In order to end up with the luggage best suited to your needs, you have to clearly understand what you are looking for and what options are available to you. This is done by researching in two areas.
Firstly, you research the market to find out what kinds of luggage are available, familiarizing yourself with the different features, styles and price ranges etc. Secondly, you examine your own unique requirements in motorcycle luggage.
Research the market: Luggage essentials
The first part of the research step is to investigate just what's available in the luggage market. The range of options can seem overwhelming, but you can make a good start by understanding the following major features:
Roller Bags: If you've ever travelled in an airport, you will quickly recognize this type of luggage - it's the same type you see people dragging along behind them on wheels. These are generally large bags used for longer trips and are mounted on the rear fender luggage rack. Often these bags have an expandable compartment that zips up to make the bag smaller for storage, or unzips to give you extra space if you need it.
Saddle Rolls: These bags are highly versatile in that they can be used either as a “weekend” bag or used together with a roller bag.
Fork Bags: These small bags attach to the front wheel fork just below the headlight. Most versions lace into place, however some have hardware that allows them to be bolted to the front part of your bikes frame. Often these bags are used for the storage of essential tools.
Switchbacks: Switchbacks are essentially the same as fork bags; however, they are mounted either above the headlight or on the fender luggage rack. They also have a “roll” configuration as opposed to the pouch setup of the fork bags. They get their name from their ability to “switch back” and forth between the front and rear of the bike. These can also be fastened on top of roller bags.
Sissy Bag: While you may grin at the name of this bag, it is the staple of saddlebags. It is not too big and not too small and is the perfect size to carry around with you. It gets its name because of where it attaches - to the rear “sissy” bar. It resembles a small duffle bag or backpack and usually has straps meant to help you carry it. Most tie into place with laces.
Tool Pouch: These bags are exactly what they sound like - small pouches specifically made for tools. Often they have special elastic straps along the inside of the pouch to hold the tools in place and roll out as a flat piece of material once opened. These fit to the front fork, fender luggage rack, or sissy bar.
Dash/Windshield Pouches: These very small pouches fit on the dash and are best used on cycles with windshields. They have become popular lately as storage spaces for cell phones and walkie-talkies.
Research your needs: Questions to ask yourself
Now it's time to determine what your requirements are in luggage. For example, will you use the luggage only for an annual road trip or are you riding your bike to work every day?
You can start this process by considering the following questions - as well as any others you think of yourself - and recording your answers.
| Have I used luggage before? |
| | If you have used motorcycle luggage, work out what you did or didn't like about the luggage. You may be looking for some exactly like it, hoping to upgrade, or even trying to avoid any particular features that you found inconvenient. |
| Do you want your luggage to be made of leather or synthetic materials? |
| | While leather is the classic look, it can be damaged and possibly leak in inclement weather and will require the application of waterproofing material in order to keep your belongings safe and dry. Synthetic luggage is made to keep your items dry, is tough and durable and is often made of fake leather to give it the same rugged look. However, leather will stand up to wear and tear from the road and to hot weather better than synthetics. |
| What type of luggage will work with your bike? |
| | While most types of luggage are made to work with a broad range of motorcycles, they are by no means “one size fits all”. You should check with the manufacturer to see if the luggage you are looking at will fit your bike. You may also want to see if their mounting system is adjustable or if the bags themselves are expandable. |
| What is your budget? |
| | Prices on luggage vary widely based on manufacturer, style and material. While most are reasonably priced, you may only be looking for a quick cheap solution to your need for storage space. |
| How much storage space do you need? |
| | This may seem to be an obvious question, however, luggage comes in many shapes and sizes. If you only need something for a weekend trip, then it would be impractical to get a set of luggage large enough to hold half your wardrobe! |
| Do you want hard or soft luggage? |
| | Hard luggage is more rugged and is made of either leather or a material made to look and feel like leather but reinforced with synthetics. The advantage is the greater degree of abuse this kind of baggage can withstand. Soft luggage is made of synthetic materials and cannot take as much of a beating, but is much easier to store when not being used. |
Understanding your needs is the key to a successful purchase and you can revisit your list of needs at any time during the buying process.
Once you complete this Research step, having informed yourself about the essentials of luggage and identified your needs, you are ready to move on to the next step: Evaluation.
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Buyz123.com Research Links:Buying GuideWhich luggage bag should I buy?Motorcycle luggage sizes/sizingMotorcycle luggage - which size suits you?TypesBags for bikersAll about motorcycle luggage