Panniers are great when you want to take lots of stuff, but don’t want it in your way.
While some require specific fixing kits, others can just be thrown over the pillion seat, leaving them out of sight and out of mind.
Our guide to five of the best panniers has been put together using reviews from the Sportsbikeshop website, all written by the people who know best − paying customers.
Oxford Lifetime P60R Panniers - Black
Customer rating:
Oxford’s panniers have a total capacity of 60 litres and receive a 4.7-star average from the first 19 Sportsbikeshop customer reviews − earning praise for their looks and how easy they are to fit to a bike using the included bungee straps. Reviews say these RiDE Recommended panniers offer great value for money, as they’re extremely well built and can easily hold plenty of kit for tours.
Oxford Lifetime P50R Panniers
Customer rating:
An average star rating of 4.7 from the first 47 reviews makes Oxford’s Lifetime P50R panniers a favourite with Sportsbikeshop customers, who compliment their stylish design. They say the 50-litre total capacity can easily carry enough for a week away, but that securing them to the bike using the D-rings and straps can be fiddly. Reviewers are also happy with the internal waterproof linings, saying they work well.
Givi EA101B Easy-T Expandable Panniers - 30L
Customer rating:
These universal semi-rigid Givi panniers are praised for their high build quality and useful 30-litre total capacity. Customers say they’re easy to fit and remove using Givi’s Easy Lock pannier rails, (bought separately) and have given them an average of 4.8 stars from the first 17 reviews. Reviewers say these panniers are slim, and the waterproof covers work well.
Givi EA100B Easy-T Expandable Panniers - 40L
Customer rating:
Givi are well known for their hard luggage, but it won’t surprise you to learn their soft luggage is top quality too, with these 40-litre panniers earning an average score of 4.8 from the first 11 reviews. Customers have been happy with how easy the panniers are to fit and secure to their machines, which range from a Triumph Street Triple to a Harley-Davidson Sportster 883. One reviewer was hit by a car while using these panniers, and they only suffered a single broken strap.
Kriega OS-32 Soft Pannier
Customer rating:
These Kriega panniers really impressed the first 11 customers to leave a review, resulting in an average score of 4.9 stars. As you might expect from a Kriega product, many customers have been impressed with the durability, build quality and waterproofing - with one customer even taking them through deep water and the contents remaining completely dry! Customers also like the simple attachment mechanism, which makes it easy to attach and remove the panniers.