Universal Frameless Motorcycle Saddlebags – Expandable 36–58 L Throw-Over Pair

Two saddlebags, no rack to bolt on

This is a pair of frameless motorcycle saddlebags: a left bag and a right bag joined by a soft, padded bridge. The bridge lies across your passenger seat, one bag hangs down each side, and an installation strap holds the set to the seat. There is no frame, no rack and no drilling.

Together they hold 36 liters closed. Open the expansion zip on each bag and the pair grows to 58 liters, which is room for rain gear, a spare layer, tools and the things you would otherwise stuff in a backpack.

How much it holds

Each bag holds about 18 liters zipped in and about 29 liters expanded, so the pair runs from 36 to 58 liters (roughly 2,200 to 3,500 cubic inches). Each bag opens from a zipped top lid and has a mesh pocket with a flap on its end for the small things you want to reach fast.

Our supplier rates one expanded bag for most helmets. Helmets vary a lot in size, and a large full-face or modular helmet may not close inside, so treat helmet storage as a bonus rather than the reason to buy.

Will it fit my bike?

Throw-over saddlebags suit most motorcycles with a passenger seat: standards, cruisers, sport-tourers and many naked bikes. Before you order, check three things:

• A passenger seat to strap over. The bridge lies across it and the strap holds it there. A solo-seat bike with no pillion pad is not a good match.
• Clearance from the exhaust. The bags are fabric. They must hang clear of the muffler and pipes, which get hot enough to scorch or melt them. Bikes with high-mounted or under-seat exhausts may need a heat shield or a different bag.
• Clearance from moving parts. Each bag should hang clear of the rear tire, the shock and the turn signals, with the straps snug so nothing can swing into them.

Frameless bags rest against the side of the bike rather than on a rigid mount, so expect to adjust the straps on the first ride and check them again after the first few miles.

Fitting them

• Lay the bridge across the passenger seat so one bag hangs on each side, level with each other.
• Fit the installation strap. On most bikes you lift off the passenger seat, run the strap around it, buckle it to the bridge and refit the seat.
• Pull everything snug. Tighten until the bags do not shift when you push them, then check the exhaust and tire clearance again.

Rain and load, honestly

Water-resistant, not waterproof. The molded side panels and fabric shed road spray and a passing shower, but the zips are not sealed and water can get in during steady, heavy rain. For wet rides, add a rain cover or pack clothes and electronics in dry bags inside.

Soft gear, packed light. These are soft bags with semi-rigid side panels, not hard cases. Keep each side to about 6.6 lb (3 kg), balance the two sides, and put the heavier things low and close to the bike. Overloaded, frameless bags sag and lose their shape.

Specifications