u/ins-trader

Hi everyone,
I’m looking to build a budget-friendly side luggage setup for my Honda CB500X. I want to go for a rack + soft panniers combo, but I want to keep costs as low as possible without sacrificing too much durability.
I’m not sure if this is the most appropriate subreddit for this, but I have the following question for you:

I’ve found these bike-specific side racks for €190:
Bagtecs Side Rails - Honda CB500X
For the bags, I’m looking at the Lomo soft panniers (30L each) for €80:
Lomo Motorcycle Adventure Pannier Dry Bags
I’ve read a few reviews saying the Lomo bags are surprisingly tough and fully waterproof, despite not looking like premium high-end gear. Since my goal is to save money, they seem like the perfect fit.
My question is: Does this rack setup look sufficient to hold these types of soft bags securely?
I’m worried about the bags sagging or touching the exhaust/rear wheel, so I’m wondering if this rack/bag combination is a reliable choice for a budget build. Has anyone used a similar setup or these specific Lomo bags before?
Any feedback or advice on this budget build would be greatly appreciated!

Hi everyone,
I’m looking to build a budget-friendly side luggage setup for my bike. I want to go for a rack + soft panniers combo, but I want to keep costs as low as possible without sacrificing too much durability.
I’ve found a pair of bike-specific side racks for €190

Link: https://www.motea.com/en/luggage-side-rails-fit-for-honda-cb-500-x-13-23-side-bags-support-bagtecs-sc53-a668133-0?gclid=5h0pp1n9-en&gad\_source=1&gad\_campaignid=18812889812&gclid=CjwKCAjw6f3RBhApEiwAMaCqWZGy94qbahmQ3Aozy4sq5m86FEr-qnXdhHamL-7YnaOGN42V33lUBRoCnScQAvD\_BwE

For the bags, I’m looking at the Moto Lomo soft panniers (30L each) for €80. I’ve read a few reviews saying they are surprisingly tough and fully waterproof, despite not looking like premium high-end gear. Since my goal is to save money, they seem like the perfect fit.

Link: https://www.lomo.co.uk/products/motorcycle-adventure-pannier-dry-bags-large-1-pair/

My question is: Does this rack setup look sufficient to hold these types of soft bags securely?
I’m worried about the bags sagging or touching the exhaust/rear wheel, so I’m wondering if this rack/bag combination is a reliable choice for a budget build. Has anyone used a similar setup or the Moto Lomo bags before?
Any feedback or advice on this budget build would be greatly appreciated!

Hey everyone,
I’m looking to equip my CB500X with some side racks to mount a pair of Lomo 35L large soft bags.
For those of you running similar setups (or the Lomo bags specifically), what racks are you using? I’m currently running the stock exhaust and I’m a bit worried about heat and interference.
A few questions for the group:

Exhaust Clearance: How do these racks sit in relation to the stock exhaust? Do you have issues with the bags touching it?

Heat Shields: Did you have to install an extra heat deflector/guard to protect the bags from the muffler?

Recommendation: Are there any specific racks that are known for having better clearance/avoiding the exhaust altogether, or is a heat shield pretty much mandatory with this setup?

Any photos or advice on your current luggage setup would be much appreciated!

Ride safe!

Estou indo ver uma Honda CB500X 2023 com 40.000 km em duas horas. Ela é de uma frota de aluguel, mas eu tenho uma boa pista sobre ela. O vendedor concordou em fornecer todas as faturas de manutenção da concessionária Honda, e ele está confortável com minha remoção das carenagens para inspecionar o quadro e os suportes do motor.

Só poderei avançar na compra na próxima quinta-feira, já que a moto está reservada por um cliente de segunda a quarta.

Histórico da Moto:

• Incidentes: Sem impactos na parte da frente. Teve algumas quedas lentas (caiu de lado), resultando em uma alavanca quebrada e alguns arranhões leves nas barras de proteção.
• Estado Atual: O vendedor diz que a moto não apresenta vazamentos visíveis de óleo nas bengalas, e não há problemas conhecidos com a bomba d'água ou rachaduras nos suportes do quadro/motor.

Minhas perguntas para a comunidade:

1. Dicas de Inspeção: Além da checagem habitual do quadro/soldas, há algo específico para ficar de olho quando eu tirar as carenagens em duas horas?

Agradeço qualquer dica rápida para minha inspeção em duas horas! Esta é uma compra "segura" ou eu devo evitar unidades de aluguel?

Update: Inspection and test ride result
I’ve just finished my inspection and a one-hour test ride (city and highway). Here’s what I found:
Chassis & Body: I pulled the fairings and inspected the frame; no cracks or stress marks are visible. The skid plate shows some light surface scratches, but no deep gouges or signs of heavy impact. There’s a slight vibration coming from the front fairings, which I assume might be expected for a bike with 40k km.
Mechanicals: The water pump area has a small amount of oil weep (the seal likely needs replacing), but there is absolutely no coolant leakage. It’s possible it’s just chain lube residue migrating forward, but I'll plan for a seal replacement. The brakes and suspension feel solid; the bike handles speed bumps very smoothly.
Performance: I reached 150 km/h on the highway without issues—it definitely had more power available, but heavy traffic and wind kept me from pushing further.
Rental Context: The owner confirmed their typical client profile is older international tourists, and they enforce a 25+ age and 2+ years of license policy.
The Deal: After the inspection and a discussion, we settled on 4,250€ (a 250€ discount).
One lingering concern: I noticed a significant gap in the official maintenance records (no entries between 20k and 40k km). I’m currently waiting for the owner to provide the invoices for those missing services.
Given that the frame is clean and the ride felt good, does the water pump weep and the maintenance gap change your perspective on this being a "safe" buy at 4,250€?

​
Update: Final decision made!
After weighing all the factors, I’ve decided to move forward with the purchase of the 2023 CB500X for 4,250€. Since it’s currently tied up with a rental booking, I’ll be picking it up next Friday.
Why I’m pulling the trigger:
Reliability: After doing some deep research, these engines are absolute tanks. They easily hit 100,000+ km if maintained properly.
Maintenance: I’ve verified the service history. the bike has been serviced consistently at a Honda dealership, which gives me peace of mind.
Opportunity Cost: I need a bike now. I’m not willing to wait another month or two to save up for something with lower mileage when this unit is already proven to be reliable.
The Plan: I’m going to use the next few days to negotiate a final price of 4,000€. Since the bike will have more kilometers by next Friday and I’ll be the one covering the upcoming 42,000 km service, I think a 250€ reduction is a fair compromise to cover those immediate maintenance costs.
I’m confident this is a solid buy. The frame is structurally sound, the mechanicals are well-documented, and it’s ready to ride. Thanks to everyone who helped me vet this one