I'm starting to plan a week long vacation for around June of this year, planning on basically riding all week cross country on the 1290 SDR ...

I'm looking at the SW Motech Blaze saddle bags, but Revzilla and Twisted Throttle don't have them ..... Does anyone know of an alternative make to these bags?

The other issue is I have the full Akra exhaust, so I don't think using the KTM bags is possible due to the angle of the exhaust.

Post up some pics of your saddle/tail bag combinations if you have them, thanks!

You are correct the KTM powerparts bags won't work with Akrapovic full exhaust. Have you done any modifications to the tail of your bike? (Like a tail tidy). If so, you may have issues like I am with the luggage displacing the rear turn signals.

One of the best looking set ups that I have seen was the Wolfman BetaPlus strapped to the passenger seat. Here's a link to the post/pic of it, its probably about 15 posts down, by user REDTALE2000: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=24511

As far as the Blaze bags, I would contact Revzilla and ask when it will be available. They'll email you when they come in. Last time I did that for a pair of gloves they gave me free overnight shipping once they came in.

I used my SW Motech Cargobag, this weekend on my SDR and it worked very well. Got it originally for the 690 Duke. No tail tidy fitted, but from what i've seen now, that could make it a bit harder to get the bag on.

I didn't even think about the tail tidy .... I have one.

Think the SW Motech bags will fit with the Akra and the Tail Tidy? Lol.

Hey- I don't know, I guess it depends on which tail tidy you have done. Here's a video link that clearly shows the bags fitted to a bike WITHOUT the full akra. Judge for yourself whether you think your turn signals will clear it. The video is in German, so I don't know what he's saying, but it provides a good shot of the bags from side and rear:
https://youtu.be/SdYnd9O_dlk?t=586

I would try emailing the manufacturer of the bags and see if they know whether it can be fitted to a bike with the Akrapovic exhaust.

Otherwise, I'd really consider the Wolfman bag, and possibly reinstalling OEM tail parts. The tail tidys leave you hamstrung when it comes to fitting luggage. I bought a bungee net for simple luggage solution and found that with a tail tidy installed there is virtually nowhere to anchor the hooks. It sucks.

Well, it worked!

SW Motech Blaze saddle bags, R&G Tail Tidy and full Akrapovic exhaust ...