The world of motorcycle panniers is a competitive market to put it lightly and, when you start to sift through the many brands, sizes and styles of panniers on offer, the amount of choices can be a tad overwhelming.

To help narrow down the options, there are a number of pannier features to look out for and that just leaves two things to be addressed. What are these said features and why are they worth taking notice of?

Storage Capacity

Motorcycle panniers are listed by ‘capacity’, referring to the internal volume which is measured in litres. SHAD panniers range from 15 to 44 litres and the chosen set should realistically depend on the amount of cargo that is required, the distance of the trip and how many people are travelling.

A longer trip, in terms of both time and distance, or times when you are riding with a pillion in toe will naturally require more kit and as a result, more storage space. Meanwhile, smaller-sized panniers will more than suffice for daily commuting or simply running errands.

Waterproof

Now, while other features may rank higher in some riders’ panniers checklist, they may be better served placing a bit more importance on waterproof protection. At the end of the day, what good are panniers that tick every other box if they are going to be breached by water.

So, if you are someone that would like to keep your belongings dry regardless of the weather then waterproof panniers are the way to go. Most of SHAD’s motorbike panniers have 100% waterproof structures and even those that are an exception to that come with waterproof rain covers (TR40 and E48SR) or inner bags (SL58 and E48 semi-rigid).

Security

Those who commute to work or embark on long distance trips are likely to park their motorcycle out in the open and could see their panniers become the target of thieves. As a result, riders may carry their gear about with them but in all honesty, find the right set of panniers with a locking system and there will be no need to go to such effort.

This is something to keep an eye out for when searching for new motorcycle side cases. While some manufacturers do not offer security locking or may charge extra for it, SHAD panniers come with security systems included and can even lock directly to the bike using their 3P, 4P and SR pannier fitting kits.

Mounting

A pannier fitting kit, otherwise known as a rack, is required to mount panniers to the sides of the motorbike and although they all perform the same core purpose, no two racks are the same.

Dedicated motorcycle luggage brands produce bike-specific fitting kits that are designed for a direct, seamless fit and it is best to steer clear of the cheaper, universal alternatives which are not guaranteed to fit and if they do, may not be the most secure.

In particular, SHAD pannier racks come in four different forms, the 3P, 4P, SR and SE, and each has been designed to mount different panniers from their collection. The reason these SHAD kits stand out is the fact that they feature as minimalist a framework as possible whilst remaining secure and stable.

Aesthetics

Motorbike luggage brands may need to place a great deal of focus on functional features when producing their top boxes but that does not mean aesthetics should take a back seat.

With a variety of colours, styles, and materials used in the design and manufacturing process there truly is something to suit everyone. Why not take it a step further though? Some brands offer panniers with different coloured covers to further boost their appearance.