Honda Rebel 1100 Saddlebags Review: Viking SpiritBlade 25L

The right Honda Rebel 1100 saddlebags do three things: sit close to the fender so the bike still looks clean, stay put on the road, and clear the exhaust. A Rebel 1100 owner who introduces themselves as Eevee in their video put our 25L SpiritBlade leather saddlebags through that test on their own bike and shared an honest review. This article walks through what the reviewer said, adds the specifications from our product listing, and explains terms such as fixed mount, hard shell and shock cutouts, so you can decide whether the bags suit your Rebel.

Everything attributed to the reviewer comes from the video. Everything else comes from our product and collection pages, checked October 2026.

• Do Viking SpiritBlade saddlebags fit the Honda Rebel 1100? Our listing is for the Honda Rebel 1100 CMX1100, 2021 to current. The reviewer says the bags are really good for their specific motorcycle.
• How much do they hold? Our listing gives 25 liters for the pair, which is 1,525 cubic inches.
• How are they mounted? As a fixed mount with pre-drilled mounting holes and included hardware.
• Do I need to relocate my turn signals? No. Our listing says no relocation is required.
• Do they clear the exhaust? They cleared the reviewer's low-mount aftermarket exhaust. The reviewer adds that an exhaust that points up at the bag would not be good. Check your own clearance.
• Can I lock them? Yes. They are key lockable.
• Are they waterproof? No. They are weather resistant, which is not the same as waterproof.

The reviewer says the bags are really good for the Rebel 1100, and that after a few road trips they have been phenomenal. They liked the clean look from the rear, how close the bags sit to the fender, and that the bags do not move.

The bags in the review are our 25L SpiritBlade medium leather saddlebags for the Honda Rebel 1100 CMX1100. Our listing says:

The reviewer describes "25 liters of space in both sides." Our listing gives the 25L as the combined capacity of the pair, so plan around about 25 liters in total rather than 25 per side.

Our listings also state that products ship within 48 hours, that returns and exchanges are accepted within 45 days, and that every product has a one-year warranty. If you ride a Rebel 1100 variant other than the CMX1100 named in the listing, such as a model that came with factory saddlebags, confirm fitment with our team before you order.

When a Rebel owner shops for bags, the same needs come up again and again. Here is how the reviewer's comments and our listing line up with each one.

The reviewer chose these bags because they are really good for their specific motorcycle. That matches how they are listed: they are built for the Rebel 1100 CMX1100 from 2021 on, with no turn signal relocation required. Our collection page adds that the Rebel 1100 bags require only one person to install and come with instructions and hardware.

One of the first things the reviewer checks is the exhaust. The bike has an aftermarket low-mount exhaust, and the reviewer says the bags work with it, adding that any exhaust that points up at the bag would obviously not be good.

That is sensible advice for any saddlebag, because heat and contact can damage leather. Our note: we cannot confirm clearance with every aftermarket exhaust, so check the distance between your exhaust outlet and the bag before you drill or tighten anything.

The reviewer points out small buckles on the bottom of the bags, which they say keep the bags nice and secure. Our Rebel saddlebags page lists quick release buckles among the features of these bags.

Opening the lid, the reviewer shows the inside, where they keep gloves and sunglasses. Each bag also has a small pouch inside that they find nice for storing smaller things.

If you are planning a longer trip, our guide to packing saddlebags for better weight distribution shows how to load them evenly on a cruiser.

The reviewer says the bags look really clean from the rear from any angle, in their opinion, and that they like how close the bags sit to the fender. Our listing describes the same idea: they fit close for a clean look, and the product description says the styling flows with the lines of the fender.

This is one of the most useful comments in the review. The reviewer says the earlier bags they had were quick-mount bags that sat a little off and were loose at times, while these ones are not moving and are stiff, which is exactly what they want. They add that it depends on what you get, and they do not say which brand the earlier bags were.

The difference comes down to mounting style. Our Rebel collection describes three types:

• Fixed mount: The tightest fit and a seamless, integrated look.
• Quick disconnect: Quick on and off, but the bag sits slightly farther from the bike.
• Throw over: A strap-on install that is quick and not permanent.

The SpiritBlade is a fixed mount, so it does not come off in seconds. That is the trade-off behind the solid, close feel the reviewer likes.

The reviewer has taken the bags on a few road trips and calls them phenomenal. They do not give a distance or conditions, so treat this as a general impression rather than a test result.

The reviewer says the bags are easy to clean and that they are hard-shell leather. They note that the top part feels soft but is itself a hard shell. That matches our listing, which describes a hard-shelled construction that keeps its shape. If you want to compare materials, our guide to hard vs soft saddlebags explains the differences.

The reviewer calls out that the bags have cutouts specifically for the shocks, which they find very nice. A shock cutout is a notch or shaped opening that lets the bag sit close to the bike without touching the rear suspension. It is one reason a bike-specific bag fits closer than a generic one.

The reviewer also mentions that the bags leave space at the side for a rear passenger. Our note: if you ride two-up, check that your passenger's legs and any foot controls have clearance with the bags fitted.

The reviewer does not talk about locks or rain, so here is what our listing says. The bags are key lockable, and our Rebel page states that our leather and hard saddlebags come with a pair of keys. They are weather resistant, which is not the same as waterproof, so protect electronics and documents with an inner waterproof pouch if you ride in heavy rain. For more, see our guides on whether lockable saddlebags are worth it and waterproof saddlebags for all-weather riding.

Customer reviews on the SpiritBlade product page mention how well the bags sit on the Rebel 1100, the substantial feel of the leather, that they keep their shape when loaded, and the key-lockable design. As always, read several reviews and not just one.

The reviewer's comment about earlier quick-mount bags that were loose is a good reason to think about mounting before you buy. Neither style is better for everyone.

If you prefer to take your bags off quickly, or want a different size, our Honda Rebel 1100 saddlebags collection lists nine styles. Besides the two above, it includes a 30L SpiritBlade roll-top, an 18L Patriot throw-over, and 28L Pantheon, Baelor and Panzer quick-mount bags.

Two examples: the Incognito 20L quick-mount saddlebags install with one click, according to the listing, and have a reflective design and MOLLE attachments, and the Ironclad 24L quick-mount hard saddlebags are listed as quick detach and key lockable. You can also browse our Honda Rebel saddlebags page and our wider motorcycle saddlebags range.

It suits you if:

• You want a close, fixed fit that stays put and keeps the Rebel's lines clean.
• You like a leather look with a hard shell that keeps its shape.
• You want the bags to stay on the bike and are happy with a fixed setup.

Look at the quick-mount options if:

• You want to take the bags off often or carry them with you.
• You prefer not to have fixed hardware on the bike.