2010 February | Advantage Motorcycle

Motorcycle Saddle Bags

February 28th, 2010 admin No comments

motorcycle saddle bags

Saddle Bags for Motorcycles

When you travel on a motorcycle, you'll eventually need something that you can stow your "stuff" in. There are a number of options available to you on the market today. We'll take a look at one of them now, saddle bags.

As the name implies, these bags are situated on the bike in much the same way the Pony Express riders used to use them. You can carry items without them being in the way up front, interfering with your control.

Three things you might want to consider before buying motorcycle luggage are:

1) Can be mounted on a motorcycle securely, can be locked and are easy to access?
In order to mount a motorcycle saddlebag on any motorcycle the saddlebags must have mounting hardware.

2) One of the most needed features of saddlebags is their ability to lock. Try to buy saddlebags that can be easily locked. This would give you a piece of mind while away from you motorcycle.

3) Convenience. Look for saddlebags that are easy to access and have quick release buckles. They let you open and close the motorcycle luggage without having to buckle and unbuckle straps.

Types of saddle bags available:

1) Toss over
2) Hard mount
3) Leather
4) Plastic (Fiberglass)

Toss-Over saddle bags are more portable. The bag's yoke goes on your motorcycle frame and hang downwards on the sides of the frame.

Hard-Mount saddlebags are sturdier and better suited for heavier items. Manufacturers introduced this type after the Toss-Over saddlebags.

Leather saddlebags are soft and flexible. Lighter than other materials, leather makes it easier to transport whenever you need to remove the saddlebags. While leather is waterproof and stain resistant, it still need conditioning and cleaning to keep it looking good.

Plastic (fiberglass) is less flexible than leather, but sturdiness is key. Since plastic is heavier than leather, you may want to keep your saddlebags attached to the motorcycle's frame. Plastics are more waterproof than leather and less vulnerable to stains. Plastic bags remain durable with less maintenance.

Before you run out to add saddlebags or luggage to your motorcycle, think about the following questions:

What are they going to be used for?

What is the best type for me?

These and other answers can be found at

http://www.luggageformotorcycles.com.

About the Author

Cecil is an experienced rider and spends many hours out on the road travelling on his motorcycle.

Giant Loop motorcycle saddle bags on my Yamaha FZ6R