yuk.....

[atoyot]

Great idea, but fail on looks. I think they look uglier than what they are trying to cover up;  UGLY.

If they didn't start near the pillion pegs but a bit higher, and then maybe followed the line of the subframe, rather than the sidecover as it dips down...ahhhh I don't know how you could make then look any better, but I don't have an eye for design either. Maybe something with body colour and matt black plastic so as to not highlight the size.

[Skip]

I think the reason it sits where it does near the rear peg, is that's where the pannier locates. It obviously uses the pannier mounting points. I think the rear half is the bit that needs attention. I might just stick with the panniers although 'the pillion' does knock them around a bit with her boots whilst getting off and on. 

[West Aussie Glen]

The bike would certainly look better then it would without the panniers. Still have not been able to find out why production of this stopped.

[StinkyPete]

Still have not been able to find out why production of this stopped.

Have a look at Bike-Quip's web site at http://www.st1300-accessories.co.uk/stx1300_st1300_panels.html  where he offers an explanation.

[youngSTer]

According to Bikequip's web site production was stopped due to the units developing cracks and breaking.

[West Aussie Glen]

Yep read this:-
Regretfully, due to circumstances beyond my control, my ST1300 Rear Panels are no longer available.

A brief explanation for the above is that my manufacturer started to produce some Panels which were not up to the high standard I expect and the cause of the production fault has not been identified.

Rest assured, and contrary to a rumour I have heard of........ Honda have NOT taken steps against me producing my Panels. To the contrary, Honda saw my Panels when I first launched them in Sept. 2003 and they were genuinely impressed!

But all it talks about is a production fault, surely that could be indentified and fixed, I even sent an email asking about them because I wanted to buy a set but no real answer.