Been there, done that - a zero speed topple broke the plastic moulding that the top pannier mounts "plug" into.
Well ~ was seriously toying with the MTS knobbly tyre idea as well for quite some time but went a different route last year. My MTS-PP (2012) and F8GS (2015) compliment each other quite nicely with the right mods done to both bikes....nuff said'....
Owned a F8GS back in Oz for years, they are great fun in the Australia and China Outback's.... The F8GS with Metzeler Karoo 3 gets me through some serious mud and sandy offload stretches. More China Cruising (MTS-PP / F8GS) =http://tiny.cc/rummhx