FirstGear Onyx SaddleBag review

So I just got these bags today and thought I would give a little review of them with pics.

After unpacking them I have to say the quality looks great. They come with some hard plastic ribs that you stick into the lining to provide some rigidity for the sides. They also come with two bungy chord straps for installing. I got them setup on the bike pretty quick, about 10 minutes to figure out the best configuration. I opted have the velcro straps go under the seat because i think it looks cleaner but this also makes them a little more work to take off since the seat has to come off first. Mounting over the seat would be easier if I was planning on taking them off frequently.

They expand quite a bit by unzipping a section kind of like airline luggage does. In their normal width they seem big enough for normal day to day things like some groceries, sweat shirts, and my gym bag. When you expand them there is a ton of extra room. My helmet fits in easily when expanded. I also like the two extra pockets on each bag for stuff you want quick access to.

Some pictures below. In the birds eye view picture, the exhaust side bag is expanded.

On the highway they seem stable and I don't notice that they are there.

They also come with shoulder straps for carrying them like a backpack and rain covers.

For the price ($140) I think they are a good deal and make a great alternative to hard luggage.

 

Thanks for the write up.

The majority of my riding gear is from First Gear. Personally, I think they make a great product, but we all have our favorites.

 

Very nice............:thumb:

 

Killer review. I want!

 

sweet. do they ONLY secure across the top like saddlebags and loose on the bottom? or is there some security that goes lower just in case they start to flap?

 

Yes they do secure on the bottom as well. They come with bungee cords which at first seemed questionable but I figured out that if you put one end on the D ring then wrap aroun the foot peg bracket then attach to the other D ring it secures very nicely. It seems like it wouldn't be very secure but it does hold nicely and riding at 90 mph yesterday they weren't moving around at all.

 

I have those also (although mine are 3 years old now). One thing to note is:

It is worth hitting the bags with silicone water proofing spray. I got caught driving through a town that had gotten rain an hour before I went through, so I didnt have the rain covers on, but the road was wet enough that the tire flung enough water on the bottom of the bags to get things damp in there.