Motorcycle side cases

Motorcycle side cases, or panniers, are what really changes a bike's touring capacity: they sit on either side of the tail, carry the weight low and close to the centre and leave the seat free for a passenger. Here you will find SW-MOTECH cases, nearly all sold as a set with the carrier for each bike, and SHAD and Givi cases, which mount on their own pannier frames.

Plastic, aluminium or soft

• Plastic: lighter and more rounded, designed for road touring and everyday use. These are the SHAD SH23, SH35, SH36 and SH38X, the Givi V35 and V37 and the SW-MOTECH AERO ABS and DUSC.
• Aluminium: square, tough and flat-lidded, the favourites for adventure riding and long trips. Here you have the SHAD Terra TR36 and TR47, the Givi Trekker Outback Evo and Alaska and the SW-MOTECH TRAX ADV, in black or silver.
• Soft, like the Givi Weightless WL900: they weigh little and suit bikes where a hard case would look oversized.

What to check on side cases

Capacity on each side

Litres are given per case and are not always the same left and right. Many SW-MOTECH sets are listed as 45/37 or 41/33 litres: one larger case and one smaller, usually the one on the exhaust side. SHAD Terra cases, on the other hand, are sold individually, left and right, in 36 and 47 litres.

Width

Side cases make the bike grow sideways. For town and moving through traffic, compact ones such as the SHAD SH23 or the 16.5-litre SW-MOTECH URBAN ABS are barely noticeable; for touring, the volume of a large set makes up for the extra width.

What fits inside

A side case is shallower than a top box, so it will not always take a full-face helmet: if that is what you are after, check the product page before choosing. The SHAD SH38X is expandable and has a made-to-measure inner bag that lifts out in one piece to carry your clothes into the hotel room.

Carrier included or bought separately

At SW-MOTECH, most part numbers are side case kits with the carrier included: the pair of cases and the carriers for your bike in a single order. With SHAD and Givi, the case and the pannier frame are bought separately and must use the same system, 3P or 4P at SHAD and Monokey Side, CAM-SIDE or PL at Givi. You will find them under SHAD side case racks and, for other brands, under luggage racks; Givi side cases also have their own section.

If you want to add a top box or are not sure which combination suits you, our motorcycle luggage section helps you choose according to how you use your bike.