KQR saddlebags

Bought my '15 N1K in late November last year - 13,500-ish miles now. I was able to get the KQR saddlebags sometime in February or March of this year. I have never regretted the purchase, expensive though they may be. I think they make the bike better, both visually and operationally. The warning labels inside limit content weight to 11 lbs (I think), but I routinely carry about 20 lbs on each side without any problems. The bags and the bike can handle the weight. I also exceed the maximum recommended speed when the bags are mounted without any untoward effects.

My only complaint is that they stick out a little farther and require cleaning periodically to rid them of bug impacts even down in the handle cavities.

I also bought the liners. They are well built and fit the somewhat irregular shape, and they help to organize contents, but can be a pain to un-zip when I have to dig deeper for something. Put the least-used items in the inner compartment and it's no big deal.

Is this a great bike, or what?

I meant to attach a photo of my bike with the saddlebags ...just for reference. But I clicked the submit button too soon. Hate when that happens.

I agree about the mutual exclusive choice an N1K owner has to make between an OEM rear rack and OEM saddlebags. It seems shortsighted by Kawasaki. Then again, the N1K's DNA is sport bike, not touring. But the move to factory saddlebags for this bike indicates Kawasaki thinks there is a good market for sport touring bikes, unlike Honda who has walked away from the genre. They aren't wrong, just haven't seen the full picture yet? (I also own a '05 ST1300 and looking for a Honda-built successor in vain, even as the Kawasaki C14 and Yamaha FJR continue to sell well. Which is how I came to own a '15 N1K and enjoying it more than I expected. It's over 200 lbs lighter than an ST1300 and pushes all the right buttons for me.) But I digress...

I have mentioned this idea before. Notice the Kawa Versys 1000 with bags. Notice that that bike has a rear rack, which bolts into the rear grab handles, which mount those saddlebags. While the mounting is different, the similarity is close enough to suggest this could be done on the N1K. The replacement grab handles that come with the KQR bags for the N1K could also have threaded mounts machined into the back of those handles that would support a small rear rack very nicely.