The Best Motorcycle Saddlebags?
Here's Info to Help You Focus on What You Need

Whether you need the best motorcycle saddlebags only for long trips or you plan to keep them on your motorcycle all the time, you'll want them to…

• Complement your motorcycle...
• Give you trouble-free service...
• Keep your gear safe and dry...

Here's information to help you choose the best motorcycle saddlebags that suit your needs and work well with your motorcycle.

Motorcycle luggage comes in many shapes, sizes and designs to carry all sorts of gear and to blend with your bike.

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Click here to find the best saddlebags and other motorcycle

luggage for you and your ride...

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Before you start sorting through the saddlebags available to you, give some thought to how and when you plan to use them...

• Will you need saddlebags only for long trips?
• Will the saddlebags remain on your motorcycle all the time?
• Will you need saddlebags to carry lots of gear or only the essentials?
• Do you normally travel alone or with a passenger

Also, consider…

• The type of bike you ride...
• Weather conditions in which you ride...
• How often you ride...
• Seasons in which you ride...

You have three types of motorcycle saddlebags to choose from

Whether you're looking for a way to carry your gear on long trips, short jaunts or during everyday riding, you have essentially three types of motorcycle saddlebags to choose from…

• Hard Motorcycle Saddlebags...
• Soft Motorcycle Saddlebags...
• Leather Motorcycle Saddlebags...

Hard Saddlebags

Hard saddlebags are similar to rigid hand-carry luggage.

Most hard saddlebage are made of tough molded plastics or fiberglass.

You can also find very rugged and roomy hard bags made of aluminum or even stainless steel. Some hard saddlebags open like a suitcase and others open from the top.

You mount hard bags onto your motorcycle with permanently-attached metal or plastic brackets.

While you can get hard bags from a number of suppliers, your best potential source of the best motorcycle saddlebags and mounting brackets designed specifically for your make and model is your bike's manufacturer.

Hard saddlebag advantages...

• Security. When locked, hard bags stay on and protect your gear...
• Lots of Space. You can get bags with compartments and plenty of space to store jackets, half helmets and a laptop...
• Waterproof. They keep your stuff dry -- generally...
• Convenience. They're easy for you to detach and carry...
• More convenience. You can leave these bags attached to your motorcycle and use custom-fitted fabric interior bags in which to pack and carry your gear and drop it into your saddlebags...

Hard saddlebag disadvantages...

• It might be tough to find bags that will fit your motorcycle without modifying your bike or the saddlebags' mounting system...
• Hard bags can be very expensive...

Soft Saddlebags

Soft saddlebags are made of durable types of nylon, polyester and similar synthetic fibers.

They come in a wide variety of sizes and designs to suit all types of motorcycles as well as your requirements.

They're designed to keep their shape even when empty.

The term "denier" is a unit of measure used to indicate the thickness, weight and durability of nylon and other fibers. The higher the denier number, the thicker and heavier the fiber.

For example, you'll see soft motorcycle saddlebags made of 1000-denier Cordura, 1050-denier ballistic nylon and 1680-denier ballistic nylon.

While some soft saddlebags are waterproof, the majority are -- at best -- water resistant. That's why most come with a slip-on rain cover or some other wet-weather protection.

Soft saddle bags do not attach directly to your motorcycle with mounting brackets.

They have a sturdy fabric yoke or dual straps running between the two bags that you place over or under your bike's seat.

Then -- with most soft bag mounting systems -- you tighten down the bags with Velcro straps and quick-release buckles to keep everything secure and in a place when riding.

Your soft bags -- if they attach close to your motorcycle's muffler(s) -- should have heat shields on the side(s) to protect them from the hot metal and the hot exhaust.

Soft saddlebag advantages...

• Variety. Whatever kind of motorcycle you ride, you can be sure to find a soft-bag system that fits its style...
• And will accommodate swept-up exhausts found on most of today’s bikes...
• Convenience. Soft bags are easy to pack and often have many handy pockets and compartments. And they're easy to attach and detach from your motorcycle...
• Cost. They can be more affordable than hard bags...
• Capacity. Soft bags come in many sizes and shapes to suit your needs. They're flexible and often have expandable panels to increase their capacity so you can pack lots of gear inside...
• Durability. The synthetic materials used to make soft bags are strong and take a beating...

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Click here to find the best saddlebags and other motorcycle

luggage for you and your ride...

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Soft saddlebag disadvantages...

• Security. Soft bags may be easily removed or gotten into by the wrong people.
• Heat sensitivity. When a soft bag touches a hot muffler, the muffler will melt the bag's synthetic fabric.
  
  If this happens when you're riding and you don't notice, the damage to the bag and its contents can be signigicant.
  
  You could lose your stuff through a big burn hole or wind up with burned clothes.
  
  Plus, the melted nylon will leave a nasty black stain on your muffler...
• Paint damage. Soft bags may damage the paint where they touch your bike's fender or frame.
  
  You can prevent this by protecting the endangered paint with duct tape.
  
  You can also cover the offending saddlebag surface with a soft cloth or other soft material...
• Fender damage. It's important to position each saddlebag -- especially when full -- so neither bag presses too hard against our rear fender.
  
  Excessive pressure could crack the fender or a fragile body panel...
• Shifting position. Soft bags don't have hard mounting brackets, so they may shift due to over-packing or excessive weight differences between the two bags.
  
  Such shifting could cause a bag to rub dangerously against your bike's drive chain or rear tire...

Leather Saddlebags

Leather saddlebags fit a unique position between hard and soft saddlebags. They're the best motorcycle saddlebags of choice for most cruiser-style motorcycle riders.

You can get leather saddlebags made of real leather and of weather resistant synthetic leather.

Some leather bag styles have a thick leather yoke between the two bags that you put over or under your motorcycle seat.

Other styles attach to your bike with hard mounting brackets.

Features to look for if you're considering leather bags include…

• Lockable covers to protect your gear...
• Quick release buckles for easy access....
• Steel reinforcements that prevent the leather from sagging...

Leather saddlebag advantages...

• Variety. Many leather bags best suit cruiser motorcycles, so you can find a wide verity of designs to choose from for that type of bike...
• Cost. They can be very affordable...
• Capacity. Leather bags come in many sizes to suit your needs...

Leather saddlebag disadvantages...

• Security. Some leather bags can be easily removed or cut open...
• Design limitations. Most leather bags are black and designed to look best on cruiser-style motorcycles...
• Wet weather susceptibility. While leather can be treated to make it rain resistant, it is still susceptible to extremely wet weather...

When making your final saddlebag selection, be sure...

• You can attach them easily to your motorcycle without lots of modifications to your bike or the saddlebags...
• They don't interfere with your mufflers, chain or wheel...
• They give you the security you want...
• They give you the capacity you want...
• They make your motorcycle look good...

And once you attach your new saddlebags, pack up and take a trip.

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