THE RIDE VERDICT
OUR BEST BUY triangle – for the set of panniers that represents the best value – goes to the Qbag Pannier Bags. They’re one of the two least expensive set tested, but finished a very credible fifth place overall and offer features (like the quick-release zip system) not available on any others. For under £77 (less than half the price of the best-performing set of panniers), they’re remarkable value. If they were just a little larger, they could perhaps have caused an even more significant upset.
Oxford’s P60RS were the best performing set in the test. They’re extremely well specced, with some great detailing and lots of fitment options. Use the waterproof inner bags to help you pack them and the mediocre shower test scores have less importance. They are expensive but they’re high quality and deserve a Recommended triangle.
As do Bagster’s Cruise panniers. Their style and size does mean they’re intended more for tourers and roadsters than for superbikes, but they’re good quality luggage at a decent price, with a consistently strong performance in all our tests.
The key to buying a great set of throw-overs is in finding the right shape, size and style for your bike and your touring needs. There’s little point investing £160 in Oxford’s vast and impressive P60R if you’re an R1 rider who travels light. Similarly, a serious two-up tourer – or any rider, in fact – would find spending £70 on the poor-performing Buffalo Sports Panniers a false economy. Especially when the Best Buy Qbag panniers cost only a few pounds more.