How To Make Your Own Motorcycle Saddlebags

Benefits of Motorcycle Saddlebags

Convenience. It's much easier to acquit items in a saddlebag than in a backpack, which can weigh your body down when yous're riding. When you get off your bicycle, you tin can exit items in your saddlebags and non have to carry them effectually.
Security. The best quality motorcycle saddlebags are designed with security in heed. They feature a locking mechanism, then when yous're away from your bike, y'all know your gear is protected from thieves.
Necessity. If y'all're taking a long-distance route trip, you need numberless to agree all your gear. The all-time motorcycle adventure saddlebags are big plenty to accommodate a variety of items, from tents and extra jackets to several changes of clothing.

Types of Motorbike Saddlebags

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Soft

People who ride cruisers oftentimes lean towards soft bags, which are made of leather or constructed materials. Fifty-fifty the best soft motorcycle saddlebags are not typically waterproof and require waterproof liners or storm/rain covers in order to keep your property dry out in choppy weather.

These bags are typically less secure than hard bags considering they don't feature a locking mechanism. Plus, it'due south non hard to cut into them with a knife. Ideally, these bags should detach hands, then you can remove them if you lot're staying somewhere overnight.

Hard

Many dual-sport or take a chance bike riders and some cruiser riders use hard numberless, which tend to be more than expensive. The best motorbike hard saddlebags are much more than secure and weather-resistant than soft numberless. They typically demand mounting brackets for installation, and sometimes a modification is required, depending on the bike'southward model. They are rigidly constructed, so at that place'southward merely and so much gear y'all tin stuff into them compared to soft bags, which are more flexible and easier to cram full of stuff.

Other

In addition to traditional saddlebags, you can purchase a sissy bar, tail, or tank bag for your bike. Sissy bar or stackable bags are designed for touring and often feature two bags strapped together that are attached to a sissy bar.

Tail bags complement saddlebags and tin can exist either hard or soft and are designed to stow smaller, more accessible items. Tank bags are swell for curt trips and for carrying smaller items, such as a wallet or cell phone. Many accept clear map pouches, and they're easy to install and remove since many are affixed with stiff magnets.

Summit Brands

Tourmaster

Tourmaster has been around since 1979 and has distributors all over the earth, including places such every bit Canada, Japan, and Venezuela. The company designs products for serious riders, such equally heated gear and accessories, jackets, pants, boots, and a broad range of luggage options. One example is the Tourmaster Black Aristocracy Saddlebag.

Nelson-Rigg

Nelson-Rigg United states of america, Inc. is based in Santa Ana, California, and was founded in 1972. The company is widely known for producing some of the all-time accessories, clothes, covers, and luggage, such as the Nelson-Rigg Yellow/Black Sierra Dry out Saddlebags.

SW Motech

SW-MOTECH is based in Rauschenberg, Germany, and the company produces a broad range of luggage options for riders, including tank numberless, saddlebags, tail bags, side cases, and carriers, and luggage racks. One of its height products is the SW-Motech Blaze H Sport Saddlebag Kit for 14-17 Yamaha FZ-09.

Kuryakyn

Kuryakyn is based in Somerset, Wisconsin, and has been in business since 1989. The company produces a broad variety of power sports accessories, from handlebar controls and mirrors to storage covers and air cleaners. One of its acme storage solutions is the Kuryakyn GranThrow-Over Saddlebag.

Motorcycle Saddlebags Pricing

Nether $50: You don't accept to spend a lot of money to find the best inexpensive motorcycle saddlebags. Items in this price range are generally soft bags made of PU leather or heavy-duty canvass. Nonetheless, they don't typically have locking mechanisms, so they don't provide much security.
$50-$100: If you spend a lilliputian more than money, you will notice bags that are a bit more heavy-duty with added features. For case, they may include rut shields to protect the bags from hot exhaust pipes.
Over $150: The best motorbike saddlebags for the money aren't necessarily the to the lowest degree expensive. If you want durable, high-quality luggage, you're going to have to make a sizable investment. Some bags in this category price several hundred dollars, but they're ofttimes waterproof and highly secure.

Central Features

Materials and Immovability

Motorbike luggage comes in a variety of different materials, and some are more durable than others. Mutual materials include leather, synthetic leather, nylon, and plastic. The best leather motorcycle saddlebags are designed with mode in listen, merely they may not last as long as their synthetic counterparts. Plastic saddlebags, on the other hand, are more probable to fissure over fourth dimension, which isn't very bonny.

Size and Fit

The primary purpose of a motorbike saddlebag is for it to hold all your stuff, such as riding gear, tools, and other equipment. The size of the saddlebag is usually limited by the size of your cycle. Plainly, larger bikes can accommodate bigger bags, while sportbikes with oversized exhausts must be equipped with smaller bags. If you can't purchase custom-built bags, choose a product that isn't oversized considering information technology will neither fit well nor look very good.

Lockable

We've already touched on this, simply information technology's worth repeating. Lockable saddlebags are desirable considering they keep your gear from being stolen. While many thieves avoid targeting bikers because the consequences can be swift and powerful, information technology all the same happens from time to time. Lockable bags are particularly important if you're traveling away from home and get out your wheel outside unprotected overnight.

Other Considerations

Waterproof: Every bike has been caught in the pelting at one time or another, and many carry rain gear for that very reason. Well, information technology's also of import to protect the equipment in your saddlebags. There's goose egg worse than having to bargain with sopping wet clothing, tools, and other gear after a downpour. Some bags aren't waterproof, just they come up with pelting covers, which are nearly as effective.
Quick-Release: If you happen to purchase a set of saddlebags that aren't lockable, look for products that take or are uniform with a quick-release bracket arrangement. This will enable you to remove the bags quickly and easily from the bike. This is a applied solution when you lot're traveling and want to keep your possessions secure by removing them when they're not unsupervised.

Best Motorbike Saddlebags Reviews & Recommendations 2021

These heavy-duty polyester saddlebags come with pelting covers and integrate with the TourMaster elite tail bag. They're fitted with a estrus shield so they don't get burned by the wheel's pipes and characteristic adjustable Velcro for mounting under the seat. Each bag has a reflective triangle for better visibility at night.

They're piece of cake to use and take but seconds to put the numberless on or pop them off without needing to adjust whatever of the straps. They provide a lot of storage and are of excellent quality. Overall, they're a great set of soft bags for the price.

One downside to these bags is they accept just one back-to-forepart zipper for each bag, which makes it hard to lock them and deter thieves. Also, you may have to make a bracket to continue them away from your frazzle, and the rain encompass may non exist included in the package.

These saddlebags are made of heavy-duty cotton fiber duck canvas and vinyl. They feature two large pockets with double strapped flap covers, and stress points are reinforced to increase durability. They're designed for motorcycles as well as scooters and bicycles.

The canvas feels very rugged, and they are sturdily constructed. The bags are slap-up for the price, and they drape very nicely over a pillion saddle. They're just big enough to agree a pocket-size corporeality of groceries and even a spare motorcycle jacket.

Ane problem with these bags is they need to be secured away from hot pipes and then they don't go burned. Likewise, you may need to modify them a picayune so they sit down correctly on your cycle, specially at highway speeds. In addition, they aren't made to carry heavy objects without underlying support.

These 100-percent waterproof saddlebags are available in black or black/yellow and are designed for motorcycles, personal watercraft, and snowmobiles. They accept a universal fit, with heat-welded seams and a UV coating that makes them easy to clean. The mounting hardware is made of aircraft-grade aluminum.

If y'all're looking for high-quality, heavy-duty bags, then these are the ones to get. They hold seven gallons per side and securely mount to your bike with iv quick-release buckles and double pull straps. They include lightweight liners, which makes it easy to remove and pack items in the pocketbook.

Nonetheless, the straps may break over a short period of use, and it's not piece of cake to fasten and unfasten them quickly. The iv straps have to exist repositioned every fourth dimension you put something in the numberless and and so retightened, which is hard to practice in the nighttime. The bags are also very expensive.

If you lot ride a Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki or other cruiser motorbike, you may like the Kemimoto Motorcycle Saddlebags. They fit a wide range of models, including Sporters, Softails, Dynas, 5-stars, Shadow, and Vulcans. The bags are black with white stitching and are made of durable constructed leather that is water-resistant.

These bags characteristic a pin buckle and quick-release buckle and are big enough to accommodate a variety of items, such as a jacket, gloves, wallet, and earphones. One of the best features of the numberless is that they are designed to continue their shape and won't sag when they're empty. Users study that they're easy to install, piece of cake to open up, and a good size overall.

Yet, these bags aren't real leather, and you tin't lock them, and then your belongings may be at risk of beingness stolen. Also, they're not a universal fit, so they don't fit all types of bikes.

The WILD Heart Waterproof Bag Motorcycle Saddlebags are a dandy option if you lot're looking for a waterproof storage option. They have a rolling closure (only scroll the top and no water can get in) and are designed to keep your property dry in heavy rain. They have a 50-liter capacity (25 liters each). Nosotros like the multi-adjustment blueprint that allows you to adapt the length and distance between the bags. You can also use them separately.

You can make these bags more compact by using the included chugalug. They accept a not-skid foam piece that prevents friction between the purse and your bike. Available in black or yellow, these numberless are reflective, and so you tin see them at night. Users report that the straps are very secure and don't loosen up. They hold a lot of gear, and they're easy to put on and take off your bike.

Unfortunately, you can't lock these bags, so your belongings are not completely secure from thieves. Also, on some bikes, you lot need to brand sure the numberless are full so they don't bounce and rub against the rear tire.

Tips

Make sure the straps, belts, and buckles on the saddlebags work efficiently and properly. Some are more convenient than others and are easier to open and close.
Brand sure to balance the loads in your saddlebags. Practise not put several heavy items on i side when you can even place them betwixt the two sides.
For extra support, affix a metal bracket to your motorcycle to back up the bags and prevent them from hitting either the exhaust or the rear wheel. Either of these scenarios tin be very chancy.

FAQs

Q: Are hard or soft saddlebags more than secure?

A: Hard cases are made of metal, plastic, or both and are more secure than soft bags, which y'all can cut with a knife. Hard bags likewise often feature locking systems.

Q: Practise soft saddlebags have any advantages?

A: Yeah. They are commonly less expensive than difficult bags and weigh less. You can apply them with many types of motorcycles, and they are less likely to become damaged if your cycle falls over.

Q: Are motorbike saddlebags a universal fit?

A: No. Some saddlebags are specifically designed for sure makes and models. There are brands, even so, that are made to fit a variety of unlike bikes.

Q: What is a throw-over manner saddlebag?

A: Throw-over saddlebags fit most metric cruisers and Harley-Davidson bikes. They normally have an adjustable yoke in the center that you expand or contract when you lot fit it over the rear fender. They are adaptable and are affixed by a few attachment points.

Final Thoughts

Our pick for the best motorcycle saddlebag is the Tourmaster Black Elite Saddlebag. It'due south easy to apply, high quality, and provides a lot of storage.

Source: https://www.thedrive.com/reviews/32345/best-motorcycle-saddlebags

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