Nelson-Rigg Sierra Dry Saddlebags
Product Install and Review
For under $200, this luggage should be on your list to consider if you are looking at a soft bag solution for your adventure bike or dual sport machine.
Choosing saddlebags for your adventure bike can be a daunting task considering all the products and opinions swirling around. Not to mention the debate over hard and soft bags. But, on that front I will not weigh in at this time. For this discussion I will assume you have landed on soft bags and are looking for a little insight on Nelson-Rigg’s most affordable full-size bag.
First up, the Nelson-Rigg Sierra Dry bags are 27.5 liters each and are made of 24oz PVC, which has a soft rubber feel. As a roll top bag, you can rest assured no water will find its way onto your cherished belongings.
Most adventure bike luggage will run you several hundred dollars and could even tax your wallet in excess of a thousand dollars. My curiosity is around bags that cost just two or three hundred dollars. Bags like the Tusk Pilot and these Sierra Dry Saddlebags purport to deliver much of the value of those high-priced bags at a fraction of the cost.
These bags are available in yellow and black.
A semi-rigid panel gives the bottom and sides of this bag some shape. The front and back, however, are unsupported and can crease if you use these bags mostly empty.
A replaceable foam panel extends durability by providing a barrier between the bag and your side racks.
You’ll want to run the straps up through the loops if you are using them over your seat. Otherwise, send them down through the loops if they are not needed for your set up.
The velcro strip on the back of the bag keeps the backer plate from shifting. Thousands of miles of testing show the backer stays put through all types of riding.
Side straps keep the bags tight to your rack.
Cam locks on the side straps are easy to use and would have been a better fastener choice for all straps on the bag if I had my way.
Thanks to very long straps, these bags are adaptable to virtually any bike. But, don’t forget to trim and melt the straps once you have figured out your set up.
Top straps can be used for securing additional luggage to these bags, so you will want to leave as much length as possible while staying short enough to avoid the hot exhaust.
Using just the four side straps as pictured above, while strong enough, will squish the bag from both sides making it look like a wrinkled mess.
You can see how the bags will sag when only the four side straps are used to secure this luggage. Using the back D-Rings is one way to solve this.
Using the large straps is the other way to ensure the bag is properly supported.
I am not a fan of the large velcro straps across the top of the seat. They look messy, impermanent and get in the way of people and things like luggage, tents, rolls etc .that may want to occupy the same space. Also, as it happens the Husky, like it’s KTM sibling, has a rear gas tank which means these straps interfere with the fuel filler cap.
The least obtrusive way to support these bags is to take advantage of the D-Rings on the back of the bag.
To use these D-Rings you will need to create an opening through the backer plate.
Extra large zip ties looped through the rack and the back D-Rings hold the bag securely and keep it from shifting.
The large Velcro straps are tucked down through the strap loops on the backer and then folded for future use. If you don’t plan to move these bags to another bike in the future you may choose to remove those straps altogether.
A cable lock is a great way to secure your belongings in your soft bags.
At 27.5 liters per bag, these bags are great for a week or two and I can’t imagine needing more space for my next adventure. After adding a top case to my 701 and a couple of dry bags for my sleeping bag, pillow and sleeping pad, I had all the room I needed to complete a 10-day ride including the MABDR.
Tip: secure additional luggage / dry bags directly to your rack with a couple rockstraps instead of lashing them to the top of this luggage. The clips on the top straps do not have cam locks so I recommend you go with something more secure. I don’t trust the little aluminum hooks that hold the top straps because they have worked loose on me in the past, so I only rely on them for tightening down the top of the bag. With separate straps secured to your racks, you can easily access the bags separately from the saddlebags and all the weight and pressure is on the racks— not on the top of your soft bags. This should ensure these bags last longer. Seems like a few people have had long term durability issues that I have not. Not adding to the top of the bag is just prudent in my estimation.
The Sierra Dry Saddlebags utilize a unique little aluminum hook to secure the roll top and the top straps….not bad but not as good as a cam lock.
My suggestions for the next iteration of this bag? Okay here goes…Semi-rigid inserts on the front and back of the bag would make them hold their shape better. Yes ,I know it’s just esthetics, but we all want to look good doing our thing. Top straps with cam buckles instead of the strange little hooks would be much more secure. A bit more reflective tape at the back of the bike wouldn’t hurt either. Although, yes I agree it is questionable whether it would improve visibility very much anyway. And, finally, some kind of quick release option on the back of the bag to make it simpler and easier to convert your bike from bag to bagless would be helpful..
Sierra Dry Saddlebags: Product Rating
Quality - these bags appear to be finished very well
Weather Proof - you can’t be dry bags for water resistance
Durability - although there are definitely bags with tougher exteriors than these. I have logged thousands of miles…and dropped the bike on numerous occasions without incident so I have to say the durability is good
Storage Capacity - 55 total liters of storage is as large as most of us would ever want or need in side bags
Security - being that these are soft bags, they are inherently less secure than hard bags
Convenience - here again, hard bags are far easier to open the lid and have quick access to your items on a moment’s notice. Also, these bags lack any sort of quick release capability
Overall Value - These bags are up to the task for adventure riding and provide great value for your money
You can obviously find bags that are tougher, more convenient, and more secure. But, if you don’t mind spending a little effort to get at your things when needed, this luggage could leave you with more money in your pocket for more important upgrades. With a price tag of 200 dollars, these Nelson-Rig Sierra Dry saddlebags might be just right for you.
Packed and ready for departure, these Sierra Dry Saddlebags were a reliable part of my flexible packing strategy when I completed the MABDR on this 2020 Husky 701 enduro LR.
Hopefully these insights are helpful for you. Good luck with your own luggage decision.
Questions, comments or feedback?
Hop over to my youtube channel to get the full video walk through.
You can find these bags at a variety of retailers…on Amazon Here You can also find a link to Mosko Moto’s cable lock Here
And for more specs and info on the bags you can visit Nelson-Rigg Here
Please note that I did not receive any financial or product support from any of the manufacturers or retailers mentioned above.
