What happens if you have the ABS switched off, lock up the wheels and have an accident, are you insured? Dunno, but the intent is to allow experienced riders to switch it off when on loose off road surfaces where the plough effect piles material in front of the tyres increasing braking effectivenes...

I have had different panniers on BM's down the years, the K1100lt currently has the 42 ltr K2 Krausers on, Merc paint is softer than the plastic! I prefer the Craven std. plod boxes though, narrower than the bars, easy and aerodynamically more stable, IF I can find some std. BMW K panniers I'm going...