10,000 Mile Review - Why the Tusk Pilot Panniers are the Best Budget Bags You Can Buy!

[@jwerner3903]

Great review. I was able to get a nice set of these off ebay for $90; now I need some pannier racks so I can put them to use. You should keep making videos, in time you may be able to have a big following on KZbin.

[@NoahWyka]

@@jwerner3903 thanks for the feedback! I make videos to help folks out mostly. A following would be a side benefit of helping people make good gear decisions!

[@Desmo-]

Just purchased the Tusk Pilot Panniers same size as yours, they also make a larger size. I am fabricating a set of pannier racks for my NC 700x and I plan on eliminating the straps that go across the top because fuel tank is under the seat. Thanks for taking the time to make this video.

[@NoahWyka]

Awesome! The top straps really just add some extra stiffness to the top of the bags to keep them from bouncing, but if you cinch the compression straps down tightly onto the rack, it should work just fine! Probably a little more saggy than normal, though.

[@rolandwheeler4842]

Great assessment. I have the Tusk Excursion rackless paniers, but with racks installed (after the fact) to prevent the bags from flopping around. These are also very well made, and I have nothing bad to say about them. Have been considering going to the Pilots as they hold a lot more gear.

[@randypower]

Excellent video. I own these bags and used them for a cross-country (USA) trip. Dealing with the loads of straps and buckles got really old. I later added the metal mounting plates which work well, though they are quite heavy. All said and done, i hate everything about soft bags except that they are less likely to break my ankle/leg in a fall. Everything else is slow and full of hassle.

[@NoahWyka]

Good feedback! Soft luggage in general isn't for everyone! It's all about the types of riding you do, how often you need access to your items, and your personal tolerance for "fiddliness."

[@randypower]

@@NoahWyka yes, totally agree. I also picked up the Tusk hard panniers, so i have the choice to use soft or hard luggage. Since then, I've managed to use only the hard panniers or just a dry bag on top. I'm dreading the hard vs soft luggage decision for an upcoming Texas->Washington (state)->Texas via UTBDR. 🤷‍♂️ Except for the BDR, I'd be far better off with the hard cases. (more secure, more space, very easy to load/unload, ...) I'll be riding with a buddy will be on his KLR.

[@lukaielreece-sullivan4930]

I've been looking at the pilots. The size used to be advertised as 25 liters per side and then suddenly switched on rocky mountain ATV. I was curious so I took the dimensions listed on rocky mountain and did some math and then converted cubed inches to liters. I got about 24 liters. Also judging from reviews next to the nelson rigg bags that are advertised as 28 liters the pilot panniers look smaller.

[@NoahWyka]

I appreciate the number crunching! I think some of the extra space comes from including the top of the bag when it's extended, but I think you're right, when the bag is in its normal shape, it comes out a bit small.

[@RatherBeWheeling]

Great review, just bought a used KLR that came with hard cases. They are nice but I just weighed them at almost 12lbs each.

[@paulbuschman8318]

I think that the Neson-Rigg Hurricane bags are just as good or better, as the NR bags are waterproof.

[@NoahWyka]

The Nelson-Rigg Hurricanes are another good option for budget bags! They have a lot of similar features to the Pilots (four-strap attachment that cinches the bag closed, top straps to add capacity, MOLLE loops on the end, roll-top closure, internal stiffeners to hold shape), with the added benefit of being waterproof, as you mentioned. They are about $100 more expensive, which might be worth it to some riders. The main downside I could see is the 24oz PVC-coated polyester the Hurricanes are made of - once you tear the bag, it's hard to keep it from tearing further as you load it, and you're stuck with a vinyl patch kit to re-waterproof the bag. The Pilots are made of 2520 denier ballistic nylon, which resists tearing and abuse a little better, and can be easily hand-sewn back together. If you're frequently off road in very technical terrain and find yourself dropping the bike on the bags a lot or breaking brush through lots of brambles and sticks, the Tusk Pilots are probably the way to go for abrasion resistance and get-home ability. If you're on tour in very rainy climates, ride dirt and gravel roads, and may occasionally need the bags to take a hit, the Nelson-Rigg Hurricanes are a great option! Thanks for the feedback - maybe I'll have to do a video on the Nelson-Riggs sometime!

[@ynotjf]

Totally agree! I live in the PNW and it’s always rainy & muddy, the NR can just be hosed-off along with the bike to clean them up, nothing gets wet or stays wet. I didn’t buy the Pilots for just that reason, if they get muddy and you hose them off, they stay wet for days.. I do believe Tusk to be a great product line and I used their quick release pannier rack to mount my NR Hurricane Bags and I can snap the bags off & on in just seconds..

[@armadilllo]

I just ordered the Pilots, was going back and forth between these two but the NR was about 28 liter as opposed to the pilots 35. Don't know how true it is but that's what I read. I am coming from the Tusk Highland and they were a bit too small for what I want do. My tent and sleeping bag just about filled both legs.

[@paulbuschman8318]

35 l seems like overkill and is too big for my needs. I use them for off-road and 28 l is already more than enough.

[@armadilllo]

yeah, I'm coming from two 30 liter givi dolomiti top cases I use for side cases, I can fit everything I take in those and don't need to carry anything on my top rack so I didn't want to go smaller.@@paulbuschman8318

[@pilgrimtiger2023]

Thanks Noah. Been considering these bags. Appreciate you sharing your thoughts.

[@NoahWyka]

Awesome! I have them racklessly mounted on my Tenere 700 now as well, they're great bags.

[@ChavsADV]

I recently picked these up use but new and I’ll be using the quick release mechanism or possibly just a bag liner. Your point about the difficult access is what held me back from going soft bags for a long time but what I’ve found is soft bags on the side with something like a pelican case or normal top box on the back allows you to keep weight low and benefit from the durability of soft luggage during a tip over but the box can be used for stuff like gloves and hats etc… that require a lot of in and out access. That has worked best for me.

[@NoahWyka]

Glad they work for you! A hybrid system sounds good! I run a tail bag for longer trips that works well for my lightweight or quick-access stuff.

[@ChavsADV]

@@NoahWykaNice I’m using one of the larger Apache harbor freight cases and my plan is to secure a cargo rack to the top so I can expand my storage on top of the box. Some days when you are taking gear in and off and maybe picking up some food for camp it’s nice to have a way to just strap crap to the top for a short ride. Great review btw

[@tommyzDad]

Hi, Noah. I know it's a year late . . . . but watch that PerSec @ 0:32 and 0:48. 👌

[@WayneSmith-zx3tf]

I really love the idea of soft paniers but when travelling, I like to be able to lock my hard panniers up. Sometimes I have things in there that would not only pain me to lose but could lead to other problems when reported to authorities. iykyk

[@robertparker8863]

I agree with you. Ran these on my DR650 for 10 years and am now running a new set on my Tenere 700.

[@enb3810]

These didn't even come out 10 years ago?

[@billmassey3458]

Nice job with the review, what rack are you using to mount them? Would you consider the quick release mounting setup?

[@NoahWyka]

Thanks! It's actually a fairly hard to find TCI Denali rack that the previous owner hacked the lower bars off of to make it smaller. I love it, though! Tons of real estate for straps. I thought about mounting them for quick-release, but I honestly don't swap bags or really ever take them off the bike - including shooting this video they have been off the bike three times since I bought them.

[@Hapfletcher]

I bought these bags... mine did not come with water proof bags.. I'll have to contact them. Also Im noticing your riding pants.. what are they called and where did you get them?

[@NoahWyka]

Hmm, they may have changed what they ship with in two years, but as far as I know they should include the two Defender 35 drybags. I would contact them! My riding pants are the Klim Outrider CE. Klim stopped making them, I believe, but I bought mine on overstock at MotorcycleGear.com!

[@abaldwin1981]

Nice video

[@mitchjimmy2962]

What kinda seat do you have on that bike?

[@NoahWyka]

It's the Saddlemen Adventure Track seat. Super comfortable, breathes well, and it looks great! Just takes a little more tending than a stock seat because it's leather.

[@enb3810]

No disrespect but I cannot overlook how massively annoying the 700 straps are. I currently have panniers that use one strap and a roll top closure and it's so much better.

[@NoahWyka]

It is definitely one of the quirks of this bag system. It has the advantage of staying put on the bike and offering some redundancy in case you break or tear a strap or buckle, but also the disadvantage of hassling with the straps to access anything when you're fully packed.

[@Liveandletlive438]

Which one strap panniers are you using?

[@enb3810]

@@Liveandletlive438 Ortlieb ql2 motorcycle panniers. I got em in like 2004 though, I'm sure they're discontinued. Touratech took over and has a model, but it's $600 for a set instead of being $300 for a set like the Ortlieb bags.