Motorcycle rollbags buying guide | Our top picks and why you should add one to your bike

Unless you ride a scooter, storage space can be hard to come by as a motorcyclist, and that’s where rollbags come into their own. Named after their roll-top style closure, they’re simple but effective waterproof bags designed to keep your supplies high and dry. Good ones are easy to fill, easy to get stuff out of, and easy to attach, while remaining tough enough to endure hard use on or off the bike.

They often lack external pockets or handles, but this is by design – it’s done to reduce the risk of water ingress through exposed seams, while also keeping costs down. Though some rollbags have extra features, you’ll pay more for them, and they will add another potential point of failure.

What to consider before buying

First thing’s first, any roll-bag worth its salt has to be waterproof, so the waterproof layer is important to consider. You might see Cordura used on premium rollbags, while many others use PVC tarpaulin.

If straps aren’t included, you’ll have to grab some extra bungees or ROK straps to attach it to the bike, so be sure to budget those in if you’ll need them. Some rollbags offer other features that you might find useful too, like extra external pockets, MOLLE loops, or carry handles. All of these make great additions to a rollpack, so consider looking for them if you’ll use them.

Build quality is a big consideration for rollbags, as they’ll be taking a lot of abuse even through routine riding. Pay close attention to the frequent contact points; handles, clips/clasps, and any exposed seams should all look and feel tougher than you think you’d need.

Finally, it’s worth considering other luggage options if you haven’t already. For short commutes you might be better served with a riding backpack, or for long tours you might want to consider some soft panniers too.

About the testers

Justin Hayzelden – MCN’s Products Editor and resident bike kit guru, Justin has covered hundreds of thousands of miles on two wheels both at work and in his personal life. In this page, he tested a Kriega Rollpack.

Ali Silcox – MCN’s Office Manager, she loves nothing more than loading her bike up with kit and disappearing off for a solo adventure. For this page, she tested an Oxford Aqua rollbag.

Dan Sutherland – MCN’s News Editor. Dan has reported on everything from breaking new bike news to charity fund raising, as well as attending countless international new model launches, and nurturing the growth of MCN’s YouTube channel. For this page, he tested the Oxford Heritage rollbag.

Jordan Gibbons – London-based freelance writer and photographer, he worked as a News Writer and News Editor for MCN for six action-packed years and broke many amazing tales around new bikes and the issues surrounding motorcycling. For this page, he tested the Enduristan Tornado.

Jim Blackstock – Motoring journalist with over 30 years experience, currently working at MCN’s sister magazine RiDE. For this page, he tested the Lomo 20L rollbag.

How MCN tests products

Here at MCN, we make it our mission to help you find the right kit for you, at the right price for your budget. We don’t crash test (on purpose), nor lab test. We test our rollbags the same way you’ll use yours; by stuffing them and riding out. And, we make sure to put at least 1000 miles in them before sharing our findings. Our word is backed by hundreds of thousands of miles in the saddle collectively, but our recommendations come from each tester individually.

While testing, we predominantly focus on quality, ease of use, and value. When we write up our full reviews, we’ll give each rollbag a rating out of five stars in each of these categories, and offer a final verdict too. This page is only for the best motorcycle rollbags, so each one you’ll see has been awarded at least four stars overall – that’s the passing grade – but here’s what each score really means:

1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A rollbag with a single star rating has fallen below the expected standard and should be avoided.
2 stars – Basic performance in this area or overall. A rollbag with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level, and there is much room for improvement.
3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A rollbag with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.
4 stars – A rollbag has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A rollbag with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.
5 stars – A rollbag has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A rollbag with a five-star rating has delivered to the highest possible level, impressing the tester with its performance. We would happily spend our own money on it.

To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.

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