SM Panniers /Saddlebag Options

[Bill S]

Picking up my SM this week. Definitely want / need panniers / saddlebags. I like the look of the RE long haul panniers, but they appear small. Looking Shad SH 23 top loaders, equivalent Givi setup, or possibly the Trip Machine saddle bags. The Trip machine would look good on my celestial red bike, but I am wondering how soft bags are on the highway at 70 mph. Do they flap badly ? They are not lockable and not sure how they hold up in the rain. Plan to do overnight weekend trips.

 

[LNK]

I have the Shad SH23 on my SM and really like them. I think they fit the bike well.

 

[Bill S]

Nothing better than seeing what they look like on " my bike".
I like that they are easy to remove.

Thanks for those great views.

 

[Neokai]

I'm using the RE long haul panniers, and they are a bit small to be honest.
They are big enough for everyday riding though, more than enough room for my rain gear, a small pump, tire puncture repair kit, disc brake lock and what have you.

 

[Bill S]

I just pulled the trigger on the Trip Machine Expedition Saddlebags. Teacher T has a YouTube video review. My concern was if they are stable at highway speed. He responded they work great. While security is a concern, I will cable lock them to the bike if I feel uncomfortable leaving them on the bike. Hopefully they do okay in the rain, but I will pack clothing in plastic anyways. It was a close decision between these and the Shad SM23.
In some of the other users videos, they reveal a discount code. I tried one and I did get 10% off. Will post pictures when they come in.

 

[LNK]

I'm using the RE long haul panniers, and they are a bit small to be honest.
They are big enough for everyday riding though, more than enough room for my rain gear, a small pump, tire puncture repair kit, disc brake lock and what have you.

I think that the RE’s are the best looking and probably would have opted for them had they been available.

 

[Bill S]

I think that the RE’s are the best looking and probably would have opted for them had they been available.

I agree they do look great.

I have fixed hard Hondaline bags on my CX500 and they make the bike very wide and is challenging fitting the bike in my tight available garage space. That is one of the reasons why I was looking at bags that are easy to remove. I do want a reasonable amount of bag storage capacity, and I am thinking the soft bags may allow me to squeeze more stuff in them. Plus I like the old school look of the soft bags. But they all seem to be good choices for our bikes. Tough decisions !