What do you call those "storage containers" that hang off the side of your bike?

What do you call those "storage containers" that hang off the side of your bike?

  • Saddle Bags

    Votes: 43 52.4%
  • Panniers

    Votes: 29 35.4%
  • Other

    Votes: 10 12.2%

  • Total voters
    82

paulcb

- - - Tetelestai - - - R.I.P. - 2022/05/26
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Location
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'97/'01 ST1100 ABSII
This came up in another thread. What do you call them, saddle bags, panniers or something else?

I know "saddle bags" is common but I've always called them panniers, not sure why.
 
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Americans seem to call them saddle bags, Brits (maybe other Europeans, too,) call them panniers.

Are you allowed to use words like "panniers" in Texas?
 
Tomayto... Tomahto... doesn't matter, they're the same thing...

Saddlebag Wiki says 'see Pannier'
Pannier Wiki says 'see Saddlebag'

Now, which one holds more moly paste and which one holds more moly grease?
 
Saddle bags. Panniers if they are metal and on an adventure bike.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
I tend to call them saddlebags or side cases on the moto, and always panniers when referring to the bicycle equivalent.

Subtle distinction is that panniers are never part of the factory design where side cases may be. Saddlebags always conjures images of the Old West, for me, with the obligatory bedroll behind the saddle plus rifle in a scabbard and lariat up front.
 
Saddlebags!

When I heard "panners" the first time I thought, why are people putting "pans" on their bikes? :confused:

:chef3:
 
Panniers when I put soft bags on my mountain bike because that's what all the bike mags and store called them.

Saddle bags when I put them on my V65 Sabre because they were soft luggage and that's way cowhands and Cycle Gear called them. And I'd never heard anybody in the motorcycle world call them 'panniers'.

Panniers now that I'm on the ST-O (sorta like being on the 405). Because I sometimes do what the Romans do when in Rome. Life is a wheel. LOL
 
I lean toward calling them panniers in writing but saddle bags in speech. I dunno maybe panniers is easier to write. Occasionally call them hard bags or side bags too.
 
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Beer Cooler. Wine cellar. Whiskey rack.

Didn't you know there was a AC compressor option for the honda V4.....

Libations need to be cool when you get to camp..........
 
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Pannier comes from the old french word "panier" or basket in English. Panier in turn comes from the latin word "panis" meaning bread.

So i may have been born in the UK but i'm going to call them saddle bags 'cos i don't want no bread baskets on my ST!!
 
My mule has a saddle seat with saddle bags and around 115 horses.:coffee1: Panniers sounds too highfalutin and absolutely no one I've talked to knows what they are except on the interweb.:confused:
 
Pan European as in all of Europe, i.e. Pangea or Pan American.
 
I like to ride horses when I can. When I go, i like to take my 100+ year old cowboy saddle bags that I restored (including putting in copper rivets and patching rips and whatnot.

That being said, theres no way in heck im gunna call them panniers

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