Review: BEST Value ADV Motorcycle Panniers | Bulletproof Soft Panniers for LESS than Half Price!
- Randy Reek, The Great Out There
- Sep 13
- 5 min read
I am a committed SOFT pannier advocate. This review covers my NEW favorite soft panniers for adventure motorcycling.
Over the years, I have had several motorcycles with aluminum and fiberglass panniers (that is, saddlebags.) These sets of luggage make packing easy and are classy additions to your motorcycle. Plus, ADV riders need a place for all their stickers!
But hard panniers also have disadvantages:
1. They are HEAVY.
2. Hard panniers are EXPENSIVE – sometimes costing over $1,000 a set!
3. These deluxe boxes tend to encourage overpacking, making the cycle less fun to ride.
4. Hard panniers can hurt you in a fall. Many riders have suffered broken legs and ankles when the panniers trap them on the ground.
In contrast, especially for off-pavement ADV riding, I ALWAYS prefer soft luggage – both rear panniers and a duffel on the rear rack – over hard luggage.
The advantages counter the disadvantages of hard cases: soft bags cost less, weigh less, force you to pack less, and not only DON’T hurt you but cushion your bike in a crash.
Win-Win-Win-Win-Win!
With the popularity of adventure motorcycling and touring, there are more and more luggage options each year. As more brands enter the market, the variety of options continues to expand. No matter what your motorcycle or route preferences, there are luggage brands and specific models that will meet your needs. (Of course, you might have different sets of luggage for overnight trips, commuting, and month-long expeditions…)
I am currently setting up my Royal Enfield Himalayan for rides of a week or more – on and offroad, that is, “dual sport” or ADV riding.
As noted, I have ridden many tours with hard cases, as well as combinations of hard and soft luggage. But I am now in the “minimalist” mode. The primary reason is that riding a lighter cycle is more fun. AND it simply KEEPS me riding, even solo adventures, while a 600-pound bike flopped in the backcountry would mean a long walk – IF I wasn’t injured!
I have tried several versions of “rackless” luggage but still prefer a rock-solid framework to support the soft panniers. Your gear should be 100% immobile with no bouncing or flapping. I have yet to find a soft luggage system that can match the security and stability of panniers strapped to a strong rack. Even when #bikepacking, I rely on soft bags and hard racks!
On my new Himalayan, I installed the Royal Enfield racks that can also support hard cases.
While these steel pannier racks add a few pounds, the increased support and security of the soft panniers cannot be matched by any configuration of straps or webbing.
With the racks installed, I searched for the best ADV soft panniers to strap onto the Himalayan. I’ve owned several different brands over the years. Most sets of panniers (saddlebags) include straps that cross over the passenger saddle. But locking to the rear rack is more stable. In addition, the other straps secure the bags to the pannier racks for maximum stability on bumps and curves.
(In the past, I have added straps to my HARD cases to prevent rattles and disconnection during falls on rough trails!)
I found the size and shape soft panniers I was looking for in the Rhinowalk brand. I prefer the heavy nylon construction over the plastic-coated alternatives. In my opinion, these bags are stronger yet lighter. I want to be able to compress the load to keep the weight close to the bike.
When loaded, these soft panniers can be a full FOOT narrower than a set of hard cases! That is important on the trail AND in traffic!
The Rhinowalk panniers were an unbeatable bargain – selling for much less than competitive “adventure” luggage. But a few modifications were required to make them PERFECT for my needs.
I always take my gear on a shakedown ride to test it before any extended trip. The FIRST time I installed these new bags on my cycle, I broke one of the strap buckles that connected to the side rack. I HATE the plastic buckles that manufacturers use on packs of all kinds. I NEVER want to rely on these buckles in any weight-bearing capacity.
The side straps on the Rhinowalk panniers loop around the racks and compress the contents. IF you are very careful, you might not never break a buckle – good for you! In my case, I broke the first locking buckle simply installing the empty panniers – NO load or tension!
Now, any “normal” person would have simply returned the defective product. BUT – I wanted this exact size pannier AND I knew how they could be improved to be stronger – in fact, BETTER than competitive panniers that sell for twice the price or more!
ALL that was required to modify these into the BEST ADV soft panniers was cutting off the cheap plastic buckles and substituting UNBREAKABLE aluminum clasps!
Each pannier has two sets of compression straps on the front and back sides, four per bag or eight per set. Replacement G-clasps cost less than $10.00 on Amazon. As shown in the photos and video below, the panniers already INCLUDED the same unbreakable G-clasps on the top compression clasps.
Installation required that I cut off both ends of the cheap plastic buckles. I also had to cut off the sewed, folded ends of the webbing straps, then melt the webbing with a lighter. In total, this entire process took less than 20 minutes.
These panniers are NOW SUPER SOLID. I would compare these panniers to any brand that sells for HUNDREDS more. In my opinion, these are now the best ADV soft panniers!
Here is the link for the panniers: Click HERE.
This is the link for the replacement G-clasps: Click HERE.
(These are my Affiliate links – which do not cost you extra.)
Here is a recap of the modifications I made to these soft panniers. It is worth $10.00 and 15 or 20 minutes to have bulletproof luggage on your next adventure!
What is your experience with hard and soft panniers? Are you convinced of the superiority of unbreakable clasps over plastic buckles? Leave your comments below. Then Subscribe to the GreatOutThere.online blog for continuous outdoor content!
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