Best Luggage Options For Adventure Riders

Jan 16, 2024

Here are the best luggage options for commuters, tourers, adventure off-roaders and globe trotters

The adventure motorcycling community has been growing rapidly in the last few years. More and more adventure motorcycles are being sold and hence the market for adventure gear has been on the up. At the heart of this adventure gear, lies luggage systems for those who like to seek the unknown.

While most adventure motorcycles do in fact get some kind of add-on-luggage solutions, they are often expensive and bulky. Choices are aplenty if you are looking at aftermarket options. But before you get to that, it's imperative to understand what kind of luggage solution suits you the best. The ride quality, handling, ergonomics and fall protection are all important criteria when you are looking at the available options. Here's an in-depth guide to the best luggage options for adventure riders.

Related: 10 Best Used Adventure Motorcycles On A Budget

Starting with the most obvious one, aluminum panniers are a type of hard luggage system and one that most motorcycle brands offer as an accessory. Their biggest benefit is that they are waterproof and dustproof, which means carrying items like your laptop is convenient. In addition, you can lock a pannier, which means they are pretty safe. And in the event that you do end up bending one in a crash, a few blows by a hammer can straighten them right up.

But let's be honest, premium aluminum panniers can cost in excess of $1,000. The biggest con though? They require a luggage rack system to be installed, so, add the bulk of solid racks to the weight of panniers and the entire setup can add tons of weight to the bike. This means off-road enthusiasts best stay away from them. Also, in the event of a crash, it is a possibility that your leg can get stuck under one - so they are a bit of a safety hazard too.

Plastic or fiber panniers are the next most common accessory that motorcycle brands offer. While they are still hard cases, they are not as heavy and stiff as metal cases. These are more common on sports tourers like the Kawasaki Versys and the Ducati Multistrada.

While these may be a little more affordable than aluminum cases, the benefits are similar. Safety, sturdiness and the ability to keep your luggage dry. On the contrary, these are not as robust as aluminum tenures and can often break or crack much more easily after a crash or two.

Soft panniers or saddlebags as their more commonly known, are the opposite of what hard luggage is all about - except these too need a rack to stay in place. They are preferred by riders who like to venture out on trails under roads as they do not come with the same heft as aluminum or plastic cases.

Much like hard cases, soft panniers can withstand the weather, thanks to the new-age waterproof fabric that is used in their construction nowadays. One aspect that can be important to many adventure riders is the amount of luggage that you can stuff in these bags, thanks to their flexible nature. And you don't have to worry about hurting yourself with one in a situation where you go down in a crash. One major shortcoming of soft panniers is the inability to lock your luggage when you are away from your bike. Something worth pondering.

These are like a crossover of hard and soft luggage options. As the name implies, this is are more rigid than your traditional soft bags - meaning they can hold their boxy shape pretty well. At the same time, they aren't made from hard materials, so they do not carry the weight of a traditional pannier. The best part of this crossover is that these offer you the ability to lock your bags. Lone-Rider has some excellent semi-rigid offerings that are all waterproof and tough enough to not get torn in case of a crash. Best of both worlds? Seems so!

Related: 10 Things You Should Know About Touring Bikes Before Buying

Rackless luggage systems come under the broad category of soft luggage. But the one thing that separates them from soft panniers is that you do not need a rack system to mount these at the back of the your bike.

There are many offerings from companies like Giant Loop and MoskoMmoto that produce rackless bags that you can simply set on your pillion seat, strap down tight and just let it be. These bags are highly versatile and can accommodate a whole lot of gear when you are out on the road. Perhaps the best option in the market for those who like to keep things light on their adventure.

Top cases are more famous with sport tourers, but they have found their way down to the adventures segment as well. It is not an uncommon sight to see a fully loaded BMW R 1200 GSA with a big chunky top case at the back on the road.

These are perfect for stashing away your helmets when you are off the bike. You can lock them, and they pretty much help solve the problem of storing electronic devices on a long ride. The problem though is that it tends to make the bike rear heavy. This may not hinder you much on the fine tarmac, but as soon as the road ends, you will start to feel the shift in weight.

Tail bags are the lighter solution to top cases. They do the same job but with the added advantage of keeping things light at the rear of the motorcycle. You can cinch these down pretty tight with the aid of something like Rokstraps and are perfect for 2 to 3-day trips if you are on your own.

Similar to soft panniers, these too come standard as waterproof nowadays and can take a beating provided you invest in a quality tail bag. They are perfect for folks who mostly do shorter rides.

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Tank bags have gained explosive fame over the last decade. The reason is simple. They are convenient and light and help balance some of the weight that is added to the rear of the bike with panniers and top cases.

Much like other luggage systems on this list, they come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit your particular motorcycle. If you have a metal tank, magnetic tank bags can be a great option because they evade the task of constantly tightening down straps. MoskoMoto's Nomax tank bag even offers a separate compartment for you to store your hydration bladder which negates the need to wear a hydration pack on your back.

More famous with the bigger BMWs and Triumphs, these are a newer form of luggage system that goes on the front crash bars of the bike. You are required to tighten them down with the aid of straps that are provided alongside, and they pretty much stay there even if you find yourself jumping down a bad patch of trail. Similar to a tank bag, these help in front-rear weight balancing as well.

Because these are not the most secure bags (as you cannot lock them), it's best that you keep your valuables away from these bags. Rain liners, tool kits, and a few nick-knacks are a few things that you can store in these bags.

Handlebar bags have always been a preferred choice among those who like riding dual sport motorcycles and that is because of their size. As the name suggests, these are attached to the handlebar of a bike and can offer up to a couple of liters worth of storage space.

A lot of people use these as an alternative to more over sized tank bags, but it all comes down to personal preference. Small items like a wallet, extra keys, a protein bar, your phone, and a Swiss army knife can all be easily accommodated in a handlebar bag. Most inexpensive handlebar bags are not waterproof, so you may have to think twice about what you store in them. But for those who have the money, this shouldn't be a problem.

Utkarsh has over a decade of experience traveling and documenting his adventures through photographs and films.He has a YouTube channel where he shows his motorcycle adventures through India. On days when he is not writing about motorcycles, he's riding one.