I’ve sat on the fence about buying dedicated motorcycle luggage for years. I’ll be the first to admit I’m no adventure tourer or even a frequent motorcycle holiday traveler, but every year I go on at least 2 or 3 big rides that require me to carry luggage. In the past, I’ve resorted to carrying my belongings on my back in a motorcycle backpack, but thanks to an old injury that has always ended with unpleasant back and neck pain. My solution to this was to instead strap said backpack to the rear half of my seat. This worked, but it never filled me with confidence. So, without fail after each trip, I’ve regretted not getting myself proper motorcycle luggage.
So why didn’t I just buy some luggage? To be honest I simply couldn’t justify the high cost vs the frequency of my trips. I also had no interest in buying hard luggage that required fitting racks to my Z900RS and, as ridiculous as it is, I didn’t want to ruin the look of my beloved Zed by hanging a huge pair of silver boxes off the back of it.
After listening to me lament my first-world moto-luggage problem many times, a good friend pointed me in the direction of Rhinowalk and their rackless Motorcycle Pannier Side Bags. At around a third of the cost of backpacks from popular motorcycle luggage brands, the Rhinowalk panniers seemed unbelievable value for money. The bags come in pairs and attach to a motorcycle using a universal strap system rather than racks and are waterproof. Sounds too good to be true right? Well, I decided to give them a go.
Rhinowalk is a Chinese brand and they manufacture their products locally. Their complete product range consists primarily of luggage for motorcycles and bicycles but they also offer a few related accessories. You can purchase their products from their website or Aliexpress store and they have worldwide distributors to ensure quick delivery of your order.
The Rhinowalk waterproof side panniers come in any color you want, as long as it’s black. The 3 sizes they offer are the Small 9L/18L, Medium 14L/28L, and Large 24L/48L. I went with the mid-range 14L/28L version since the most I usually need to pack for is 3 or 4 nights. The bags feature a roll-top closure, reflective details, and come with everything you need to secure them to (almost) any motorcycle.
Fitting the Rhinowalk panniers for the first time had its challenges. I haven’t installed motorcycle luggage like this before and there weren’t any instructions besides a rudimentary 3-step diagram printed on the box they came in. I found an install video on the Rhinowalk Youtube account which was a big help, but since this luggage is universal, the actual mounting method used will vary from motorcycle to motorcycle. The Kawasaki Z900RS isn’t a motorcycle designed with panniers in mind, so I had my work cut out for me.
The first step of the installation involves clipping the center straps on each of the 2 bags together. The bags are then hung over opposing sides of the rear end so they sit evenly balanced. The height of the panniers can be adjusted using locking strap adjusters and any excess is stowed away in a velcro protective sleeve that sits over your seat. Step 2 and step 3 see you strapping to rearward and forward-oriented tiedown points on your motorcycle. On the Zed, I fastened them to the grab rail I fitted to my seat and to the footpeg brackets that sit below the front of the panniers. This essentially secures the bags in 3 points which inturn prevents them from slipping around while you’re on the move.
Inside each pannier is a single large storage compartment. The bags are made in an L shape which accepts a surprisingly large amount of luggage. Once you’ve put everything inside, the top of the bag rolls down to create a waterproof seal. Four buckles located on the sides, front, and rear of each bag secure the rolled top and cinch everything tight. Dealing with the excess webbing straps takes a while, but now that I’ve gone through the process once, everything should fit to my motorcycle quickly when I pack for my next trip.
With the Rhinowalk panniers installed, I hardly noticed them once I was on the go. There is of course some extra weight apparent in the rear, but the bags sit well behind you so they don’t rub against you or obstruct your movements in any way. From the front, they’re hardly visible and from the side, the bags follow the line of my subframe nicely. I never expected to be saying this, but I quite like the look of them.
Rhinowalk claims these bags are waterproof which I have yet to test. There are however many people trialing them on Youtube with great success. The bags are made from tough polyester which has been PVC coated to keep water out. All of the internal seams have also been covered to stop water ingress and it all looks to be of a high quality despite the low purchase price.
The hardware holding everything together in these bags is a mix of plastic and metal and feels very solid and well-made too. The crucial mounting buckles feature locking mechanisms to prevent the bags from coming loose and all of the loose webbing can be stowed using included fasteners. Each of the panniers also features rubber-covered handles so they can be carried easily once removed from a motorcycle.
On the back of each bag is a padded honeycomb texture designed to minimize any damage to your bodywork. When installed on my bike the bags did not sit on the bodywork or frame, but I will fit clear protective film anyway to avoid any damage caused by friction or dirt getting between the panniers and my paintwork. And finally, the pannier straps double as extra mounting points for any additional items that don’t need to be carried inside a bag.
So far this affordable motorcycle luggage from Rhinowalk has exceeded my expectations. The longevity of lower-priced products can sometimes be a concern, but there’s nothing I’ve seen so far to make me worry. Other riders are using the Rhinowalk panniers for offroad touring where they’ve withstood some serious punishment. Unlike them, mine will be utilized for the occasional road trip and will undoubtedly make the whole experience a much more enjoyable one.
