As winter rolls in, I’m looking at the useful gear I tested in 2024. This includes the new Nelson Rigg quick-release saddlebag plates—a useful, although slightly pricey, solution for ADVers who want the best of both worlds.
When comparing the advantages and disadvantages of soft luggage vs. hard luggage, one major factor in favor of hard luggage is that it’s mostly quick to attach to the bike, and quick to remove. While I’ve long been a fan of soft bags, they almost always require a bit of faffing around each time you install them. Tighten a strap here, check to make sure there’s no chafing, and to make sure the bags can’t shift and get burned on the exhaust pipe, or work loose in-flight. You know the drill.
Our initial look at the Nelson Rigg plates came at AIMExpo in 2024. This view of the back of the plates shows how webbing threads through the plates to attach saddlebags. Also note the three mounting clamps; two on the bottom of the plate, one locking clamp on top. Photo: Zac Kurylyk
So, many manufacturers are now offering a compromise—a hard plate backing that you attach your soft saddlebags to, instead of attaching them to the bike. The plates are able to be quick-mounted into place, and quickly removed when you come to accommodations for the night. This is the idea behind the new plates from Nelson Rigg, which we initially told you about here.
A few months later, they shipped me a set to test out on my Super Tenere. Here’s how that worked out.
Installation is easy
The plates are made of laser-cut aluminum, with slots cut into the plates that allow you to run attachment straps through soft luggage. The slots also let you mount quick-release clamps that grab onto your bike’s pannier rack.
Even if you don’t consider yourself a master mechanic, this is an easy installation procedure. Note how the slots allow multiple installation points for the mounting clamps. You can fit these to most *tubular* pannier racks. Photo: Zac Kurylyk
Because there are several sets of slots built-in, allowing a lot of adjustability, Nelson Rigg mounting plates are near-universal; they’ll even fit those old Wolfman mini-racks that are much-loved but hard to find these days. My Super Tenere had an old set of old quick-release Givi racks, made of tube steel, and the mounting clamps Nelson Rigg used were a perfect fit.
However, note that Nelson Rigg says the mounting clamp “Fits most tubular pannier racks up to 18.8mm and 19mm – 20mm or 3/4″ racks with optional latch.” My WR250R had a Happy Trails rack with square tubing, and the mounting clamps included will not work with that setup. Before you order, make sure your parts are compatible.
Once you’ve got everything in-hand, it’s easy-peasy, with included written instructions that spell out the steps. Hold the mounting plate against your pannier rack to guestimate where you want the mounting clamps to sit, then install those. Then, use webbing and buckles to attach your panniers to the mounting plate.
You can see Nelson Rigg’s demonstration of the system below:
The plates are designed to work with Nelson Rigg’s own saddlebags, and that’s what I used. But you should be able to use saddlebags from a wide variety of manufacturers, if you are willing to do a bit of jimmy-rigging to make it work.
When the job’s done, you have a set of panniers with hard backing plates. You set the lower mounting clamps in place on your rack, click the top mounting clamp in place, and it’s all secure—even more secure if you add a lock, which is easily done (Nelson Rigg recommends a gun case lock from your local hardware store if you watch the video above). To remove the bag, just unlock the top mounting clamp and lift the bag off.
Instructions were simple and easy to follow. Photo: Zac Kurylyk
It’s all very fuss-free, although you do have to make sure the pannier itself is securely tightened to the mounting plate, with no errant straps flapping in the wind. Aside from that, there’s really little to go wrong with this design, and if a component breaks, it should be easy to replace as long as it’s available.
How did it work out?
Once installed, the system is dead-simple to use, and seems to hold together well through dirt-road riding. I had to take the Super Tenere off the road this summer for an ABS repair, but up to that point, the Nelson Rigg system worked well, handling some pretty tricky riding with aplomb.
Once the saddlebags were mounted to the plates, Nelson Rigg’s excellent cambuckle-equipped Rigg Straps made it easy to secure them in place. Photo: Zac Kurylyk
Who is this for?
I don’t think this plate system will survive a crash as well as a soft bag system that’s strapped directly to your bike, as there are components that can bend or break under stress (the pannier rack itself, in particular). However, I do think it’s a better design for off-roading than hard-mounted metal panniers. Dropping a metal box on your leg, with the weight of a bike behind it, is no fun. A soft bag is safer, should you get entangled with your machine in a get-off (been there, done that).
Because the Nelson Rigg plates can be retro-fit to a wide variety of racks, I think this system appeals to a lot of riders who want to take their old ADV or dual sport and turn it into a more-friendly-to-live-with touring bike. However, it does come at a cost. Current Nelson Rigg pricing starts at $329.95, and rises if you add options like a latch extension (for working around exhausts on some bikes). That price is just for the plates and mounts, not including the pannier racks attached to your bike, or the bags to attach to the plates.
However, that pricing includes a lifetime warranty, and since this system is basically universal, you should be able to buy once, cry once, and use this on a wide variety of machines in the years to come, even street tourers.
For more details, check out Nelson Rigg’s website here.