Archive for the ‘Bike Saddlebags’ Category
Cortech saddlebags have made a good name for themselves in the sport touring and cruiser style lines of saddlebags. They use high tech fabric that’s been thoroughly tested for wear and fade on their soft luggage systems. Wind and rain tunnel testing is done at up to 90mph. Uses all of their technology to create entire systems that include, tank bags, gloves, jackets, riding pants, tail bags, and saddlebags. Testing for one often translates to all of the other gear.
Cortech’s sport luggage is very popular. It’s shaped to easily match the parts of most sport motorcycles. The sport saddelbags are engineered to be easily removed. Cortech understands that many only want the luggage on part-time while traveling and it’s not common to leave the travel gear on the motorcycle. The parts that touch the motorcycle are made with material that will not scratch the paint. Bungee cords are provided to pull the saddlebags into position keeping the bags from moving in the wind. Many colors are available for a good looking match to the bike.
Cortech sport saddlebags
- Heat shield that can withstand being within 2 inches of the motorcycle’s exhaust
- Protective neoprene straps that will not hurt the bike’s painted surfaces
- Zippered outer side pockets for handy storage of small items
- 3M reflective tape for added visibility on the road
- Internal supports and a quick release system for easy removal
- Rain covers
- Carry handles
- Large 12″H x 15″W x 7″D dimensions.
Cortech’s cruiser luggage goes with the name TourMaster. These are made with the same great technology, but leather is used to keep the cruiser style. Different sizes and slant saddlebags are made to accommodate different brands of cruiser motorcycles. Sometimes it is difficult to get an exact saddlebag match on a motorcycle and TourMaster’s wide selection is sure to have a bag that meets requirements.
As good as Cortech motorcycle luggage is, many motorcycles will need saddlebag supports to stabilize the bags and keep them out of the wheel. Sport bikes can be an exception, but bikes like the V-Strom will need additional brackets to be acceptable. Cortech makes all replacement parts for their bags readily available, but they do not make any sort of mounting systems for their bags. Most saddlebag mounts will work well with Cortech, but don’t expect to find an exact match from the Cortech company.
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The German company BMW has made some great touring motorcycles for many years. If you’ve been to Germany, you know how nice the roads and touring are in Germany, so it’s no surprise that German motorcycles are designed so well for it. This old BMW is interesting because it’s luggage has survived for so many years. It’s not uncommon to see Givi used as the old hard saddlebags have worn out.
Old BMW motorcycle still has it's original luggage intact.
These old BMW’s were tough! Their “suitcase” style engines with horizontally opposed pistons kept the weight low and centered to produce very good touring handling characteristics. With proper maintenance, these bikes last many miles.
Take notice that along with the soft luggage, the owner has mounted a small tailbag. This is a good idea because a tail bag is easily accessed while mount, but it can be removed quickly and carried with the rider. The size you decide on really depends on if you plan on carrying it with you or not. The small ones are handy when carrying by hand.
Scooters are great for errands and commutes. Even stock, many come with large storage areas under the seat. Just as with the big bikes, scooters get more use if they can carry more. Scooter riders have a tough time finding saddlebags that fit well and often just modify other gear to make due or use a good motorcycle backpack. Thanks to the company KwikTek, there is now a great saddlebag made specifically for scooters.
These tough bags are made from Durable 600 denier polyster are large enough to carry 2 12 packs of pop cans. They are water tight and there’s not many motorcycle saddlebags that can make that claim. Whether your storing ice and cold beverages are just stowing personal gear, these add convenience and carrying capacity to any scooter. For the larger scooters, the added capacity makes easier long trips easier to pack for. They are also very affordable compared to motorcycle saddlebags.
Installation is simple. Just run the straps under the seat and the bags hang in a well supported position. Removal is just as easy. To make sure that the fit is going to work for your specific scooter, check that there is enough room by measuring. They measure 16.75″ long by 11.5″ wide by 15″ high.
Related articles
- Bungee Cords for Motorcycling Are Very Handy (saddlebagsblog.com)
- Honda introduces electric scooter (autonetinsurance.co.uk)
Sportbikes saddlebags are available and they’re utility is well worth the investment. They allow the rider to use the motorcycle for touring, errands, and commutes. The better brands soft sided sportbike saddlebags are easily removable and require either minimal or no additional hardware for use. They allow for even distribution of weight when a rider carries more than than a tail bag or tank bag will allow. Many can be easily transferred to dual-sport and cruiser motorcycles making them a good option for owners of multiple motorcycles.
There are different levels of quality available. Lower quality bags have a big problem with scratching the bike’s paint. Look for scratch resistant material already on the saddlebags or be prepared to add the material yourself. A piece of felt or other soft material corrects the problem. Many brands will need to be strapped with bungee cords to reduce their movement in the wind while riding. Sportbike saddlebags are smaller and tend to wrap in a little around the tail. Supports to keep them out of the tires are not required due to their small size.
Here’s a video of a rider with a Suzuki sportbike installing some lower cost FirstGear Sportbike Saddlebags
There are different types of Harley Davidson saddlebags:
Harley Davidson With Harley Brand Saddlebags
- Saddlebags that are branded and licensed by Harley Davidson.
- Custom handmade saddlebags.
- After market brands from motorcycle luggage manufacturers.
Saddlebags licensed with the Harley Davidson brand are higher priced than the aftermarket brands, but they meet Harley Davidson standards. The fit, quality, and appearance have been through an approval policy to qualify for the licensing.
Custom handmade Harley saddlebags of course vary. Some are extraordinary in their design and detail. Most are made from real leather which has it’s good and bad qualities for touring. Most riders that prefer these motorcycle bags prefer the look of real leather over the performance of more modern materials.
Aftermarket brands that fit Harley Davidson motorcycles are a great way to reduce costs for saddlebags. Many are far lower in price because the manufacturer does not have to pay Harley Davidson for the licensing. Some are model specific and others fit many brands and mounting systems. Searching forums and blogs for opinions about how different brands saddlebags fit with different models can answer many questions. The better companies have customer support lines that can verify a good match for your Harley too.
When choosing any of these bags, don’t forget to consider the saddlebag mounting system that will be used. These are always model specific. They keep the saddlebag from hitting the wheels and the belt drive. Soft saddlebags will usually work well with any mounting system, but hard saddlebags require an exact match.
I advise against locking soft saddlebags. They seem like a good idea but there reality is that there is no way to secure a saddlebag. Even a hard saddlebag can easily be broken into, so a locking soft saddlebag is out of the question. When a thief sees a Harley Davidson, they automatically assume that the owner will have something of value in the bag. If it’s locked, a simple swipe with a pocket knife can undo the security. It’s so easy that it goes unnoticed by anyone that may see them passing by. If valuables are in it, they’re easily stolen and the expensive saddlebag is ruined as well. A thief will just open an unlocked saddlebag and move on if there is nothing of value leaving the saddlebag intact.
The Harley-Davidson Sportster is one of the best all-time classic motorcycles. When a good set of saddlebags are added, it becomes more than just a classic spirited motorcycle, it becomes a great touring machine that can handle any twisty road that you can find.
The Sportster’s classic style will work with many saddlebags well, but the smaller bags do match better. These are some of the largest saddlebags that maintain the lines of the Sportster’s fender line. As with many saddlebags for most smaller motorcycles, turn signal relocation may be required. It’s a hassle, but if bags large enough to use for touring are desired, it’s a common problem.
These are synthetic leather saddlebags making them more weather resistant that traditional leather saddlebags.
National Cycle has a great affordable hard saddlebag kit available at JC Whitney. This kit may not fit all motorcycles, but there the website makes it easy to find out if they fit any specific motorcycle and if the motorcycle is listed, they are guaranteed to fit. Compared to many other hard bags on the market, these are very affordable.
These are large, but not large enough for long cruising. They are well suited for a weekend run, a laptop, commutes where you need to pack a few things, etc. The interior is 7 1/2 inches wide and 20 inches long.
National Cycle Quick Release Hard Saddlebag Kits
These hard bags come in plain black or they can be custom painted to match the motorcycle. Use with upswept or shotgun style exhaust is not possible with this design. Other than the limitations of special exhaust, the smooth, swept look of these is a nice custom style that gives a custom look. Mounting hardware is provided and no drilling or cutting is required. For some models, tail light relocation is mandatory.
These bags are lockable and 2 keys are included. The top lid opens forward for easy use.
For many motorcycles, slant saddlebags are the only option due to tail lights and other design features. They do provide a custom look for many others too. Slant saddlebags add to the windswept look that so many cruisers with retro looks have. My Shadow Aero 750 has the look and slanted bags were the only saddlebags that would fit. The only other option was to relocate the tail lights and that’s not as easy as it sounds.
Most manufacturers have different sizes and their names can be misleading. All saddlebags are small, so don’t let their names fool you. “Jumbo” for example, can mean enough room for rain gear and a jacket liner in one, a tool kit and a purse or small handbag in the other. The weight limit on these are usually very low too. It’s not uncommon for 10 or 15 pounds to be the limit. In reality, you can put a little more in them and their low numbers are most likely to cover the company in case of any overloading.
There are many styles, but keep the quality in mind when choosing a style. I fell for a velcro closing system because it looked really good. I liked the clean lines with no buckles showing. They have turned out to fail miserably because the come open when riding. The trick is to put something stiff in the sides to keep them from collapsing and the velcro opening on it’s own.
Keep away from brands without a reputation. There are many cheap Chinese knock-offs that aren’t worth putting on your motorcycle. They’re not made well enough to last one season they’re so bad. With so many good reputable companies, there’s no good reason to go with a cheap and unknown saddlebag.
Early saddlebags were not much different from today's bike saddlebags.Image via Wikipedia
Bike saddlebags make a motorcycle more useful by adding cargo capacity. When it’s hard to justify the cost of a motorcycle, adding saddlebags increases the value of the bags errand and travel potential. There are many brands and types of bags, so choosing the best for your motorcycle can be a daunting task. Manufacturers try to make them for as many different bikes as possible, but with all of the different types of motorcycles, it can be difficult to make an exact saddlebag for every bike.
You need to find a saddlebag that fits and can perform the duties that you desire. There are saddlebags specifically for travel, looks, security, messenger duties, commuting, weather resistance, and more. Some bags are good for more than one purpose, but the best built saddlebags have one specific purpose in mind.
Hard saddlebags are the most secure and also the most expensive. It’s not uncommon for them to cost more than $1000. Hard saddlebags are bolted onto the motorcycle and can be locked, making it more difficult to steel the saddlebag and the contents. They can be painted to improve the appearance of the motorcycle.
Soft saddlebags are the least expensive and the most versatile. Soft saddlebags can easily be removed and they can expand to fit cargo as needed. Security is minimal if existent at all. If a motorcycle is wrecked, the soft saddlebag is easily replaced. The soft saddlebag even offers mild protection to the motorcycle when it’s laid down. The same hardware can often be used to mount many different types of bags.
Consider the ease of dismounting the bag as a feature. Removal is handy because you can take your luggage with you when leaving the motorcycle. Saddlebags have quick release features to make this very simple. Easy saddlebag removal also makes working on the motorcycle easier.
Motorcycle saddlebags are usually rated for far less than they can actually carry. For liability issues, manufacturers keep the weight amount low. The lower the weight sits in the saddlebag, the more stable the motorcycle will be, so consider this when packing.
Motorcycle brands often have saddlebags available that are an exact fit for your motorcycle. These are best if they suit your purposes because they tend to mount with an exact fit. Motorcycle manufacturers do sell them at a premium price, so if you can find used for less, it’s quite a cost savings. Look at what the aftermarket offers before buying these saddle bags.