Do you want to do an Adventure Motorcycle Camping trip with your riding buddies, but your Dual Sport bike has no mounting for luggage racks? The solution: Rackless Soft Motorcycle Panniers.
I had this problem with my KTM 525EXC enduro bike which has no steel frame whatsoever behind the back of the seat!
So I started researching Motorcycle Luggage Systems looking for what was available in soft motorcycle panniers that don’t require rack mounting.
After many hours of searching, I have come up with what I consider the best quality and value for money available on the market.
This must be a common problem for everyone with a Dual Sport or Enduro bike with limited fixing for luggage systems, so I thought I’d share this in the hope it is of some assistance if you are in the market for a soft luggage system.
In this post, I will give you all the options out there to help you make an informed decision.
Here are the saddlebags I am looking at, from smallest to largest:
- Giant Loop MoJavi 13.5 – Liter
- Wolfman E-12 – 25 Liter
- Kriega US-30 Drypack – 30 Liter
- Giant Loop Coyote – 39 Liter
- Small Optional Extras: Wolfman Enduro Fender Bag 1.25 Liter, Wolfman Enduro Tank Bag 6.0 Liter.
Quick Summary:
If you’re doing a one-day ride, the Giant Loop MoJavi is great for any extras you can’t fit in your backpack or Bumbag.
For longer adventure rides, a few days or more, the Giant Loop Coyote at 39 liters carries that bit more, and when combined with a Tank Bag and Fender Bag, you’re prepared for anything.
Sidenote:
Adam Riemann of Motology Films used the Giant Loop Coyote when he and his mate traveled 7000 km from Austria to Egypt on two KTM500EXC enduro bikes, carrying everything they needed on their bikes, including their camera gear. The trip was such a success, that there were two more trips. There is a movie trilogy: MOTONOMAD, and then MOTONOMAD II and III.
Check out the trailer for the movies in this post: Adventure Motorcycle Travel DVDs
You have the option of 3 configurations:
1. A single ‘Drybag’ mounted directly across or along the top of the rear of your seat.
2. Two separate Saddle Bags suspended with straps on each side of the bike.
This option also allows you to add a third top bag if required.
3. A ‘Horseshoe’ shaped one-piece bag which straddles the bike at the rear of the seat.
There are also additional locations available to add a smaller Tank Bag and front Fender Bag.
Soft panniers can be used on or off-road, but generally are more suitable if you want to do some serious off-road riding because of their narrower width and lighter weight, and when you don’t need to carry as much gear.
They are usually constructed from waterproof PVC or canvas.
If you are looking for PVC panniers, you should look for bags with a fabric thickness of between 300-500 gsm. With canvas look for at least 16oz.
While the fabric is highly durable, you need to be aware that if you fall off the bike, there is a higher likelihood of damaging the contents of your bag, and the bag itself.
The waterproofing capacity can also be reduced in the event of a fall.
Sometimes the most durable panniers may not be the most waterproof, and visa-versa.
Giant Loop and Wolfman are two of the most popular brands. Both names have become synonymous with building durable and rugged products for use off-road.
Soft vs Hard Luggage Systems
This is an age-old debate, and it seems everyone has an opinion. Really what it comes down to is what is best for the type of riding you will spend most of your time doing.
If your dual sport bike has no provision for rack mounting, the decision is made for you, but if you can mount some racks, you have a much wider selection to choose from.
Soft Luggage Pros:
- Cost: You can get a good soft luggage system for under $400. A Hard luggage system will set you back $1000 and more. As a rule of thumb, soft panniers are less than half the price of hard panniers.
- Weight: Lighter is always better if you’re into more serious off-road riding. Most rackless soft systems weigh under 10 pounds.
- Ease of Removal: No tools are required to remove the bags. It is simply a matter of unhooking the fixing straps.
- Safer for off-road riding: If you fall and get your foot caught under the pannier, a soft bag will hurt a lot less than hard aluminum panniers.
- Less Bulk: Soft bags allow you to compress your load with straps, making them less bulky when not completely full. This is a big bonus when navigating tight trail obstacles like trees and rocks. You will be able to squeeze through where a square aluminum pannier will stop you in your tracks. Items also tend to not move around as much in soft bags.
- Weatherproof: Today’s high-tech materials mean soft bags are very waterproof. Some come with waterproof inner liners that can be easily removed and carried into a tent or motel without unstrapping the entire system from the bike.
Soft Luggage Cons:
- Security: Soft bags aren’t usually lockable, and even with locks they can easily be slashed open by a determined thief.
- Stability: Soft bags may move around on very rough off-road trails.
- Durability: As with any fabric, seams can tear, zippers can break, and mounting straps may contact a hot exhaust pipe and melt. They are also less resistant to abrasion in the event of a fall.
- Ease of Access: Loosening straps, opening zippers, and roll tops are a bit more time-consuming than popping open a hard case.
Hard Luggage Sytems:
Hard luggage systems are really more suited to longer road riding trips with less technical off-road sections.
Hard Luggage Pros:
- Security: Can be locked safely.
- Durability: More damage protection to your gear in case of a fall, multi-use at a campsite.
- Easy Access: Can just pop open the case.
Hard Luggage Cons:
- extra weight: A major factor in off-road riding.
- extra width and bulk: Can be cumbersome when navigating tight trail obstacles like trees and rocks.
- Higher cost: Usually about twice the price of soft bags.
- Potential injury: to feet in the event of a fall.
Here is my recommendation: in order of small to large capacity.
Giant Loop MoJavi Saddle Bag
Specifications:
- Product: Giant Loop MoJavi Saddle Bag
- Weight: 3.0 pounds
- Capacity: 13.5 Liters total (2 x 6L side pockets + 1.5L tool pocket)
- Waterproof: Water-Resistant (100% with Dry Pod liners)
- Construction: Ballistic Vinyl
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime
- Also Included: ‘Hot Springs’ Heat Shield (value $30)
The Giant Loop MoJavi is specially designed for Dual Sport and Enduro bikes to carry just the essentials for a one-day trail ride. It comes with a removable center tool pouch, which is great for a tool roll.
Like all Giant Loop gear, it is built tough to handle all that you can throw at it.
The small size forces you to be efficient in your packing, and the compression straps allow you to pack a slim profile, only protruding 4″, which is ideal for squeezing through tight terrain.
A nice touch is the ‘Hot Springs’ heat shield, which is included and helps prevent melting your bags if they contact the hot exhaust pipe.
If you want to carry a few extras, and still be able to get aggressive in your riding without compromising the handling of your bike, The MoJavi is an ideal size.
For a full review on the Giant Loop MoJavi: Giant Loop MoJavi Saddlebag Review
Wolfman E-12 Saddle Bag – No Longer Available
Specifications:
- Product: Wolfman E-12 Saddle Bag
- Weight: 2.55 pounds
- Capacity: 25 Liters per pair
- Waterproof: New 2020 design is now waterproof
- Construction: 840d TPU Black/Yellow fabric RF welded
- Warranty: Limited on Manufacturing defects
The Wolfman E-12 will fit almost any Dual Sport or Enduro bike and can be installed in minutes.
Wolfman luggage is well known for its rugged construction throughout its whole range of luggage products.
Like the MoJavi, but slightly bigger, the Wolfman E12 is designed for the rider who wants to pack light and still be able to ride aggressively without affecting the bike’s handling.
The ‘V’ compression straps allow you to pack your gear in nice and slim against the bike. The last thing you want is for your gear to be moving around inside the bags when you’re riding off-road.
The bags have fixing loops at the top edge, which allows you to fit a top bag if required, for a bit of extra storage.
Wolfman highly recommends using the Kiowa Heat Shield to protect the bags from the hot exhaust pipe. It doesn’t come included in the price like the MoJavi, and is available for $40.
Kriega US-30 Drypack
Specifications:
- Product: Kriega US-30 Drypack KUSB30
- Weight: 2.65 pounds
- Capacity: 30 Liters
- Waterproof: 100% guaranteed
- Construction: Rhinotek
- Warranty: 10 years
The Kriega US-30 Drypack fits onto the bike as a tailpack. The US-30 is the largest in a range that includes the US-5, 10, 20 & 30.
The bags come with fixing loops which allow you to strap additional bags to the sides and top of your main bag, creating a series of combo options like the combo 40 (30 liters plus 10 liters on top) or combo 50 (30 liters plus 20 liters on top, or 2 x 10 liters on sides).
A roll-down top opening to the main bag allows complete 100% waterproofing and a compression strap over the top lets you pack it in snugly so nothing moves around.
A nice feature is the white contrasting internal liner, which makes finding items at the bottom of the bag a lot easier. You can remove it for washing also.
There is a water-resistant top pocket, and a mesh bottom pocket, which is ideal for wet or dirty laundry that you don’t want in the main bag.
It also comes with a shoulder and waist strap so it can be removed and carried off the bike courier style.
Giant Loop Coyote Saddle Bag Roll Top
Specifications:
- Product: Giant Loop Coyote Saddle Bag
- Weight: 5.6 pounds
- Capacity: 39 Liters
- Waterproof: Water-Resistant (100% with Dry Pods)
- Construction: ‘Military Spec’ vinyl-coated polyester
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime
- Also Included: ‘Hot Springs’ Heat Shield (value $30), Dry Pods
Giant Loop is a name that is synonymous with building durable and rugged luggage products designed to get you off-road.
The Coyote Saddlebag is a roll-top luggage system designed for dual sports and lightweight adventure bikes that are looking to hit the trails on multi-day adventure rides.
It is a horseshoe-shaped bag designed to fit over the rear of the bike, without hindering rider movement or significantly affecting the bike’s handling.
The Coyote is the smaller brother to the 50 Liter Great Basin which is similar in design. The main difference is the width of the U-shaped opening. The Coyote is smaller to suit Dual Sport and Enduro bikes like a KTM500EXC, and the Great Basin is designed for larger adventure bikes like the Honda Africa Twin or KTM1190R. Both have the same features.
The main construction is 22-ounce vinyl-coated polyester, with extra tough ballistic coated polyester to the bottom of the bag where it is more likely to get damaged.
The Roll Top is a convenient closure system that seals out water and dust while maintaining the packable volume of 39 liters and still has all the features of the zipper closure Coyote Saddlebag.
Compression straps run around the sides of the bag and there are also two over the top to keep your load compact. The side compression straps also feature grab handles and can be moved to a lower position on the bag, to better suit the load you have stored in there.
Also included are removable 100% waterproof Coyote Dry Pods which easily slip inside your main bag. They are in a set of 3, one for each side, and one for the top, and have roll-top openings which ensure waterproofing.
There are drains in the bottoms of the ‘legs’ that allow water to escape if it happens to get inside the water-resistant outer shell.
The Hot Springs Heat Shield should be installed first, to protect your bag from melting if coming into contact with the hot exhaust pipe.
Features:
- 39-liter capacity
- Heavy-duty 22-ounce Bomb Shell vinyl coated polyester reinforced with ballistic nylon
- Reinforced roll-top closure for a quick easy waterproof seal
- Cinch ring and side-release buckled compression straps for lashing additional gear
- Reflective accents for enhanced visibility
- includes one laser-cut aluminum Hot Springs Heat Shield
- Includes ballistic webbing for the rear mounting option, in addition to fender hooks
- Made in the USA
For a full review on the Giant Loop Coyote: Giant Loop Coyote Saddlebag Review
Smaller Luggage Options
Wolfman Enduro Fender Bag
Specifications:
- Product: Wolfman Enduro Fender Bag
- Weight: 11.3 ounces
- Capacity: 1.25 Liters/80 cu. in.
- Waterproof: Fully WP
- Construction: 840d TPU Fabric with RF welded construction
- Warranty: Limited on Manufacturing defects
Features:
- Non-Skid/Non-Scratch bottom so you don’t scratch your fender
- 840d Fabric RF welded construction
- Heavy-duty adjustable buckles to secure your bag firmly
- 1″ Vinyl coated metal hooks to secure the bag to the fender
- Dimensions: Length 12″/30cm, Width 6 1/2″/17cm, Height 11″/28cm
- Made in the USA
Note: The Wolfman Fender Bag has been upgraded and is now fully waterproof.
These are a great place for carrying a spare inner tube, and maybe some tire change levers and a few tools. Tip: You need only carry a front tube if you’re limited in space. You can use a front tube in the back wheel if necessary to get you back home.
Tank Bags
A tank bag is a convenient place to carry things you want quick access to, like a phone, wallet, camera, light clothing, etc.
They have been used on road bikes for years, and have recently made their appearance in the dirt bike and adventure bike scene.
One of the key features to look for is a clear map pocket on the top. They are quickly detachable if you need to for refueling.
While some of them are waterproof, the only way to be completely waterproof is to use a cover that goes over the whole bag.
Wolfman Enduro Tank Bag
Specifications:
- Product: Wolfman Enduro Tank Bag
- Weight: 1.6 pounds
- Capacity: 4.0 Liters/244 cu. in.
- Waterproof: Fully WP
- Construction: 840d Nylon TPU Laminate RF welded seams
- Warranty: Limited on Manufacturing defects
The Wolfman Enduro Tank Bag is a universal bag geared towards Dual Sport bikes, and smaller adventure bikes. It is small in size, but big in functionality.
It has the same rugged construction as all of Wolfman’s other products, built to handle some aggressive riding without hindering the rider.
It features the removable map pouch which is also ideal for slipping in your mobile phone or GPS unit.
Note: The Wolfman Enduro Tankbag has been improved for 2020 to feature a new waterproof ergonomic shape.
It is the middle in a range of 3 sizes: The Blackhawk, Enduro, and Tincup Pocket.
Summary
I hope the information provided here will help you when choosing the best soft motorcycle pannier system for you.
My Pick: If you’re doing a one-day ride, the Giant Loop MoJavi is great for any extras you can’t fit in your backpack or Bumbag.
For longer adventure rides, a few days to a week or more, the Giant Loop Coyote at 39 liters carries that bit more, and when combined with a Tank Bag and Fender Bag, you’re prepared for anything.
For a full review on the Giant Loop Coyote: Giant Loop Coyote Saddlebag Review
For the Dual Sport and Enduro bike rider, these are accessories that will allow you to do that overnight motorcycle camping trip with your adventure-riding buddies.
Related Posts:
See how the Giant Loop Coyote soft panniers were used on two KTM500EXC enduro bikes by Adam Riemann to travel from Austria to Egypt in the MOTONOMAD trilogy films in my post: Adventure Motorcycle Travel DVDs
Best Soft Panniers For Lightweight Adventure Bikes
10 Best Hydration Packs For Dirt Bikes
10 Best Gear Bags For Dirt Bikes
Please feel free to comment if you have found a great soft luggage system that works for you. Help future readers out and share your thoughts below.
Thanks for the review and the information on these saddle bags. I had never really thought about soft saddle bags for my sport bike in fact I didn’t even know they made them.
Are any of these available through any brick and mortar stores or are they only available on line?
I usually prefer to see items like this in person before I decide to make a big purchase like this.
Hi Doug. Thanks for you comments.
I’m not sure about the local availability. Where are you living? I can do some checking for you.
If you are in the USA I’d say almost certainly you would be able to check them out at a local motorcycle dealership to satisfy yourself on quality, then compare price to the online price.
If you are in Australia like me, there will be limited local suppliers. Which of the saddle bags were you interested in?
Greg
Very good that I read this article about saddlebags.
I have also a dirt bike riders, but I have a problems of carrying my things when I go outside.
Finally I saw your post and got some idea to carry all my things up. I can’t wait to have one saddlebag.
Good context.
Hi Joel. Yes, there are some good saddlebag options available now for dirt bikes. If you don’t have the fixing brackets for hard panniers, then soft panniers are the way to go, especially for a dirt bike where you want to keep it light and compact. Let me know if I can be of any assistance, thanks for your comments.
Greg
I could really do with a dry bag version of these Panniers, but motorcycle shops in my area seem to be a little bit threadbare when it comes to choice (and overall knowledge) on these items.
Would you recommend sticking to online stores to find the correct Pannier for your journey? I only ask as they seem to have a lot more choice AND knowledge on the subject/product?
Hi Chris. Yes with soft motorcycle panniers I have never found much at the local dealer. It is something that you can easily buy online because you don’t have to worry about sizing so much, just pick the capacity you want.
As with most things, you can generally find a better price online also, plus you get the review and comparisons.
I’ve done individual reviews on three of the saddlebags in my Soft Motorcycle Pannier review, the links are after each item. There may be something there for you, I’ve covered all sizes and types.
If I can be of any more help, please just let me know. Thanks for your comments.
Greg
You gave me an amazing idea with these saddle bags as a friend of mine has a motorcycle and I wanted to make him a gift for his birthday that is coming soon. So many times in the past I was making jokes at him that he couldn’t carry almost anything as I was talking everything with my car. I like you give us many options to choose from. Now I only have to find one that will be good for him. Hmmm…
Hi Stratos. Great idea, I think these would make a great gift for a rider. They will fit almost any bike, just decide on a size, depending on what sort of bike he has, and what type of riding he does.
I did an earlier post: Gift Ideas for Dirt Bike Riders. You might get some ideas from there also.
It’s such a good idea I think I might add a saddlebag to that gift idea post.
Thanks for your comments. Hope it helps.
Greg
This is something I need for my bike. I have been using a backpack with bungy strap and when riding it always came loose. Do they make them for smaller bikes. My son has a honda crf50.
When we go to the mountaing theis sadle bag would be a huge help for saftey and tools. Thank you for the great review. If you can help with information on if they have saddle bags for smaller bikes i would really appreciate it. Thanks
Hi Bill. I did some searching and the smallest bags I found are tail packs, which sit behind the seat. I think the saddlebags that straddle the bike may be too big for a CRF50.
The best I have found are the small Wolfman Rolie bag which is 4.5 liter capacity
The other is the Giant Loop Klamath tail rack pack which is 4 liter capacity.
Both of these brands are top notch for quality. I have put links on them so you can check them out.
Thanks for your comments. If I can be of any more help just let me know.
Greg
What would you recommend if riding a KLR650 with a passenger? We would need it to be waterproof as well as big. Riding from Costa Rica up to the USA soon.
Hi Kerry. For a bike like the KLR650 you would be looking at a rackless system like the Giant Loop Great basin which is 50L or depending on your budget, the modular version of the horseshoe-shaped design, the Mosko Moto Reckless, or the Tusk Highland rackless system.
The Mosko Moto at 80L is top of the range at over $700 depending on the extras, but the modular design gives you the versatility to add more storage.
The very similar design but much cheaper Tusk Highland gives you up to 91L storage. Both of these need a rear top rack for fitting which I think comes with the KLR650.
All of these would be suitable for use with a passenger and are totally waterproof when used with the inner dry liners.
All of these saddlebags are reviewed in my post: 8 Best Soft Panniers For Lightweight Adventure Bikes
Hope this helps your decision. Thanks for your thoughts.
Greg
Hello,
I loved the article “Soft Motorcycle Pannier Review – The Dual Sport Solution?”. You present a informative and well decorated post. Thanks for helping us! Keep up your good job.
Cheers
Hi there. Glad you enjoyed the article. I wrote it some time ago because I was looking for soft panniers for my KTM, which had no fixing brackets for panniers.
I researched what was available and shared my findings, as there must be lots of other riders in the same position. Hope it helps people.
Thanks for your thoughts.