Question about motorcycle pannier racks.

[vash]

About to order a set for my bike.

I like this one set. HAPPY TRAILS SL ($240 and streamline looking) it’s designed for soft bags. The set is not suitable for hard boxes. The set does NOT have that brace that connects the left and right rack with the bar that runs behind the license plate bracket. Is this brace crucial? I imagine the brace would be benificial in a tip over.

What about any risk with rigidity if the bags are on the heavy side?

Go with the braced touratech racks instead? ($399 and bulkier)

[LakeCleElum]

I think you are talking about these:

https://www.happy-trail.com/happy-trails-soft-luggage-systems/sl-side-racks.html

For my Dual Sport, soft bags on a rack make contact with the muffler and would quickly burn up?

As I'm a cheap bastard: My solution: Mount something like this to the rack and throw the bags over the top:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sliver-Aluminum-Hard-Case-Textured-Small-Camera-Equipment-Case-with-Foam-Insert/183756569841?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SI M%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D57476%26meid%3D7b1eae7fc7e64f08 95a39fbd6603217e%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D1 2%26sd%3D293032970882%26itm%3D183756569841&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

[911boost]

I had Jesse’s on my BMW and they were burley but $$$$.

I like the idea of soft luggage and those racks look decent. I wonder if Motion will chime in, I bet he’s used something similar.

[on2wheels52]

The brace connecting hard panniers is only needed if you tip over/crash. Not needed with the soft bags, I've had a few sets of both.