SOFT BAGS VS HARD CASES: 9 Categories, 1 Winner | RIDE Adventures
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 7. 07. 2024
- #motorcyclepanniers #motorcycleluggage #advrider
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đïžHey ADV Riders, today we're doing a review on soft vs hard luggage systems on a few of our adventure motorcycles. We break it down to 9 categories; protection, weight, waterproofness, durability, ease of access, ease of installation, versatility, safety, and compatibility. Two solid competitors but only one winner. Watch to find out which wins our vote!
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So which one is right for you, hard cases or soft bags?
I bought aluminum Triumph Expedition panniers earlier this year. They turned out to be so heavy (11 lbs each plus framing), that I replaced them with soft bags. My bike is much more stable now, and I feel much safer on back roads/in forests. I'm going to save the aluminum ones for highway trips, as they do make me look bigger, at least. :)
Yea, where the weight is a little less of an issue (those highway trips) the convenience of aluminum might be nice to have on hand. Have fun out there.
I got hard with the bike but it smashed everything if I left excess space when off-road. I had to put stuff inside a bag and used a dry bag infested to compact everything. I canât wait to get my soft panniers!!!
That said I do kind of like how my hard cases keep the bike high when I tip over - never had a major high speed crash.
Missing a very important thing, security, hard case have locking feature.
Yea, security was such a huge topic, with so many variables, that we didn't bother getting into it in this video. Perhaps another time, but ultimately, none of these options, soft or hard with locks, is going to do much more than add a few seconds of removal time to a thief that knows what they're doing. Soft or hard, they should probably be inside hotel rooms or whatever at night with us.
Moskomoto panniers can be locked
@@RIDEAdventures Disagree with you here. Locks do one thing and that is to slow a thief down and to deter possible people from seeing an easy target and making away with your stuff. If you are after the contents of my panniers only and I carry camera gear and electronics in mine getting the hard panniers which are mounted inside the case to frame and then locked are much less appealing to a thief then cutting a soft bag strap in two minutes. This is such an important feature you missed and one of the most compelling ones. I also think you missed the important topic of volume and weight distribution. Hard cases come down low on the bike allowing heavy items to lower your centre of gravity which is so important. Soft luggage generally sits up high on the back of the bike. I am also curious if you are endorsed by Giant Loop? They make amazing stuff but you seem to have 2 brand new GL bags on your bike which makes me curious if they sent you the luggage to review?
@@cliffspicer6555, thanks for commenting, but it could be said that any thief with some experience and intent could bolt-cut any lock, pry, or however.....break into hard cases in about the same amount of time as cutting soft bag straps. ------ We're not endorsed by Giant Loop, but their luggage is part of any rental package with our Oregon-based rental fleet. Their loop-bags like the Great Basin in the video have the tool/tire repair kits and other heavy stuff pretty low, and even closer to the subframe than hard cases. Both systems have their advantages/disadvantages, and wow are there a lot of options out there. Thanks for commenting, and RIDE on!
@@Advcrazy, yep, most hard case systems have their own locking means, which may or may not be broken in an instant by a thief with any talent, unfortunately. Best security: Bring it into your hotel room or tent each night : )
10: Grocery shopping- Hard cases, don't need to be mounted and removed every now and then.
11: Theft- Hard panniers with locks much safer.
12: Fit and finish : OEM manufactured hard cases and stays are perfect fit.
13: Weight distribution : better with hard mounted system- no free play..
.... So much in favour of hard cases. It took me two years of using soft luggage system to realise the importance of hard cases/semi hard with locks. For a person who uses bike for office, grocery shopping and touring as well. Hard cases are the answer.
Iâm a hard luggage guy. Security, as you can leave gear on bike âŠ.. being an ex copper itâs all about trying to hang onto the gear I paid for!
+1 For hard cases. Just got my first adventure bike and I live in a metro area where security is highly important. Plus the good brand soft panniers are only slightly cheaper than the hard cases. I was going to go with soft panniers but hard cases have way more pros than soft bags, it's crazy how quickly someone could just take off your whole soft pannier system and take your stuff...
Hard case is best for me.
naaaah, my bags have no play at all and I can move them fore and aft, had hard cases until my leg was smashed by them. I have hard cases and only use the top box to go to the store, off road they are dangerous. False sense of security with hard cases.
@@armored-clown yeah no, they can easily be popped off with a screwdriver.
Thanks for the review, I've used both for years, right now I'm diggin the SW Motec semi hard/ soft. Has it's own frame mounted system with a soft bag reinforced with plastic inside. Keep the reviews coming.
Thanks, and more on the way for sure.....including talks about systems like the one you mentioned.
Excellent video. Thanks for taking the time to film and edit it and of course for positing it for our benefit. Keep up the good work! I think a combination is ideal. Hard case on top and soft on the sides. You need to mention theft.-Migs
Thanks, and yea, that is a good combination. Hard or soft, both easily penetrable by a thief with a couple of tools in a matter of moments, so we didn't bother getting into it.
Good points. I have the honda boxes for my Africa Twin for Highway trips in hotels and the giant loop bags for off-road and camping. Best of both worlds. I realize not everyone can do this, but it is a great mix.
John, the option to bounce between the two setups, while having a bike that "does it all," yea.....not everyone can, but kudos to those who do! Have fun with that adventure machine : )
Thanks for the comparison ; In fact I have decided to use BOTH systems, when off roading/camping I use the soft panniers on Road Touring trips I use the hard panniers...it works for me, maybe not for everyone....if you had to have one set....SOFT!
We share about the exact same sentiments: With little to no chance of 'going down' on a simple pavement ride, those hard cases are very convenient. But if there was "1 ring to rule them all," it would be soft. Thanks for commenting : )
I just about broke my leg on a dab on the WBDR with hard cases. Also caught a protruding tree stump with left case and nearly pulled the rack off the bike frame. I will only travel with soft side cases now or bags or whatever.
Definitely agree with the versatility of the hard cases. We've cooked on them and served lunch. Really handy. But the safety aspect outweighs not to mention the weight loss you shed with soft.
I still love my hard cases for city riding and touring. You can buy something and lock it in your case, or lock up whatever you don't want to carry around when parking the bike. But for Adv, soft is best IMO.
Great video. I also liked your gear vid which helped me make the change from armour inserts to stand-alone armour (Canadian spelling eh?! :) under my gear.
Eh, armour is just "abowt" right to this guy originally from Wisconsin, who people hear and usually assume is Canadian! ------ K, thanks for sharing the story.....yea......soft is the only choice for many of us. Hard cases have their place though. Thanks for the kind words about our videos ..... more ahead. RIDE on. ----- Eric
I have soft bags for the side and seat when camping, but I use a hard top case in the city.
Hard topcase is excellent for the city, especially if your helmet fits into it.
Hello from Ontario, Canada - thank you for making all of these great videos - it sounds like you have a dream job :) Keep up the good work! Cheers. Ronny
Having fun with what we do for sure, thanks for the note and compliment on our video production efforts. More ahead!
Excellent videos! Just getting into adventure riding, and your videos significantly ramp up the learning curve. Definitely going with soft luggage.
Thanks for saying so, and glad if the info helps. More videos ahead, we're restarting production here soon : )
wise decision
Wanted to start inexpensively found a soft set so cheap ...secondhand but yet in good condition ...just happy ive listen to this before itđđ
Great way to get started, see what works for you and not regret having dumped huge $$$ into the wrong system. Thanks for watching and sharing.
an advantage of hard bags is that if they get muddied up, you can just hose them off. I could see that mud could get trapped in soft luggage
I have the Givi Outback side cases. One of my first trips with them, I "parked" on an off-cambered road. As soon as I dismounted, the bike dropped away from me (lesson learned). The contents stayed perfectly fine with barely a scuff (lucky!). I usually keep soft cloths (such as clothing or an extra jacket) in the bottoms. I find the side bags work well for storage and protection on the rear of the bike.
Right on, sometimes it's just clothing that can be used to pad the inside of the hard cases. Glad this worked out for you, a little scuff is just a sign of use : )
Hi Eric, I just discovered your channel last week,â€ïž it till now still watching your video for more information. TQ
Awesome! Thank you, and glad if the info helps. If you Subscribe and hit the Notifications bell, you'll see we're posting a new video every other Sunday. RIDE on!
I rode my R1150GS from Canada to Ecuador with BMW panniers, and I strongly agree that soft cases are the way to go for long distance adventure travel. At the end, ropes and duct tape were needed on the panniers to hold them together and on. Next time will be with soft bags.
Fun, the rigging sometimes we have to do. Glad it sounds like you finished, but yea, sounds like you're headed toward soft luggage.
Good review. I went soft (Giant Loop Great Basin coincidentally) for the weight, saves almost thirty pounds on my F850GSA, and the compatibility, for one much smaller investment I can easily swap between the GS and a KLX300.
Soft is so clearly the way to go in so many instances. Love the swap-ability. Thanks for sharing.
Go soft. Have you ever had that feeling in the traffic as you go between two queues of stationary vehicles, and remember at the last second that you still have the hard boxes on? No fun and a bit expensive!!! Have used soft for decades in Africa and would never change. Crossing huge distances of off road terrain in normal here and bikers all have soft luggage.
I agree.. I have to admit though that although I have both systems that you are showing, I've opted to go for hard/soft luggage on racks as the touratech racks are actually very lightweight and my soft bags are very light (not much difference between the weight of my touratech frames with soft panniers compared to my giant loop great basin). The advantage for me is that the weight is kept slightly lower and when I remove the luggage when I set up camp I have a rear crash bar to protect my exhaust etc.
Excellent combination, and yea, we were sort of referring only to the "loop style" bag shown. Thinking you mean individual soft bags, mounted on racks, that is another great setup for the reasons you mentioned.
Nice video, Eric. Much appreciated. One category I think might be relevant is security. Often crossing borders we must leave our bikes unattended for a few minutes and I've always thought hard cases provide a bit more security from thieves. Hard cases are lockable and can't be slit with a knife. Not really an issue when travelling with a group, but perhaps more relevant for solo riders in dodgy areas.
Mailik, yep, perhaps we should have mentioned security, but it feels like that topic could be an entire video in itself, as there are SO many factors. Neither Hard or Soft being completely secure, varying brands/types would all have differing levels of protection against theft, thieves have countless options to break-in, rip-off, or slice-through, etc, etc. .....and so maybe we'll do another video on this sometime. Subscribe to catch it when it launches.
@@RIDEAdventures For those of us planning some big trips I think an entire video on security for groups or solo would be rad.
It's not a competition which is better. I have both since I do all sorts of riding like adventure, 1 hour soul ride around the house, commute and highways. Nothing too extreme like most people. I find myself using hard cases more often than not. I also mix with other soft bags like tank bags and duffel bags. If I go to a hotel then usually I'm visiting a city which means parking in public spaces in this case I like security of a hard case. If camping is in the picture I also like using hard cases as pointed out it makes a sweet table and chair combo. Obviously I have square cases, I had plastic ones on other bikes but those I didn't like. Some people like those as they sit between soft and hard square type. I would say if you can afford it go for hard square type but if money is an issue than go straight for soft luggage and don't worry it's also great purchase.
I use soft bags with a hybrid hard frame. Easy on easy off! Best of both worlds
Donald, a great combination we will dive into in future videos. Also excellent if bringing a passenger. Thanks for commenting.
Very correct. This is the best combo. I am told that the Mosko series is very good? Sadly, not for India.
@@mvjoshi, we don't have much experience with their products, but like all brands, we hear some good and some bad. Give 'em a try, and let us know :)
I'm the guy that goes down occasionally and here is some of the things that happened. I went down on a mountain with the hardcases on my BMWR1200GSA. It was a nasty tumble for the bike and the right hard case got bent and they are pretty irreparable. Then a few years ago I misjudged an off-road situation and slided down. My right foot got caught under the hard pannier and that hurt. I was on an extended trip and couldn't get my boot on by myself for about a week. So I started looking at other options and now the wife and me both use the lone-rider cases. They have been with us for 8 months of constant riding now and we have gone down in gravel and/or dropped the bike. Last month my wife was blown off the bike by a violent side wind. The cases show some wear, but still are very waterproof. Furthermore they are lockable which is also nice for fulltime travellers. And yes we do take chairs...
Ha, ha, you're not alone in going down occasionally : ) ------- Glad you found what sounds like a safer arrangement, and one with some durability, that doesn't get permanently bent. We are definitely seeing a move in the direction of soft luggage. ---- Thanks for commenting, and RIDE on!
Thanks for the points! Good video!
Thanks for the note, and we're glad if the info helps.
One more thumb up đđ» from a man that decided to change big and heavy cruiser after 100 thousand kilometres on it to middle size adventure bike!
Nice, and thanks for the thumbs : ) Oh, the doors that mid-sized adventure bike must have opened by now....
I fell on a steep hill with hard cases,for me the hard cases elevated the bike so i wasn't dragging my body on the ground,i scuffed my jacket and broke my foot peg,so it depends the ground and
how you fall,anther point is before going on your long trip.practise with the extra weight ,its going to be completely different. adjusting suspension driving ect,
Good plus you mentioned, if no body part is trapped beneath a hardcase, that little bit it props the bike up sure can be a help. ----- And yea, kind of like how some trials bike riders will train with a full dirt bike, "being ready for the heavy" is like exercising for any sport. --- Thanks for the note!
Hard cases all day for me. Just got my first adventure bike and I live in a metro area where security is highly important. Plus the good brand soft panniers are only slightly cheaper than the hard cases. I was going to go with soft panniers but hard cases have way more pros than soft bags, it's crazy how quickly someone could just take off your whole soft pannier system and take your stuff... The only way I could see soft panniers working for someone over hard cases is if they did 90% of their riding on trails and dirt off road areas where they need the safety aspect for tip overs.
đ great n good information for me to choose, soft or hard đ€TQ Eric for the information. I'm planning for a short ride when the border crossing is open đ
Ya'akob, thanks for the kind words! Which border? If by chance you mean U.S./Mexico, we've been crossing that border all winter, no problem.
I have giant loop soft panniers, and I have aluminum. I prefer the aluminum, ease of access, security purposes, these are most important to me, also the ability to strap things like small camping chairs, or whatever other people strap on top of thiers. Just makes more sense to me. I have a small trunk box that I have bolted permanently to the bike, but the bags only get put on when I need them. Again I find mounting my aluminum bags far easier than the soft bags.
Josh, yep, perks to both, and great that you're in a position to use whichever suits your situation that day, or that adventure......accordingly. Have fun out there : )
With all these information, I'd choose, hard case for asphalt tours and soft bags for offroad trip đâđ»đš
That's a very common resolution riders take: The convenience of hard cases when (on pavement) falling over is much less likely, and then soft bags for when it makes sense in the dirt. In that most folks just want to $spend$ for 1 of the 2 options, Soft Bags appear to be winning in the market. RIDE on!
One thing I didnât hear mentioned - when you drop your bike, it is MUCH easier to get it back upright with hard cases. I ride a heavy and tall KLR, and Iâm 71 years old, and a little guy to boot (150 lbs). Without the bags, it takes everything I have to get it back on two wheels. I also have an older GoldWing, (saddle bags of course) and not difficult to right it.
And I DO frequently bring a small, lightweight camp chair. Straps across the two bags and never notice it all day. But sure nice to sit back on at the end of the day.
I don't do much ADV riding, most of my off-road riding is close to home. But I've done 40 years of m/cycle touring and most of that time my bike was my only form of transport, so I've had a fair amount of experience with luggage.
Never had any problems with throw over luggage, but I find a hard top box works best for pillions.
One advantage of soft luggage that wasn't mentioned is that it is MUCH easier to add other pieces to it, and with the system type soft luggage, the manufacturers pretty much all have specific pieces that can be hooked/buckled/snapped onto the basic panniers/tote combination
Excellent point about adding items to soft luggage. Some of the hard luggage has tie-down loops and such that make it possible, too, but yea, the flexibility of soft makes it a bit more perfect for add-ons. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Eric, I know this is a very personal issue and one not easy to deal with since we all have different stiles of riding and different destinations.
If Iâm riding over tarmac all the way and arriving to the Cesars Palace in Vegas hard luggage is perfectly ok. But you will not find me doing that very often.
Soft luggage is ok, but not as secure as hard cases, in my experience, for my stile of destination, my choice of roads and places to visit a combination of a hard top case to protect valuables and delicate stuff, like cameras etc. And a good set of soft panniers to carry clothes, camping gear and the rest. This also helps to protect the bike from big damage in case of a get off, a valuable addition is a bit of PVC tubing for some tools, attached to the bike with some sip ties, but like I said before, we are all diferentes and ride in different conditions. That is what works for me. Thanks for sharing your views on this most contentious issue.
Glad if you've found a system that works, and yep, both soft and hard luggage can be breached by a willing thief in less than 1 minute, when they have the right tools, bolt cutter, etc. Glad we all have choices on luggage, and where/when we leave our bikes unattended (for the most part : )
When I do dump my bike the hard cases hold the bike up a little so getting down to lift the bike is a bit easier. (2019 AT)
I have an sv1000s with givi abs plastic hard cases. They have never had a leak and weigh a lot less than the aluminums. They also take a pretty good beating but you are right on the locks getting off.
Thanks for sharing, riders appreciate knowing if there IS a waterproof option out there.
@@RIDEAdventures The other point I was going to make was that the bags have some flex to them being ABS so if you dump the bike it acts like a bit of a crumple zone. My concern with softbags, at least side mounted would be on a drop that the items inside the bag would end up destroyed. If they are rather rugged or not easily breakable items, I'd have no issue side loading softbags as well.
I started with hardcases because they came with the bike when i bought it.
Now i have the Mosko Moto Backcountry 35L V2.0 panniers with a Mosko Moto 60L duffel.
2 reasons why i changed to soft. 1: i hurt myself in a fall getting trapped under the case. Luckily not real bad but felt my ankle for about 4 months. 2: the weight.
And yes... i do have a chair with me. In my duffle i carry a tent, mattress, sleeping bag, cooking gear, toilet bag and... a chair. With all of that it's just filled for about 60% so still pretty compact.
In the panniers i keep my clothes and a few survival food packages in case i can't find something to eat.
On the outside of the panniers i have on 1 side 2 1L fuel bottles and the other side a 4L drybag witch carries my compressor and startbooster/powerbank. In the front i have 2 6L crashbar bags for my rain gear on one side and on the other side a medical kit, a diving knife (look at a proper diving knife and you know why) and some utility straps. My tools are stashed in a tooltube (when mounting one don't forget about your suspension travel and tyre width).
Ray, that's right, they do make some pretty small chairs now, so "oops" to what was said in the video. As for the rest, sounds like you have quite a setup and plenty of possibilities covered. Fun stuff, this is.....gearing up. RIDE on and thanks for the comment.
@@RIDEAdventures It also weighs next to nothing. It comes at a cost but i like to ride as light as possible with the least amount of volume but still be able to face most problems that can occur. I do all the maintenance to my bike myself so i do know what to do with the tools and therefore also what tools i need. I only carry tools i need in a kit put specially together for my bike to do the maximum of repairs without carrying more than needed. But my bike is my life and i love to travel avoiding the masses so for me it's worth the investments. Investing in good quality product pays itself back spread over different areas like durability, wear and tear and even the cost of gas (less weight is more fuel efficient).
August 30th i leave for a 7800km trip trough Europe and for that trip i recently replaced some of my camping gear witch i had for 30 years... as i said, quality products pays itself back.
@@ride4life_motorlifestyle, congrats on having these 7800 km's coming up, and hopefully it'll turns into more! Have fun out there and enjoy a great life experience.
If you use this type of hard case, put some ducktape on the seam at the bottom of the case and use a trashbag as a liner between the case and inner bag. No issue with water getting in if you don't submerge it.
Andreas V, good tip, and even if it wears/tears out after a while, not a big deal to replace the plastic. RIDE on!
I've watched multiple videos on the topic and Most offroad guys tend to lean twards soft.... But of coarse I have to be different lol. For me I think hard cases win out.
#1. Is security. Being able to lock the box and not worry about it. That's super convenient. You don't have to constantly take it on an off the bike.
#2. The Versatility and ease of use. Being able to just go to a store and get things and Being able to just throw it in the side box and go. Not having to pack it away. Plus they make great chairs. You could even throw some ice in there and use it as a make-shift cooler.
#3 is capacity. As hard cases tend to be significantly larger.
Definitely a "case" for both types of luggage in different situations (pardon the pun : ) Thanks for watching and sharing.
Duhan 45 liter hard case, hard rains and car washes. No problems everything stays dry. SEC 45 liter hard case when it rains stuff in box gets wet.
Good to know, thanks!
How about tail bags vs. top boxes for long distance offroad? I'm having a hard time deciding between something like a Givi Outback 42L or a soft duffel bag? Worried the case may make the bike too top heavy?
Great review. I'm currently checking out options for my cb500x, and security while going into Walmart, etc on the road makes me a bit apprehensive... ??? ... sorry to keep flogging the security topic...
jon r, yea, we'll line-up another video for the security topic. There are just so many variables between brands, locking features, etc. that it's like a video all of it's own. Maybe the best luggage-related purchase we can all make is "insurance." Ha, ha...thanks for the note.
Awesome Breakdown , as always Great Info, Thumbs UP!
Thanks for that note, glad if you liked it! More ahead : )
Tomas, eres un chileno, si?
@@RIDEAdventures Sono nato nel sud del'italia , i nonni spagnoli e italiani
@@tomassoyweyvon4902, ok, ho pensato che forse cileno, perché "Weyvon" (huevon) Ú una parola gergale molto comunemente usata in Cile. Grazie:)
Yes, I am carrying a chair AND a table in my soft luggage. Just wait 'til your leg is smashed under a hard box and you might change your mind like I did. I think I lost almost 75lbs by taking off all the crap. A giant loop weighs about 6 lbs.and is way narrower if you ever go off-road or split lanes. Hard boxes are giving you a false sense of security, I was a locksmith for ten years and saw it all. Thieves will go for a locked box first any day because they think there is something worth locking up. If I got to a hotel it takes about a minute to unstrap my soft luggage. Anything worth value is kept in my tank bag or on my waist and that always goes with me.
Enjoyed your "gear to wear" video and now enjoyed this one. Bear resistant food storage category?
Ha, that's a great way to describe the Klim Badlands gear! The word "bulletproof" always popped into mind, but yea, it also helps me feel safe when I save the 2nd half of my burger in a pocket for later : ) Thanks for commenting.
Spray the aluminum with a self etching primer, then with the color of your choice. This eliminates the aluminum from rubbing on everything.
Good one, and something somehow we hadn't considered. And there are paints that won't rub-off like the aluminum does?
Another point is that soft panniers gets the weight closer to the bike fir better handling.
Never ever in life these "side bed table" grabbed on my bike!
I got soft side bag's coz when they are empty it's like to have nothing
I have to contradict a litte here. I have three plastic cases for travelling and no rain ever got into them. Unless you're doing river I'll give hard cases a check. Also remounting. e.g. The Givi Monokey takes me 5 sec. per case to remount. Just click it in and your ready to go. Gonna give the hard cases here a check either.
Otherwise I totally agree with you.
Usually I use the hardcases as they, as aforementioned, are easy to mount and dismount. But I sometimes also go for the soft solution. When having only clothes and such with me, this makes things often way easier to transport, when they're off the bikes. The filled hardcases on the other hand are just a pain in the backside to carry with me
doktor salami, good to know, thanks for sharing.....so it's the Givi cases that are waterproof for you? Which model? While we haven't ridden/tested everything out there, all in our operations eventually let some water in, and so ultimately, we're always advising on the "cautious" side of things. --------- Yep though, pluses and minuses to soft and hard, so it's a good thing we have options. Thanks for commenting. RIDE on!
@@RIDEAdventures I can't really tell what modell it is, but I can say, that they are old (probably 30 yrs +-) and have no rubber insulation whatsoever. I can say that no rain ever got through (and they saw a lot of rain). I wouldn't bet my life on it though. So the tie you gave it is perhaps still justified
@@doktorsalami9315, either way, we appreciate the info. Nod to @Givi, folks.
Hard cases for road & gravel on my GS. No luggage, or a backpack at most plus a chase van for DS trips on a lightweight DS bike which the GS is decidedly not.
Great un Bias review, definetely soft luggage for me
Thanks for saying so, especially when, for whatever reason, some folks have accused us of being biased on this matter. So interesting. We don't own any motorcycle luggage companies or actively sell such products.
I do carry a chair on my bike. Allways when going on a larger trip.
The only downside for me i indeed that i can be injured badly by alu cases.
Once saw someone who crashed while riding offroad and his leg was shred open. He needed to use a rope to stop the bleeding and not die. But he did not know how. So he lost his leg for sure or died. After one night for sure he got bacteria in his leg. So as soon as he would have loosened the rope the bacteria would have gone through his entire body.
I really advice people when going alone or with two to get some medical knowledge before starting to ride. This can save your life. Or someone else his life. And also have a very good medical kit. The adventure you take is not without risc. I also once got injured by a case.
But when parking in a city i feel more safe with cases. The stock softcases on the 901 Expedition are really extremely low quality. So i will put my H&B Explorer cases on the bike. But at the frontside of those case i mount some crashbar bags. And mount them 10 cm lower then the botton on the alu cases.
Security- people who favour soft bags always say that people can break in to hard bags easily. While I do agree with that to a point I would suggest that it is better with hard bags in that you really need a lever bar or screwdriver or something like that to break in to a hard bag where soft bags that are just clipped on then anybody can walk up, undo the clips and they are gone. I know there are systems to prevent this and that is probably the answer like the Mosko Moto or lone rider systems. I will probably go Mosko Moto next time after having aluminium BMW last time based on compatibility. Thanks for raising that point it is usually missed đ
Tim, interesting, and yea, ultimately ..... a knowing thief with the right bolt cutter, blade, prybar, screwdriver, or whatever could probably get into any of these systems in about the same amount of time. We didn't comment much on security in this video, but will perhaps have to do another addressing these possibilities. Now if we can find an mfg willing to "donate" their luggage ..... : )
RIDE Adventures that would be a great test , aluminium vs plastic vs soft with security strap vs soft with no security strap and the thief with no tools and thief with tools,. Thatâs a big test đ€. Liking your channel, just discovered it so subscribed and catching up.... keep up the great work đ€
@@timwhite3250 Plenty of videos out there. It takes about 1 second for someone with a tool to brake into a hard case.
Security is probably the #1 issue for a lot of riders, I'm surprised it didn't make the list.
Tony, security is important, but a huge topic that winds down to one answer: Both soft and hard systems can easily be breached by criminals wanting our gear, in approximately the same amount of time. --- Guess we could have mentioned that briefly, or we did, and somehow it didn't make the final cut. Thanks for watching.
Get a Semi-Rigid Motorcycle Bags (Lone Rider) and you solve the dilemma..... and besides, IMHO, hard cases are for the past, with the introductions of new designs, new & durable materials of the Soft and Semi-ridged Bags, they are fading and phasing out real quick. The Soft and Semi-Ridged provide all the answers to the problems of: Security (They are Lockable) durability, capacity, versatility, (due to to adapting the MOLEEY Webbing system standard), they are, literally, almost indestructible , they keep your things dry, they would not deform upon impact, and with the right mounting system you can move them to any bike, so, the investment is what called Cost Effective. I got my Lon-Rider set 2.5 years ago, and never looked back (to the Stock OEM BMW Panniers )
There definitely appears to be a movement toward soft luggage, for all these reasons. Especially those in higher risk of the occasional "oops" from dirt riding. Thanks for commenting.
Soft bags are better for dirt use, but I am never able to relax when stopping along the road. I know Opportunists aren't lurking at every cafe and gas station, but I still can't relax if I can't see the gear.
Yea, soft luggage may seem more exposed, but a thief with a couple simple tools and some experience could pretty quickly breach most hard case luggage as well. Bolt cutters can go through a lot of metal pretty quickly. ---- Let's all ride in the woods more, away from such possible characters : )
Well before compatibility comes up (two bikes) the big one should of been security. They sit in parking lots while you eat, which one are you going to have a stress free meal with.
Thanks, but this has been addressed multiple times below. Both Hard and Soft are easy for a thief to break through, so we didn't get into that.
Good, balanced review!
Thanks! Yep, everyone has different needs and travel plans, so there are solutions for all.
@@RIDEAdventures I'd still rather pack a lightweight chair and even a packable table than have hard boxes just to serve as furniture though. ;)
Seriously...says the supplier of the soft luggage, no bias here!?
@@chil5150 yes, we are 100% biased toward soft luggage. And of course, we are a business with families to support. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and there are certainly many options out there for consumers. Go ride with whatever works for you!
Good video. Hey, novice here, what is that think around your neck? Looks like a safety neck brace of some sort. Appreciate any help, thx!
Yep, an Alpinestars neck brace (not a toilet seat as some have suggested : )
@@RIDEAdventures thanks, can you do a video on the benefits of wearing one?
@@carsthatlast441 on our "to do" list for sure : )
With the surface corrosion from the aluminum cases on the inside you could apply flex seal or rhino lining on the inside to protect from surface corrosion.
Good idea! Anything will probably rub-off after a while, but those will be much slower than the aluminum itself
@@RIDEAdventures very true. I would add also to scuff and clean the aluminum well also before application. Sorry aircraft guy here, and a KLR one at that lol love your videos sir, I have learned a lot from your videos.
@@dougmate2378, thanks for that great note, and info like you just shared is the kind of stuff we're looking to make more videos of. Stay tuned for news on that : )
@@RIDEAdventures awesome can't wait sir. I am wondering though if you have recommendations for 2 items in particular, I'm looking for off road lights that will not break the bank ( and can tap into the KLR relay behind the dash) and a good solid GPS and mount.
@@dougmate2378 , my perpetual desire to avoid riding in the dark leaves me with little knowledge of lights for bikes. If I'm not mistaken, Twisted Throttle has covered that topic the best though. As for GPS mounts, a little thin on that info, too. We've only been using Quad Lock mounts on RAM balls the past few years, so holding cell phones instead of actual GPS units.
I bought Kriega OS 32; easy to install or to remove more or less as a hard pannier, you can organize inside almost as a hard cases, and they're lighter and provide less risk in case to have leg or ankle trapped.. the best of both world ? : ))
Yea, pretty much the best of both worlds. Sounds like Kriega makes good stuff, but we're admittedly a bit unfamiliar with their products.
@@RIDEAdventures It's good product, I'm using it with the OS Platform wich give, as I'm without luggage an additional protection to the bike in case of fall..not so bad..
I ride in Chile, and there is an important point that you missed: hard cases with lock and key do protect your stuff against theft. A theft can easely use a knife to cut open a soft case and get its contents, while not with a hard case.
In general it depends on the region you are driving. I would never embark in a 2 week trip in southamerica with soft bags due to that only reason.
Thanks, but any criminal with the right tool will get into/thru hardcases and their locks in a pretty similar amount of time. Great that you're getting to ride beautiful Chile!
@@RIDEAdventures You are right that any criminal will do that. But there are criminals prepared to do that, the minority, and there are opportunistic thieves, abundant, that will not be stopped by a soft case but dismiss a hard case. I learned that after some 50,000 miles driving here ;). I am chilean and with my wife we did Argentina, Uruguay and Bolivia, and of course many rides in north and south Chile. Love your videos.
@@nitnemsingh3588, thanks, and we'll see you on the road down there when we're back to full touring status! : )
Soft luggage can make a great pillow.
Another bonus!
So how about Pelican cases.
They are plastic, less weight, less need to protect individual items from case, actually water proof.
Hey Eric, I have a Klim Badlands jacket. Could I wear a neck brace like yours with my jacket? Would I wear it on top or under the jacket? Thanks!
Yep, see the video we're releasing this coming Tuesday, where I talk about my entire riding gear set-up from head to toe, and why each item is part of my system. Neck brace sits right on top of my Badlands jacket just fine. --- Eric
@@RIDEAdventures Thanks Eric, Really appreciate it!
My bike came with hard boxes, actually their hard plastic, "Givi" not looking forward to see how they handle a spill, I have also purchased soft luggage to go between them.
Nice to have both options, as each ride may be different. Some plastics are pretty durable....have fun out there : )
What about for passenger compatability? Talking about side luggage exclusively.
Feedback we get from Riders is that the sidecases can be soft or hard with a passenger, some folks on both sides. Safety benefits of soft luggage apply similarly to when the rider is solo.
actually, yeah, I do carry a camp chair...and I have hard side cases. But I carry the scotch in the 70 ltr dry bag at pillion. And can open my side cases, and carry a camp chair...
Excellent, bring that chair, it was just a funny thing that was uttered in the video. As long as that scotch is protected ..... : )
I carry a cliq chair, tiny fold up chair
I ride soft. Keep the hard for something else đ€
soft for me!!! wont own the hard! ride on!
Well put. Definitely those upsides. Thanks for the note : )
what are your thoughts on hard case top box w soft side panniers? (just acquired kriega soft case panniers). But I'm a photographer and would like to have one case I can lock gear in, hence the top box question.
Rio, that makes sense, and quite a few serious Photographers have opted for exactly what you mentioned: The safety, durability, and simplicity of softcases on the side, and a hard box on top. Security can be compromised pretty quickly with either soft or hard luggage by the right thief with the right tool, but maybe for reasons of protecting your gear in all other situations, if you can make it fit, the hard top box may be best. Give it a try and let us know : )
@@RIDEAdventures Thanks for getting back. Right now I have hard plastic like Vario BMW cases on my 2013 F800GSA. But covid has hit the economy hard here, and me too. I'm going to have to sell the GSA and some other stuff to finish off building my house (Was a hard decision, love the bike and did 60,000 km on it). So have lined up a smaller, cheaper Honda CB500X to get around on and will try the set up with hard case top box and the kriega side panniers. Will let you know. As far as determined thieves go, yes they'll get thru anything . But it's less likely to happen with a hard case when you park the bike and go into a restaurant or as is the case in most of my travels, on shorter ferry rides ( I live in Bali, islands left and right!).
@@RioHelmi, perhaps hardcases are better for security. Good thing we have options.
Hi Rio, I am into the research phase of sorting out the right solution, being a photographer also. What final decision did you take, any brand recommendations? Iâm thinking of keeping my vario topcase with foam inserts for my gear and maybe getting some soft Givi Canyons or Lone RidersâŠ
What about security against opportunist theft? Surely a big win for lockable hard cases.
Actually, most soft or hard luggage can be penetrated in less than a minute by a thief with intent and the right tools. Thanks for watching, and let's hope we never have to confirm this : )
I agree w these points on luggage, but an Equinox chair is less than two lbs. No prob to carry, even on my WR 250. Hard panniers do offer more security, but if you are in that bad of an area, they CAN steal the whole bike huh. Especially 20-25 k BMW's all farkled out, they scream I got plenty of expensive stuff, come and get me
Yep, Hard or Soft luggage, each can be grabbed by a thief with the right tool quickly. The chair comment was more with the image of a full size chair. Those Equinox's are great!
subscribed. Can you make video on Jackets with armor on outside vs Other riding Jackets
fly er, good one, and yep, we're overdue to make another video on such. Long ago, we did something on this topic, but we just added it to our 2020 list of videos to create. Here's the old one, thanks for the suggestion! - czcams.com/video/kK0xLHr93nY/video.html
Broadly agree with the points and conclusions, although it comes across that you're biased towards soft-luggage, several times giving the hard luggage "barely" the point whereas never shying away from giving full points to the soft luggage.
As regards mounting, soft-luggage far outweights hard luggage for initial setup (assuming no mounting brackets required) whereas hard luggage far outweights soft luggage in day-to-day mounting/unmounting, not needing to faff about with straps all the time. The point should be mentioned that soft luggage does require mounting brackets to keep it away from tires/exhausts once you reach a certain volume of cargo which needs to be carried. Ultimately soft luggage has more flexibility in mounting though to suit the cargo and the bike.
Finally, one point which was not raised was safety of stowed gear - not in the sense of protection in the case of crash which was covered, but protection from theft. And this is a huge concern for myself depending on where and how I plan to tour. Yes, there are steel nets you can cover soft luggage with, but generally hard luggage is the clear winner here.
Ultimately I think it's a case of choosing the right tool for the job - what kind of touring, what kind of conditions, what areas/destinations.
Perhaps you're confusing the word "bias" with "preference," as "bias" implies that we have some hidden/financial, or other reason to lean toward soft luggage. Such is not the case, as we do not own/sell, or have anything to do with motorcycle luggage .... other than using it and reporting on it.
And we did not comment on anti-theft matters, as both hard and soft are penetrable in all cases with sub-1-minute attempts by any thief with the right tool and intent.
I think soft luggage may be better for off-road but if youâre doing mostly road and staying at hotels in town, hard luggage is the best. If you have hard luggage, you donât have to be as concerned with leaving things on your bike at night. Obviously if itâs super valuable you better take it inside with you.
Yep, reasons vary from situation to situation which may be better. Good thing we've got lots of options out there these days.
@@RIDEAdventures mine come off and go inside easily. why leave any thing ona bike at a hotel?? use a cover too out of sight, out of mind!
I like this guy but that little twist the grip then wave thing at the beginning ?
He's a gigantic dork, and we'll call that his nervous twitch : )
You left out an important category - especially when touring: Security.
Addressed below multiple times, but thanks for the note.
Soft cases way better for security as it's easier to pick up and move with you.
Hard cases are a pain in the ass to remove and move around.
Some hard cases just require the turn of a key, and can be removed in seconds. We hope riders take the time to review the functionality of each product before choosing. Hopefully all mfg's have video explanations available.
@@RIDEAdventures Good point. I still prefer carrying soft cases over hard cases.
So, you're going to stop at a public rest room and take your soft bags inside with you?
@@nicholashughes5133 No I just lock em.
The bell was a nice touch. đ Thanks for making the video.
Glad you liked it!
Love these videos...good info all around. Two important categories missing:
1. Security
2. Food storage-when camping, leaving food and scraps in luggage.
Hands down, my items are much more secure in hard cases and my food is safe from wild animals when camping.
Rob, thanks. Yep, we'll have other videos on the Security topic. As soft and hard luggage are both perfectly breachable by anyone with the right tool, we just didn't want to get into such a huge topic on this video. RIDE on!
@@RIDEAdventures I have another category to add - Price. This is also very important for a ordinary people.
@@33Dermo, good suggestion. Tough to do though when the prices are different around the world, and when this video could be on CZcams forever.
Category 10...security?
Neale, yep, as we just said to Mailik below, Security is such a big topic, we'll do another video on this subject perhaps someday. We should have mentioned such, but there's almost no way of choosing a Winner on this matter anyway, with so many variables, brands, etc.
Security could be a big factor for some people. Those with soft cases can use metal nets that are sold to secure hikers rucksacks.
Also the price
depends on the items you a carrying...
Weight:
My aluminium hard case weights empty MORE than my soft bags FULL of gear for a week of travel. đ
Good stuff! Absolutely
Soft always, hard too dangerous if a crash happens. Can injury the riders legs/knees/foot.
Yep, almost universally, soft is probably safer for our bods.
@@RIDEAdventures If riders priorities safety soft is the only choise, but I see about 50/50 on the road. Perhaps manyh did not think about safety. Horseshoe saddleback sacks have plenty of room and maybe a big/medium drybag added on the seat it should be enough lugge compartment and safety is prioritized. Thanks for your great ADV bike videos. Peace đđ»đ©đ°
ps. trending ADV rider Pavlin thinks so as well with soft bags. czcams.com/video/QERuWPBFU5w/video.html
@@simwebdk, yep, the market may have started years ago with more of a hardcase focus, but folks are noticing these soft bag options as they evolve into the better/safer option. --- Thanks for the great feedback, and RIDE on!
saftey shall go to HARD in case of fall it protects the bike
Bartek, good point, and we love your love for the Bike! (If Bike comes before Body in terms of safety : )
When talking about security, we're not taking about overnight - when of course, you bring everything in...soft or hard. The security I'm talking about is when you stop for gas, have to pee and leave the bike for 10 minutes - and you're alone. Lots of crimes are crimes of opportunity. A knife and softbags make for a great opportunity....where hard does take some knowledge and tools. This also comes into play if you want to stop and see the sights. We all know there are no perfect solutions, but I'm heading on the side of hard for the reasons I mention. And this is the number 1 category, where hard wins hands down. You can get a steel mesh for your soft but what a hassle.
Hmm. Any thief with a bolt cutter or the right tools can get into hard or soft luggage pretty quickly, but yea, hopefully folks just remain mindful about where/when they're leaving their bikes unattended.
Has anyone ever told you that you look and sound a lot like Vince Vaughn? :)
Ha, yes, it has been mentioned. Once upon a time I even had similar hair :)
No chair? I carry a camp chair everywhere and it takes up very little room.
It was a simple misspeak, of course people do take small chairs.
hard cases
they can't steal anything from it wen you park your bike. for offroad riding i leave them home/hotel camp
Well the keep opportuniste Thief away. But in sketchier place those "mail box lock" are way too easy to break. ( I had to open one of mine with a swiss army knife in less than 5 second i had acces to the inside.
For the Thief prévention i think that's hard panier are more psychological "safety" than anything else. But i still ride with them
@@kab5145, right on. Each of these options can be compromised. We'll do another video on security of all examples sometime in the future.
Careful, as noted below....with the thought that they "can't" steal from hard cases. All are penetrable. Thanks for the note though.
@@RIDEAdventures yep you're right they both have pros and cons. Personally i préfÚre soft luggage for off road trip and hard cases for long road trip because because you can use them as chair/table and Workbench, kitchen sink and wash your clothes, adv boots. Plus if you had ice in them they make great Beer cooler.
sorry....but where can i put all my stickers for showing off ? No no no..... i keep my Alloy-cases. Btw : inside my cases i glued foam everywhere, so absolutly nothing happens to my stuff. Also i can put softbags on top of my hard cases so i can extend the volume a lot. AND I HAVE SPACE FOR ALL THE STICKERS.....hahaha........ best regards to all readers and riders.
Ha, ha, you reminded me of a moment, Martin: In 2011, about a week after returning home from 2+ years riding and living in South & Central America, capturing all those Bolivian, Colombian, Chilean, and other stickers, a guy at a gas station took one look at my hard plastic sidecases and asked, "where have you been, Canada?" --- Eric
@@RIDEAdventures wonderful story.!! Today, a client was laughing at my worn-out-Honda. I asked him what are you laughing about ? He replied: your bike is so ugly. I asked back : who many countrys has your Harley E-Glide been ?.......my country-counter is at 61.....and walked away leaving an ashamed Harleyrider behind.
@@martinseel2837 You didn't "shame" the Harley rider, you simply showed how superior you think you are. JMHO
What about security? I think you missed a major category.
We addressed this multiple times in the comments: With a little intent, and a tool or two, any criminal can breach soft or hard luggage in about the same amount of time.
What is the thing around your neck? Oh, I see it in your comments....
Mosko moto!
Eric, that Alpinestars neck support kinda looks like a toilet seat hanging around your neck. Another multipurpose item?
'Tis true. Toilet seats are never installed in some parts of the world that we run trips, presumably to avoid the inevitable theft of them. So I'm set.
Comparison kinda biased TBH.
Hmm. In what way? Or just is it just "in general."
This topic is age-old and there's never been a clear winner. I like your videos but I felt this one you were little bit biased. Every time you gave a point to the hard case you did so begrudgingly. You also didn't have the category of security were hard cases clearly win. That would have made it a tie. You also didn't speak about capacity which the hard cases would have won. Mainly because you can easily throw a soft bag on top of the hard case.
DeWayne, thanks for the note, but when Hard Cases won a category.....it really felt like they "barely" won it. Wasn't meant to be bias (of which we have none) but just the truth.....no begrudgement. ------ Yep, we skipped Security cause there are so many ways for thieves to breach Soft or Hard, and there may never be any clear winner (and it's a huge topic we'll cover separately.) But you're right, Hard Sides and a Soft Bag on top may be the ultimate option for volume. RIDE on!
Where's the topic of theft?
As both soft and hard cases are perfectly penetrable by any criminal with intent, the right tool, and 30-60 seconds, we figured that was an entirely different video to make.
@@RIDEAdventures I guess a video on theft would be good. A knife or razor blade is a lot easier for a thief to conceal than a sledge hammer or bolt cutters or a battery powered angle grinder.
Hard case is the best! Without comparison.
Way too much of a dirt bias. Not applicable to my riding.
Good thing we all have options : )