ViaTerra Leh Saddlebags 6000km Review

Few weeks back I went on a road trip which was a sudden plan of 2000km covering 3 states 4 days ie NH-17 coastal Highway, Murudeshwar and Hampi. Before that while in December 2014 I did 3500km ride from Pune to Bhubaneshwar via Nagpur and return via Hyderabad.

While starting for Bhubaneshwar from Pune

In both of these rides, I was carrying a Leh Saddlebag by Viaterra. I got it on November 2014, as I was doing Pune to BBSR and back. ie my home town. So need a bag which do have good space and can be easily carried. I never liked tank bag as they create disturbance. Also I keep my camera bag with me, which always keep hanging in front. so tank bag is cancelled also tank bags have very small capacity. Now only option I had is a bag which could be attached to my bike pillon seat and do have a hug room.

At Aurangabad

Huge Capacity

I went to DSG shop in Pune and got asked shopkeeper for saddle bag and I got this one. having no prior idea about what all variety of saddle bags are available. Was happy to get one. I started arranging things in it and most of my important material got inside that without much trouble. With huge bags both side and each with 24L space this is something which you must need for a long trip. And you can easily access all your essence as the bag is top loaded.

Any weather

In most of my trips being a solo adventurer I don't carry much and this is enough for me. Now this bag comes with many plus point, as can be used in any weather, and by that I mean is this bag is having two bottle holder, with straps to keep bottle in place in bumpy rides . Once I forgot to clip the straps and in few minutes my bottles were flying on highway.

Stroom flaps to keep bag safe in small drizzles and for heavy rain you can use the rain covers which come with bag itself.

Created with Riders in Mind

This bad also have 1 zipped pocket with clear PVC and 1 zipped mesh pocket - To carry documents, medicines etc.
Moreover you will also have two additional pockets in front for easy access, to keep things which are required often.

While Trip to Murudeshwar, on NH17

So basically if you pack right you don't need anything  more except this and as the name suggest Leh Saddlebag, this is something which is made for tough and long rides like Leh Ladakh ride where we need to keep our things safe in all conditions and able to ride easily without worrying about the bag.

At Ganpatipule, enjoying costal highway

Problems I faced

Only issue I found is, it is made for bike with straight exhaust like RE or Averger. Iown a  GS150R, with slight angle to my exhaust. While attaching bag, the bottom of bag was far from exhaust, but with time, it start kissing my exhaust and end us burning itself.
Also after two rides I find from few places where stitching are done, threads have started showing their face. Even though they do provide lifetime repair service with 1 year warranty I would expecting this bag to go without any issues for few more rides...

For more you can still visit Product page here
Details from ViaTerra Website :

Karnatka, Karwa

Suggestions for ViaTerra :

1. Quality of stitching need to be improved.
2. This bag starts hanging on excess weight, which caused the bottom of bag to touch silencer.
3. Even if there is gap between bottom of bag and exhaust, I can feel base of bag getting heated. And no idea what will happen to the rain cover in that scenario.
4. The bag material is awesome, even after one side bottom got little damaged as the bottom PVC protector got melted, I don't face issues, but these can be improved and made more tough.

Thanks n Cheers