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Buying guide · updated 2026-10-08 · The Real Deal Meter team

Motorcycle bags under $150 compared

An adventure motorcycle in the rain with a roll-top bag over the seat clear of the exhaust and a small bag on the crash bar
Illustration: Real Deal Meter

Three Rhinowalk bags, and the question is not which is best but where each one goes on a motorcycle: a small bag strapped to the crash bars, a side bag that hooks onto a rack, and a pair of roll-top bags thrown over the seat. All three listings say waterproof; Rhinowalk’s own pages say something narrower about two of them. Fit, water and the exhaust are what this page is about.

Our pick: Rhinowalk Waterproof Motorcycle Dry Bag, 18-48L. For most riders, the roll-top pair. It needs no rack, and it is the one bag here whose outer shell is itself waterproof by Rhinowalk’s description — welded fabric and a roll-top closure — rather than a water-resistant shell around a dry liner. Return of the Cafe Racers found the 28 L set better than expected on a Z900RS, though it had not tested the waterproofing yet. Mount it with the exhaust in mind: Rhinowalk sells a heat shield for it, and the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook found the big set happiest on a rack. If your bike already has side racks and you want luggage that comes off in seconds, the MTR2050 is the one — one bag at that price, so budget for two. The crash bar bag is for tools and rain gear, not the trip’s luggage.
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ProductPrice
Small, on the crash barsRhinowalk Waterproof Motorcycle Crash Bar Bag
The photo shows Rhinowalk’s Mechanic Series bag: 6 L, a zippered 1680D outer bag strapped to suitable crash bars, with a roll-top liner inside — the liner is the waterproof part, by Rhinowalk’s own description. One reviewer hosed his and found it dry inside.
2 checks since Oct 7 · low $36.97		$147.86$36.97
Needs a side rackRhinowalk Waterproof Motorcycle Saddle Bags, 25-32L
One 25–32 L bag — the listing sells one, not a pair — that hooks onto a side rack with two quick-release hooks; Rhinowalk says it is not a no-rack bag. The zippered outer is water resistant, and a taped-seam liner inside keeps the contents dry.
13 checks since Sep 26 · low $74.19		$247.79$83.34
No rack: over the seatRhinowalk Waterproof Motorcycle Dry Bag, 18-48L
A pair of roll-top bags in welded, PVC-coated fabric that strap across the rear seat — 18, 28 or 48 L a pair, and the price we track is for one size. Rhinowalk says fit depends on the bike and sells a heat shield; the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook found the 48 L set best on a rack.
9 checks since Sep 30 · low $99.90		$333.44$112.14

Prices last checked 2026-10-08. Each one is re-checked daily and this table is rebuilt when any of them moves.

More motorcycle bags at the stores we work with ↓

Where it mounts decides which one fits your bike

Soft luggage goes on a motorcycle one of three ways, and the bike decides which you can use. The crash bar bag straps to the engine guards many adventure bikes carry 1. The MTR2050 hooks onto a side rack, and Rhinowalk says plainly that it is not a no-rack bag 2. The roll-top pair needs no rack: its webbing crosses the rear seat and ties to suitable anchor points, and Rhinowalk warns that fit depends on the bike’s bodywork, seat shape and exhaust 3.

Racks help even where they are optional. ADV Pulse’s point is that a rack keeps soft bags off the side panels and the hot exhaust 4, and the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook found that the rackless 48 L pair had to sit high, almost on the side of the seat, to stay clear of the wheel and the pipe without one 5.

  1. Mechanic Series 6L Waterproof Crash Bar Bag Rhinowalk — the maker's page: 6 L; three-point straps for suitable crash bars; 1680D polyester outer; 'The detachable roll-top inner liner is waterproof when correctly closed'; the zippered outer bag is not described as fully waterproof; about 790 g; keep it clear of the exhaust, hot engine parts, wheel and controls; $45.99 on 2026-10-08
  2. MTR2050 25-32L Quick-Release Motorcycle Side Bag Rhinowalk — the maker's page: one bag, 25 L rolled three times, up to 32 L; two quick-release hooks for a side rack; 'This is not a universal no-rack bag'; the zippered outer shell is 'water resistant, not fully waterproof'; a removable liner with taped seams; about 2,600 g a bag; observe rack and bike load limits; one bag $80.03, a pair $156.39 on 2026-10-08
  3. Rackless Waterproof Motorcycle Pannier Bags - 18L/28L/48L Pair Rhinowalk — the maker's page: a left-and-right pair, no side rack, webbing across the rear seat to anchor points; 500D PVC fabric, welded construction, roll-top closure; fit depends on bodywork, seat and exhaust; an optional MTR004 exhaust heat shield; 18 L pair $118.68, 28 L $127.88, 48 L $146.28 on 2026-10-08
  4. Hard or Soft Luggage? The Great Debate (page 2) ADV Pulse — Bob Whitby: soft bags usually not lockable; roll tops can be waterproof and expandable; 'mounting straps can come into contact with hot exhaust parts and melt'; 'Racks are helpful in keeping soft bags off the side panels and hot exhaust'
  5. Quick look: Rhinowalk 48L Saddle Bags Adventure Motorcycling Handbook — Chris Scott (2026-01-05), the 48 L pair, bought used: 'Inexpensive basic 500D PVC throwovers'; 'Despite rackless claim, best with a rack in this XL size'; without a rack they sit high to stay off the wheel and pipe; 'May not survive heavy loads off road'

“Waterproof” means three different things here

All three listings say waterproof; Rhinowalk’s own pages are more careful. The roll-top pair is welded fabric with a roll-top closure, which keeps rain and spray out when it is correctly closed 1. The MTR2050’s zippered outer shell is water resistant, not waterproof — the dry part is a removable liner with taped seams 2. The crash bar bag works the same way, a zippered outer bag around a waterproof roll-top liner 3; GenXrider hosed one down for about 30 seconds and found it dry inside 4.

None of the three carries an IP rating. For scale, ORTLIEB rates its own roll-top dry bag IP64 — splash-proof, not submersible — and only with the top rolled three or four times 5. An industry column on the subject is blunt that zippers sold as waterproof are not 6. Roll the tops all the way, and pack whatever must stay dry inside the liners.

  1. Rackless Waterproof Motorcycle Pannier Bags - 18L/28L/48L Pair Rhinowalk — the maker's page: a left-and-right pair, no side rack, webbing across the rear seat to anchor points; 500D PVC fabric, welded construction, roll-top closure; fit depends on bodywork, seat and exhaust; an optional MTR004 exhaust heat shield; 18 L pair $118.68, 28 L $127.88, 48 L $146.28 on 2026-10-08
  2. MTR2050 25-32L Quick-Release Motorcycle Side Bag Rhinowalk — the maker's page: one bag, 25 L rolled three times, up to 32 L; two quick-release hooks for a side rack; 'This is not a universal no-rack bag'; the zippered outer shell is 'water resistant, not fully waterproof'; a removable liner with taped seams; about 2,600 g a bag; observe rack and bike load limits; one bag $80.03, a pair $156.39 on 2026-10-08
  3. Mechanic Series 6L Waterproof Crash Bar Bag Rhinowalk — the maker's page: 6 L; three-point straps for suitable crash bars; 1680D polyester outer; 'The detachable roll-top inner liner is waterproof when correctly closed'; the zippered outer bag is not described as fully waterproof; about 790 g; keep it clear of the exhaust, hot engine parts, wheel and controls; $45.99 on 2026-10-08
  4. Rhinowalk Crash Bar Bag Review GenXrider — Robert Woolford (2026-01-18), the Mechanic Series bag on a Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, bought by the reviewer; the page carries affiliate links: hosed for about 30 seconds, 'bone dry inside'
  5. Dry-Bag ORTLIEB — a roll-top dry bag rated IP64, 'protected against splashing water from all directions', with the closure rolled down 3-4 times; IP67 would mean temporary immersion
  6. Waterproof Luggage? Motorcycle & Powersports News — an industry column by the founder of a luggage company: makers test 'in no uniform way'; zippers sold as waterproof 'are not'; enough rolls keep water out

Heat, the rear wheel and the weight you carry

A soft bag’s enemies are the exhaust and the rear wheel. Straps that touch hot exhaust parts can melt 1, and a load that works loose can catch in the wheel or chain, lock the rear wheel and skid the bike 2. Rhinowalk’s pages say the same of each bag: keep it and its straps clear of the exhaust, the wheel, the chain and the suspension 3 4 5.

The operator manual Missouri bases on the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s adds the rest: load the two saddlebags with about the same weight, and stop to check that the load has not shifted or loosened 2. ADV Pulse’s version is shorter — never use bungee cords 6 — and the Handbook doubted the big rackless bags would survive heavy loads off road 7.

  1. Hard or Soft Luggage? The Great Debate (page 2) ADV Pulse — Bob Whitby: soft bags usually not lockable; roll tops can be waterproof and expandable; 'mounting straps can come into contact with hot exhaust parts and melt'; 'Racks are helpful in keeping soft bags off the side panels and hot exhaust'
  2. Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual (based on the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's) Missouri Department of Revenue — 'Carrying Loads': load saddlebags with about the same weight; overloading may let bags catch in the wheel or chain, 'locking the rear wheel and causing the motorcycle to skid'; check the load often
  3. Mechanic Series 6L Waterproof Crash Bar Bag Rhinowalk — the maker's page: 6 L; three-point straps for suitable crash bars; 1680D polyester outer; 'The detachable roll-top inner liner is waterproof when correctly closed'; the zippered outer bag is not described as fully waterproof; about 790 g; keep it clear of the exhaust, hot engine parts, wheel and controls; $45.99 on 2026-10-08
  4. MTR2050 25-32L Quick-Release Motorcycle Side Bag Rhinowalk — the maker's page: one bag, 25 L rolled three times, up to 32 L; two quick-release hooks for a side rack; 'This is not a universal no-rack bag'; the zippered outer shell is 'water resistant, not fully waterproof'; a removable liner with taped seams; about 2,600 g a bag; observe rack and bike load limits; one bag $80.03, a pair $156.39 on 2026-10-08
  5. Rackless Waterproof Motorcycle Pannier Bags - 18L/28L/48L Pair Rhinowalk — the maker's page: a left-and-right pair, no side rack, webbing across the rear seat to anchor points; 500D PVC fabric, welded construction, roll-top closure; fit depends on bodywork, seat and exhaust; an optional MTR004 exhaust heat shield; 18 L pair $118.68, 28 L $127.88, 48 L $146.28 on 2026-10-08
  6. Adventure Motorcycle Luggage: Everything You Need To Get Started ADV Pulse — Bob Whitby (2019-05-20): roll-top closures preferable to zippers; welded seams; 'Never use bungee cords'; weight carried high hurts handling
  7. Quick look: Rhinowalk 48L Saddle Bags Adventure Motorcycling Handbook — Chris Scott (2026-01-05), the 48 L pair, bought used: 'Inexpensive basic 500D PVC throwovers'; 'Despite rackless claim, best with a rack in this XL size'; without a rack they sit high to stay off the wheel and pipe; 'May not survive heavy loads off road'

What these prices mean

Each price here is the one we last checked on that product’s own page, and each page says the date. All three are AliExpress listings: AliExpress quotes new accounts a lower “Welcome deal” price and runs store coupons on top, so you may be shown less than we list, and the struck-through figures are the sellers’ own, which we have not seen charged.

Rhinowalk also sells all three in its own store. On October 8, 2026 it asked $45.99 for the Mechanic Series crash bar bag 1 and $80.03 for one MTR2050 2, against $36.97 and $83.34 for the listings here that day — the side bag was cheaper at Rhinowalk’s own store. Its roll-top pairs ran from $118.68 for the 18 L to $146.28 for the 48 L 3.

  1. Mechanic Series 6L Waterproof Crash Bar Bag Rhinowalk — the maker's page: 6 L; three-point straps for suitable crash bars; 1680D polyester outer; 'The detachable roll-top inner liner is waterproof when correctly closed'; the zippered outer bag is not described as fully waterproof; about 790 g; keep it clear of the exhaust, hot engine parts, wheel and controls; $45.99 on 2026-10-08
  2. MTR2050 25-32L Quick-Release Motorcycle Side Bag Rhinowalk — the maker's page: one bag, 25 L rolled three times, up to 32 L; two quick-release hooks for a side rack; 'This is not a universal no-rack bag'; the zippered outer shell is 'water resistant, not fully waterproof'; a removable liner with taped seams; about 2,600 g a bag; observe rack and bike load limits; one bag $80.03, a pair $156.39 on 2026-10-08
  3. Rackless Waterproof Motorcycle Pannier Bags - 18L/28L/48L Pair Rhinowalk — the maker's page: a left-and-right pair, no side rack, webbing across the rear seat to anchor points; 500D PVC fabric, welded construction, roll-top closure; fit depends on bodywork, seat and exhaust; an optional MTR004 exhaust heat shield; 18 L pair $118.68, 28 L $127.88, 48 L $146.28 on 2026-10-08

More at the stores we work with

1 more motorcycle bags at $150 or less, besides the ones compared above: each store’s own product at its own price, linked straight to the store. We have not compared these, and their prices are not ones we check.

AliExpress 1

AliExpress’s own prices, read Oct 8, 2026 · AliExpress US local stock: ships from a US warehouse

  • LEXIN-MeshCom Motorcycle MESH&Bluetooth Headset Intercom ,With Mesh Communication System,
    LEXIN-MeshCom Motorcycle MESH&Bluetooth Headset Intercom ,With Mesh Communication System,
    $116.75 AliExpress list $347.13
    See it at AliExpress → Paid link

More at AliExpress → Paid link

The stores’ prices are their own, read from the product feed each gives its affiliates and re-read every day; we have not checked them the way we check the deals we track. Stores in alphabetical order, each cheapest first — never in the order of what we earn.

Prices are what we last checked on each product's own page — follow a link for the current price and the date it was verified. Every outbound link here is an affiliate link; see Disclosure.

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