Ortlieb QRL motorcycle panniers or alternative opinions?
 

Colleagues,
I have had it with hard panniers - tired to repair them after falls, to find twisted supports later on and to have them impacting bike performance...
Another problem I had on Sardinia and Corsica was that my Suzuki DR800 had to be leaned to no avail to go fast in twisty roads because hard cases made it's a bit too top heavy - even empty they weight a ton. Thanks myself for installing sticky supermoto wheels and all-singing suspension I made it, but my friend was scared to look at me taking corners and scrapping asphalt :)

So, I want to put some quick-release soft panniers on, specially since in all honesty I do not drive more than 6000 km in one trip and not on "wild" territories :)

After spending hours searching I found that only alternatives I have (quick lock-release onto my pannier frames is mandatory) is Ortlieb QRL panniers, ridiculously expensive and not waterproof Givi "trolley bags", weak-looking and not waterproof SW Motech stuff.
And only Ortlieb is waterproof and click all "boxes" for me as it SEEMS.
But I never even seen them in real.
Hence the question - can you point me to other make/model to broaden my choice or share experience with Ortlieb QRL bags?
Thank you in advance.
Requirements are - kinda semi-rigid design, e.g. tougher rear plate with locking mechanism, 25+ liters capacity, no more than 200 mm deep, rest does not matter. Ah, forgot - should cost less than those aluminium tin boxes. Bike: Suzuki DR800, usage 90% (very agressive riding) road 10% offroad (very slow riding), pannier frames in place. Not afraid of any fabrication work it may require to perhaps make custom solution for that.

Try Wolfman Expedition Dry Panniers , they 're waterproof hold 19 litres each pannier and appear to be quite sturdy and secure when fitted.

Neil :thumbup1:

I looked at them but got impression they are not featuring quick release system and have to be strapped to bike? Reason I want quick release is because this is only feature of hard panniers I like :) - specially when I have to pack in the morning...those straps drive me mad

Try looking at Enduristan Monsoon - excellent kit its what I am using now and very pleased with them.
By the way I have a mate selling a set of ortliebs used but still fine if they are of any use to you. PM me if you want details.

Wow, those looks nice! How they are attached? Traditional straps or...?

PM sent :)

Argh damn! Just found picture of Enduristan bags fastening system - oops, no quick release there... :frown:

Bluesman how quick release do you want them they take me about 10 seconds to take them off the bike ? they have quick release buckles on all the fastening straps which work well with the rok strap tension system. Simply throw them over fasten one strap to each side of the bike footpeg/ frame with quick release clip buckle - tension the strap at the back of the pannier - they are secure and tight. Fitting takes less than 20 seconds.

I can say that those orlieb are very good.
35.000km hard terein and still working fine.
Yes they are a bit expensive,so for my other bike
had something similar made for 35dollar,they are
o.k. but will not last more then 15.000km i am afraid.

Good luck with your choise,and saludos.

Thank you all!

It looks like I will go for Ortlieb QRLs then. Right size and fixation system and good feedback - that's enough for me :)