Kawi Saddlebags - Anybody Like Em?

[Unadan]

I'm new to the Kawasaki saddlebags (just put them on a new 09 KLR). I like the look of the bags on my new bike but not particularly what they are doing to my plastic side panels (yeah I do know they'll get scratched anyway).

Are these bags off-road worthy? (fire roads, gravel, nothing too strenuous). I'm really thinking once the bags are on they stay on (except for bike cleaning).

[backwoods]

Originally Posted by Unadan

I'm new to the Kawasaki saddlebags (just put them on a new 09 KLR). I like the look of the bags on my new bike but not particularly what they are doing to my plastic side panels (yeah I do know they'll get scratched anyway).

Are these bags off-road worthy? (fire roads, gravel, nothing too strenuous). I'm really thinking once the bags are on they stay on (except for bike cleaning).

I love my bags. I kind of consider them air bags for my turn signals if i go down!!
The one thing I have noticed is that I over stuffed mine one too many times and the zippers are starting to mess up... But as far as being trail and off road worthy???




Never had a problem with them besides my over stressing of the zippers. If I cannot repair the zippers, I am ordering a new set and going to be more careful of overstuffing them!!

[Norton 850]

The OEM bags work well for me. They install easily and the scuffing damage to my side covers is minimal. However, they leak a bit in the rain, so I recommend packing anything you don't want to get wet in a plastic liner of some sort.

Another benefit, the bags aren't too expensive.

[klr_rider1]

I had a look at the Kawasaki bags, but they were too small for my needs.

I ended up buying a set of larger soft bags from ebay for a lot lower price then the
Kawasaki bags.

I also bought a set of steel side racks from ebay. They are manufactured in the US and are good quality. They keep the bags off the sidecovers and muffler.

An additional benefit is the bags and side racks protect the bike when it falls over.

[Dave Stranks]

Went for aftermarket soft bags had the same scuffing polished it out with some cut polish from a plastic sign shop
Glued rubber mesh cloth i got from a boating place that stops things from moving in the cuboards glued with silicon to the bag no more scuffing and they don;t slip around much anymore
Like the soft ones because you can overstuff them and they give and they can be colapsed when not in use Just put stuff in bags inside to keep dry
plus if you are ever mounting your honey and you hit them with your leg no pain
They have quick disconnects that i made lockable and have handles to carry them like small suitcases