Some interesting points have been made on the hard bags. I travel a lot by motorcycle and ride a far higher than normal number of miles per year than the average rider. Cost is an issue for a lot of riders and $1,000 + for a set of bags seems like a lot but I have always sold my Jesses after lots of miles for 50- 60% of their value
I am buying Jesses for a few reasons. Firstly, I want a narrow profile for lane splitting when I am in California, and secondly based on the last two rides I made to the far north the bikes I saw that had gone down and were still being ridden all had with the exception of Jesse equipped bikes one or both bags missing or tied on top. I know all about the tying on top because I carried a Happy Trails home on each trip that one of my riding pals had ripped off in a slowish 25MPH get off in gravel.
We had friends on a RTW (4 years and just completed) stay with us and their Zega Panniers were a constant issue and they said if they were to do it again they would have bought Jesses.
We have Jesses on 2 bikes (soon to on be three bikes ) and they are keyed the same - another plus of Jesses.
Being a creature of habit all my bikes are packed all the time the same way for the on road essentials [tools, first aid. tire repairs, (zip lock with half roll off toilet paper, baby wipes and hand cleaner) etc] and so having a consistent packing system as part of owning multiple bikes makes life easier. I have found that packing tank bags the same way, tire gauge always in the right outside pocket with pocket knife and flashlight makes on the road travel easier.
The security of Jesses makes unloading the bike at night easier. I take my GPS off the bike, unhook the tank bag, undo the Rok Straps and remove my small Ortlieb zip bag
http://www.bestrestproducts.com/p-120-ortlieb-waterproof-travelzip.aspx with all my clothes and toiletries, stuff my gloves in my helmet and walk away from the bike.
It takes 2 minutes. Everything in my right Jesses is for on the road travel or climate adjustment (heated gear, rain suit spare gloves and my camera gear.) the left bag is for bike maintenance and road food. Neither bag is completely full.