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Some believe that the best way to tour around the most scenic places is with a motorcycle. The wind blowing upon your face, the chill you feel in the air, the roaring engine, and the 360-degree view of everything make it seem like the perfect day. How else can you enjoy the tour but by seeing places at your own pace? For this adventure though, you have to make sure you are prepared and got everything you need – tool kits, GPS of some sort, mobile phones, maps, and your small bag of IDs and passport, etc.,
It wouldn’t be so comfortable having luggage to tie at the back end of your bike so, we thought we’d introduce you to some of the best panniers for motorcycle touring.
Panniers are baskets or bags, or any container slung over or attached to the sides of a bike. Yes, the name derived from Old French, pannier, that meant “bread basket.” Although, we’re not using them mainly for bread.
Motorcycle Pannier Reviews
Enduristan Monsoon 3 Panniers
High-class wear protection is the business of Enduristan Monsoon 3 Panniers. Heavy duty polymer with seams all welded makes up the outermost layer of its 3-layer fabric. Durable, tough, and waterproof but at a price that will not break your budget.
Features:
- Fold away separators
- Red inner lining that serves as a reflector for high visibility
- Ergonomically designed soft hand grips
- Fits many bikes without frame
- High impact plastic
Specifications:
- 2 x 30 liter bags
- Inferno Heat Shield
- Shoulder Strap
- 14.2″ L x 9.9″ W x 13″ H
- 3.8 kilograms
- No rack problem, as it fits most bikes even without a frame
- Water and crash proof
- Enough space for everything you need
- Easy transfer and sharing of footages
- A little assembly required
- Velcro straps may be small
- Wider bag
- No external pockets
Tusk Aluminum Panniers Medium Silver
What other material could withstand the most intense motorcycling adventure than aluminum. Yes, aluminum but lightweight and durable. The powder coating finish in shades of black and silver doesn’t just make the panniers look impressive, but they also help keep your items from getting the unwanted residue.
Features:
- Matched locks and keys assembled on the latches
- Waterproof
- May be mounted to most pannier racks although it is still highly recommended to use Tusk Pannier racks
- lid latches make finding what you need inside the panniers easier
- Unique design that allows you to rapidly release the panniers from the racks
Specifications:
- Black and Silver
- .085” thick powder coated aluminum
- ¾” powder coated tubing
- 74 liters (37 liters each)
- 15 ½” x 9 ¼ x 18″
- 9.5 lbs
- Tough and hard wearing for off-road use
- Easy attachment and removal
- Secured with locks
- A little heavy on the sides
- Assembly required
Givi TREKKER
Work out the concern of asymmetry, the most common problem with using traditional side bags, with Givi’s TREKKER cases. It solves mostly that of bikes equipped with exhaust pipe only on one side. Get the smaller bag to the side with the exhaust pipe and the larger on the opposite.
Features:
- Holds a lot. Can carry helmet, winter jacket, and a few more gears at a time
- Waterproof
- Taking on and off the bike is easy. Can be done in less than 3 minutes
- Two-way lid that makes it look conventional side case
Specifications:
- Comes in Silver and Black
- Available in 46 liters and 33 liters
- 16.1 x 16.1 x 9.1 inches or 20.7 x 12.2 x 16.2 inches
- Pair weighs about 5.4 kilograms
- Safe and secure with locks
- Can hold helmets, jeans, 14″ laptops
- Waterproof seals
- Spare parts (6 duplicate keys for lock)
- Loud exhaust sound if boxes are empty
- Lack of air vent takes pressure on hot days
- If used as top case, dual door can be challenging to use
Autokicker Revolve Luggage Saddle Panniers
The box comes with everything you need for panniers and tail bags. You have the bag, straps, waterproof covers, some elastic ropes, and neoprene for padding and paint protection. This set comes at a reasonable price. When I say reasonable, I say there are things you’d like to expect from it but aren’t there. A few improvements, I must say but, the quality was not undermined.
Features:
- May be used as saddle bags or in a set with Tail Bags
- Comes with a heat reflector shield at the base
- Comes with adjustable straps for you to hang on your shoulders if not on the bikes
- Has extra bungies and waterproof covers
Specifications:
- Comes in Stylish Black with Sporty appearance made of 1680D Polyester
- In pair holds a total of 70 liters. The tail set holds another 30 liters
- Dimensions for side bags are combined 50cm x 25cm x 30cm. The tail set is 42cm x 35cm x 18cm
- Pair weighs about 5.5 kilograms
- Bungies and velcro straps keep saddles in place
- Reasonably priced
- Thick straps
- Have to make the pannier waterproof
- Difficult to assemble
QBag Motorcycle Saddlebags
These tough bags are so durable that even the last inch of the zippers strong enough to hold what’s inside the box. Mounting is appropriate for almost any bikes and is very easy to be attached and released. Loading the bag is easy as you can have the main compartment opened up fully. Worried that what’s inside aren’t properly secured? Its elastic ropes help you secure contents inside.
Features:
- Bungie cords free. Push-fit clips do the holding job
- Heat protection on the undersides keep it from the temperature coming from the exhaust
- Secured with press studs on zippers
- Very useful outside pockets
Specifications:
- Designed with flutter-free buckling in a sporty black color
- Holds up to 11 liters for both sides
- Dimensions are 37.5 x 37.5 x 28 cm
- Weighs about 5.6 kilograms
- Height of bag can be adjusted with cross-connection straps
- Reasonably priced
- Simple fit clips hold bags in place
- Not waterproof from splashes from the underside
- Have to remove the bag from motorcycle to open and close
How to Choose the Best Panniers For Motorcycle Touring
Pannier bags just like most carriers that you use for your things are essentially important in traveling. They help you keep your things organized and safe. The only difference is that pannier bags are recognizably smaller than the luggage we use in traveling. Though we can’t use the same gear we normally have, they can still keep up with the same promises huge luggage do.
Size
As the pannier bags hang on the sides of your bike, be sure to have them in the right size that won’t hang too low they can get in the way of the exhaust or get stuck in the rear wheel. Note as well that just because you have a big bike doesn’t mean you get a big pannier too. Otherwise, they can just make your bike look outrageous or worse, get unbalanced. These factors may cause a little drag at high speed.
Measure the right dimensions fitting to your bike and accommodating to your needs. To do that, measure it from side to side – the distance from the back of the seat to the indicator. That should be your maximum width for the panniers. Top to bottom – from the seat to the exhaust pipe. Make sure the panniers are at least 2 inches shorter than this measurement.
Installation
You are aren’t carrying a big bag, are you? So it shouldn’t take long for you to install and uninstall these panniers.
Hard versus soft panniers
Soft is always the best. They could actually serve as a cushion for your bike as well as you in case of a crash. Sure, the hard panniers can hold important stuff like gadgets or laptops but they can be dangerous. Bulky panniers combined with one wrong twist of the wrist could cause you a leg as noted by one bike member.
Materials
Leather or polyester. Although Harley riders prefer leather to accentuate their bikes, they require extensive care. However, if cared enough, they could last a really long time. Polyesters seem to be cheaper and can resist water quite good. The style though is not as stylish as that of a leather bag.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions):
✅ Is there a certain pannier bag that fits a particular bike?
Although most bike manufacturers now offer their own saddlebags, they can be a little pricey. The items on the market are made to compensate for the size of almost any bikes. Thus, the straps, clips, and bungies they include in the box.
✅ Would these bags cause me to fall off considering they are placed on the sides?
A beginner will most likely feel the weight of these bags thus recommended that there should be one on each side to keep balance. An experienced one, however, will not mind except if it gets in the way of exhaust or gets caught up on the wheels.
✅ Do I really need a pannier bag? Can’t I just have a normal backpack?
Long motorcycle rides and weight on your back aren’t a good pair. You will end up feeling sore at the end of the ride causing you to miss all the fun in motorcycle touring. Besides, you need something to keep your hands and body free as you ride, right?
We hope you enjoyed our buyer’s guide and recommended products for motorcycle panniers, and be sure to check out our articles on motorcycle hitch carriers and dash cams!
