Luggage

Luggage for your motorcycle

Motorcycle luggage covers tank bags, side bags, aluminium panniers, top boxes, tail bags and the carriers and adapters that hold it all in place. The right system depends on how much you need to bring, how often you need to take it off again, and what type of bike you ride.

The main job of luggage is to shift weight off your back and onto the bike, and to keep it low and close to the centreline. That means less fatigue on long legs and a more predictable bike in corners and under braking.

The choice matters more than most people think. A badly placed bag sitting high at the rear changes the weight balance, a bag without a proper carrier can touch the exhaust, and a system without a lock is an open invitation every time you walk away from the bike.

This guide goes through the dimensions and standards you need to know, the difference between hard and soft solutions, the materials, how to choose according to your riding style, and how to fit it all without ruining paint or threads.

We also cover the typical wear points: zips, latches, rubber seals, brackets and the bolted joints that work themselves loose over time.

The collection holds around 2000 part numbers, the vast majority in stock for fast dispatch. You'll find everything from complete pannier systems to individual brackets, locks and spare parts.

We stock Sw-Motech, Saddlemen, Zodiac, MCS, Drag Specialties, Texas Leather, Longride, Longride Motorcycle Bags, Moose Offroad, Nelson Rigg, Kuryakyn, Thrashin Supply Co., V-Twin, Show Chrome and Highway Hawk — and there's free shipping on orders over €200.

Dimensions, mounting and markings you need to know

Luggage comes down to three numbers: volume in litres, maximum permitted load in kilos, and which carrier system the bag attaches to. If one of the three doesn't match, the setup won't last.

Volume and weight limits

Manufacturers state volume in litres, and most systems have a clear upper load limit. Exceed it and you put strain on frame mounts and welds that were never dimensioned for it.

• Tank bags typically run between 5 and 25 litres
• Soft side bags and saddlebags from approx. 5 to 30 litres per side
• Hard side panniers often 30-45 litres per side
• Top boxes typically 30-48 litres, enough for one or two helmets
• Top boxes usually have a load limit around 5-10 kg
• Side panniers normally take around 10 kg per side

Remember that the bike's gross vehicle weight rating applies too. Heavy luggage plus a pillion quickly eats up the payload the manufacturer lists in the registration documents.

Carrier systems and mounting

The carrier system is what separates a durable setup from a temporary one. Most modern systems are model-specific and bolt straight into existing threads in the frame or at the pillion footpegs.

• Tank Ring and Ion Tank Ring mount using the fuel cap screws and give you a quick-release fit for the tank bag
• Slc Side Carrier is a slim side carrier for soft bags such as Legend Gear Lc1 and Legend Gear Lc2
• Blaze H and Blaze Panniers Spacer belong to strap-mounted side bag sets with spacers to clear the exhaust
• TRAX ADV are aluminium panniers with adapter plates for the carrier
• Saddlebag Mounting, Saddlebag Supports and Saddlebag Latch cover brackets, supports and latches for cruiser bags
• Use moderate torque: M6 around 10 Nm and M8 around 25 Nm unless otherwise specified

Always check clearance to the exhaust, indicators and the rear wheel's suspension travel. A bag that touches the shock at full compression is something you only discover once the damage is done.

Choose luggage to suit your riding

Riding style decides the type. The commuter needs something that goes on and off every day, while the long-distance rider prioritises waterproofing, locks and volume.

Riding style	Type	Pros	Cons	Brands in the range
Daily commuting	Tank bag on a tank ring plus a small tail bag	Quick on and off, maps and receipts within reach	Limited volume, can get warm against the tank	Sw-Motech, Nelson Rigg
Long-distance on tarmac	Hard side panniers and top box	Lockable, rigid, good in the rain	Width in traffic, heavier base weight	Sw-Motech, MCS
Adventure and gravel	Aluminium panniers or soft roll bags on a side carrier	Tough, survive drops, loaded from the top	Sharp edges in a crash, alu dents	Sw-Motech, Moose Offroad, Nelson Rigg
Cruiser and custom	Leather saddlebags, sissy bar and roll bags	Suits the style, easy access, plenty of bracket options	Rarely fully waterproof, needs supports	Saddlemen, Texas Leather, Longride, Drag Specialties, Highway Hawk
Weekend and light loads	Soft side bags and handlebar bags	Low weight, cheapest way in, pack down to nothing	No lock, less rigid	Sw-Motech, Longride Motorcycle Bags, Thrashin Supply Co.

If you ride a bit of everything, a combination is usually smartest: a fixed rear carrier for a top box or luggage roll, plus soft side bags you only fit for the longer trips. That way you're not carrying the extra width all year round.

On cruisers the choice is often as much about looks and brackets as about litres. Here, Saddlebag Supports and correct clearance to the wheel and exhaust are what decide whether the bags still hang straight after a season.

On an adventure bike, toughness counts for most. TRAX ADV and soft bag sets on an Slc Side Carrier solve two different problems: one protects the contents, the other protects your legs and the bike's frame in a fall.

Materials and variants explained

The material determines weight, waterproofing and how the luggage ages. The three main groups are aluminium, synthetic textiles and leather.

Aluminium and hard plastic

Aluminium panniers are rigid, lockable and take top-loading without complaint. They dent in a fall, but can usually be knocked back out so you can carry on.

Hard plastic is lighter and cheaper than alu and scratches more gracefully, but cracks more easily under a hard impact in the cold. Both types need a solid carrier, because the whole load hangs off the adapter plate.

Synthetic textiles

Nylon and polyester with TPU laminate are the standard on soft bags. Roll-top closures keep water out far better than zips, which are always the weak point in the rain.

Soft bags weigh little and won't hurt your legs in a fall. On the other hand they can't be locked in any meaningful way, so take them inside with you when you park overnight.

Leather and leather-look

Leather is the cruiser classic and develops a good patina, but it needs looking after and gets heavy once it soaks up water. That's why many sets come with an inner rain liner.

Synthetic leather holds its shape better in a damp climate and needs less care. Whichever type you go for, the bags need Saddlebag Supports so they don't fold down towards the exhaust when empty.

For all three groups there are accessories such as Covers, Lock and extra straps, so you can upgrade an existing system rather than replace the lot.

Wear, service life and maintenance

Luggage rarely fails all at once. It wears out one spot at a time — zip, latch or bracket — and it's cheapest to catch before something falls off on the motorway.

Zips, seams and roll tops

Signs of wear are a zip that pops open while riding, frayed seams at the corners and straps that have gone stiff and brittle. Replace the bag or have it stitched before the hole grows.

Clean dust and salt out of zips and lubricate them with wax or silicone a couple of times a year. A dry zip in road salt rarely lasts more than a season or two.

Brackets, carriers and bolts

Check all bolts after the first 100-200 km with a new system, and at every oil change after that. Vibration works hardest on carriers mounted at the pillion footpegs.

Cracks in welds, elongated holes in brackets and paint worn away around a bolt all mean something has been moving. Replace the part rather than torquing it harder.

Locks, hinges and seals

A Saddlebag Latch that has to be forced shut, or a hinge with play in it, is a bag on its way off. Lock cylinders should be lubricated with graphite or lock oil, not thick grease.

Rubber seals on hard panniers harden over the years and stop sealing properly. If there's water in the bottom after rain, the seal or the drain hole is the cause — rarely the lid itself.

How to choose and fit it in practice

Start with the carrier system, not the bag. Once the carrier fits your exact model, the choice of bag pretty much follows on its own.

Use Find your bike on Partsdenmark.com to filter by year and model. It weeds out the carriers that have no matching threaded holes in your frame, and saves you a return shipment.

Always fit dry and without forcing anything. If a bracket sits crooked, it's usually a missing spacer bush or a Blaze Panniers Spacer that's needed, not more force on the spanner.

Pack the heavy items low and towards the front of the bags, and spread the weight evenly on both sides. Don't put tools and tinned food at the top of a top box — that's where weight affects the steering the most.

Adjust the fork and rear shock for the load if the bike allows it, and add 0.2-0.3 bar to the rear tyre with a full load and a pillion. Check the headlight aim when the rear end is loaded.

If you're missing the basics, you'll find luggage racks and complete luggage kits with us, so carrier and bag match from the start.

Frequently asked questions about luggage

These are the questions we get most often from customers putting together a luggage system for their motorcycle.

Can I use a tank bag on a plastic or composite tank?

Not with magnets. Tanks with plastic shrouds or painted composite panels need a mechanical system such as Tank Ring or Ion Tank Ring, which bolts on using the fuel cap screws.

The upside is that the bag sits completely secure and comes off in one movement without scratching the paint. The downside is that the ring is model-specific.

How much can I carry in a top box?

Stick to the manufacturer's limit, typically around 5-10 kg. The limit isn't about what the box can carry, but what the carrier and frame mounts can take under vibration and impacts.

Put the heavy stuff in the side bags and the light, bulky stuff in the top box. Heavy weight high and far back is what gives you that unstable feeling above 100 km/h.

Are soft or hard side bags best?

Hard panniers win on locking, waterproofing and rigidity. Soft bags win on weight, price and on not crushing your leg in a low-speed drop on gravel.

If you mostly ride tarmac and park in town, that points to hard. If you ride gravel and camp, that points to soft on a slim side carrier.

Can I fit saddlebags without supports?

Not recommended. Without Saddlebag Supports the bags collapse inwards towards the wheel and exhaust when empty, and the leather or stitching takes damage within a few rides.

Do luggage systems fit across brands?

The carrier is model-specific, but the bag often isn't. Many soft bags fit several carrier systems using straps, while hard panniers need the adapter plate the manufacturer designed for them.

If in doubt, check the fitting description on the item or write to us with your frame number. It's quicker than guessing.

If you're going further, you'll also find sissy bar bags for the cruiser and a wide range of luggage racks for both custom and adventure. The two collections complement each other when you're building a system from scratch.

All items at Partsdenmark.com are covered by 2-year right of complaint, and we offer a European price match if you find the same item cheaper within the EU. Use Find your bike to see exactly what fits your model.