The open road. The fresh air and the wind blowing through your hair. The surge of the engine as you rev it up. The fluid feel of the motorcycle on the road while gliding. You have made preparations for this trip. Your only wish is to have more storage space. Well, don’t wish for more. There are options.
The issue of motorcycle storage has long been a concern. With no room for a trunk, not to mention silly, storage space for a motorcycle has been very limited in the past. The first type of luggage system that we will look at is the saddlebag system.
Taken straight from the old west, cowboys would wear two leather bags, connected in the middle by a piece of leather, and would either be attached to the saddle or simply placed under the saddle. Each bag was placed on each side of the horse and was generally not very large. Today’s saddlebags are made in a similar way. Saddlebags are usually made of genuine cowhide or PU (artificial leather). A quality saddlebag will have strong nylon straps and nickel plated buckles and studs to prevent rust. There are several styles available that can include studs, metal buckles, fringes, shells, waterproofers, and rain gear.
The next type of luggage became popular when Peter Fonda, playing the role of a motorcyclist traveling to New Orleans, used a backpack to store his luggage on the back of his motorcycle, attached to the “grab bar.” Today’s ladybug bar bag can possibly be used as a backpack. There are various materials used in making grab bar motorcycle luggage. Nylon, cowhide and synthetic leather are the most widely used types of materials. As with saddlebags, these may also have studs, fringes, metal buckles, nylon straps, and weather protection. There are also options available to have wheels and a luggage bar to carry the bag while you are not on your motorcycle. Some also have reflective strips on the back of the bag, so that when they hit the road, drivers can see it.
The motorcycle windshield bag is a unique type of bag, as it is attached to the handlebar of the motorcycle. It is not a large bag, but is used to store smaller items such as sunglasses or maps. This can even be used for cell phones or other electronic devices as some of the windshield bags are weather resistant. Although there are not as many styles of windshield bags as there are for saddlebags or saddlebags, the selection is still varied. Generally made from leather, cowhide, or man-made, these bags offer a great way to store those items often used during a motorcycle trip.
The last piece of luggage that we are going to look at is the motorcycle tool bag. These are small leather or nylon bags made for storing tools, either in a rolled-up configuration or simply as a bag. Often stored under the seat, it helps keep your tool kit organized and safely stored. Many of the same style options used with saddlebags can be found for the motorcycle tool bag.