Yes, it does depend on the rack ... and your suspension, load and speed too.

In Baja I've seen many racks and sub frames break ... mostly on BMW GS, a few XR650L Hondas, KLR's and KTM's. And these broke with just a week or two of Washboard abuse. We know every welder in Baja!

Also, we've all read dozens of ride reports where broken luggage racks happen, often from riding Washboard roads.

These one work for me ok Givi copies cheap as chips only $50 the pair totally watertight.



But that said on my Honda AT the bike did come with Hard panniers.






So I do have the best of both worlds

Let's just hope I don't drop the AT that will hurt......

My preference is soft all day long

Had some big fall with the CRF no problems, a few tears now so only 95% watertight.

I have 2 other bikes in China CFmoto TR-G and CFmoto MT.
The first one the TR-G comes with fitted Shad back boxes.

If you view the pictures CFmoto makes a rear slide bar to protect the back boxes.
These work on an ice road fall with the bike loaded up NO DAMAGE accrued to the back boxes.

Because I was so happy with this set up on the CFmoto MT I used and modified a set of TR-G rear sliders to protect the rear Alluimium rear panniers on the MT.
see pictures.
So far to date no issues with the MT as far as falls so I cant report back on how well there will protect the panniers.


It's a shame that the big boys don't sell rear sliders to protect their boxes.










The above is the TR-G .
See how well the rear sliders worked.

Below is the MT model

Lone Rider soft panniers

Just got a set put on my 1200GS this week. Made of hypalon, same material used by USNavy SEALS in their attack rafts.

https://www.lonerider-motorcycle.com/products/motobags

On my bikes I`ve had several different aluboxes, original BMW-cases, different soft bags and so. So far I`ve liked most Wolfman luggages most rugged bags (Expedition as I remember) and they have been attached on racks. How ever I have got few punctures on Wolfies and some straps have broken over time.

But some time ago friend of mine bought Russian made Motosector bag wich has very nice design. He has used it around two years now and has been very happy so I got one also.

Even if its made in Russia the quality can easily be compared to Wolfies, design is simple and it is securely attached to bike and can be dropped basicly on any bike. Almost perfect.

Check the website and product can be found from Ebay.com.

Мотосумки — MOTOSECTOR

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640 Six Days, 990Adv, 660Rally, R80g/s,
R75/5 "Toaster". South Finland.

For a tough soft pannier it is pretty hard to beat the Mosko models... I ran the BC 35s for 3 riding seasons and they stood up very well including spills, tree hits and drags under gates... The quick on and off the bike is one of the best features.. I have used this sometimes when we hit a choppy steep hill section as to where I pop the bag off the bike, ride the section and then pop the bag back on.. The issue I had with them was how much they weighed and is why I am now running the Mosko Scout 25s which weigh half of what the 35s did, but are not as quick on and off the bike... What makes the Mosko bags so tough is the ballistic material that the beavertail is made from, this stuff is bulletproof and protects the inner drybag from all kinds of hits.. I ran the Scouts to the Arctic last summer and they did well, the nice feature is that you can tuck a Pelican toolbox against the mounting plate and then fit the drybag outside of that, quite versitile.. I passed my BC 35s on to a friend and while they have some rock and tree scuffs on the outside flaps, they are just as sound as the day I purchased them.. They are really good bags, only the weight of them takes away points..



I also have a set of Wolfman Rocky mountain bags, which are also quite durable and quick to mount... I welded 4 chain links around the corner of my pannier frames that mate with the Wolfman tie in points and this makes mounting them so much more stable.. The bags themselves are made out of a much thicker ballistic fabric than the smaller expedition panniers and come with an internal drybag for each side.. They also are stiffer so they don't flop shut when you are trying to sort contents.. I have the gen 2 version and now I think they have put out a gen 3..



I also have a set of the New Style Nelson Rigg Adventure bags that I picked up for super cheap.. They are a way better bag than the previous design and also mount perfectly into the chain link tie points that I welded in place on the frames for the Wolfman bags.. They hold a pretty good jag and are really stable on the bike.. The only real issue I can see is durability in a slide or obstruction sweep. They don't have the armor beavertail of the Mosko, or the stronger ballistic fabric of the Wolfman but at about a third the price you can buy 3 lives for the same coin... I have used them on a couple outings and quite like them... Especially the way the stiffeners hold the bags square which makes it easier to rummage through to pick out stuff...


All of these above bags mount best in conjunction with a set of flat sided luggage frames..