Consider the weather when choosing motorcycle saddlebags.
Most motorcycle saddlebags are made of leather. Some are water resistant, and some are water resistant. The difference in this is that water proof means that water will not damage the motorcycle saddlebags, but resistant means that while it repels water, it cannot be immersed completely in water or for long periods of time. If you live in an area that is very wet, it would probably be in your best interest to invest in water proof motorcycle saddlebags rather then just water resistant.
To Reinforce or Not Reinforce, that is the question.
Reinforced motorcycle saddlebags tend to cost a little more then motorcycle saddlebags without reinforcement. If you plan on using the motorcycle saddlebags to their utmost capacity, it might be in your best interest to invest in reinforced motorcycle saddlebags rather then those without reinforcement. Considering how much it would cost to have to replace motorcycle saddlebags because they wore out, buying motorcycle saddlebags without reinforcement could get quite costly.
It is the size that counts.
While most people think that bigger is better, in motorcycle saddlebags, this isn't always the case. Consider exactly how much space you will be using and then consider how much weight this will add to the motorcycle. The more weight motorcycle saddlebags add to the motorcycle, the worse the gas mileage is. With gas prices soaring, the better the gas mileage, the better it is for you. If you truly need a lot of storage space, getting large motorcycle saddlebags could be the answer. Though if you can get away with smaller motorcycle saddlebags, you should try. While they add convenience, they can also add weight and make the motorcycle off balance if they are not installed properly.
Fancy or Plain?
Now that you have decided on water proof or water resistant motorcycle saddlebags. You have chosen reinforced or not reinforced, and you have decided on the size, you can decide on design. Motorcycle saddlebags can have studs, they can have tassels. Motorcycle saddlebags can be plain, or brightly colored. Motorcycle saddlebags can have decorative decals such as flames, or company logos. If you are looking for cost effective, remember that all these things make motorcycle saddlebags more expensive. The more fancy you make your motorcycle saddlebags the more you will spend on them.
Hard or Soft?
Hard motorcycle saddlebags can protect your items better. The hard motorcycle saddlebags keeps the items inside from being crushed. On the other hand, the softer motorcycle saddlebags tend to take up less space. When they are not in use, they can be pushed in closer to the motorcycle. The less the motorcycle saddlebags stick out, the better it is for the aerodynamics of your motorcycle. If you have items that may be damaged if something were to push against the saddlebags, then a hard motorcycle saddlebags.
Summer is fast approaching and you are excited to get out there with your buddies. Some of you might even be planning cross country or inter city tours over one of the following weekends. What comes to your mind when you talk about the long tours? Yes you guessed it right i.e. motorcycle saddlebags. This summer many of you might be buying motorcycle saddlebags for your motorcycle. I must warn you that there are a lot of cheap saddlebags that not only look horrible on your bike but also are of no use.
You can save the frustration and money by simply reading this article and making a better buying decision. The five features a saddlebag must have are lock ability, mounting hardware, quick release buckles, reinforcement and detach ability.
It might sound a lot but lets start with the easiest one i.e. lock ability. By now you must have guessed it right. Having saddlebags that lock gives you a piece of mind. After all, your helmet and jacket need to be safely locked when you go to your neighborhood bar.
The second important feature of saddlebags is mounting hardware. I must say never install saddlebags on a motorcycle without the mounting hardware. Even the cheap throw over bag that come with stings to tie them to shocks and under the seat should never be used without hardware. Mounting hardware should be the responsibility of the seller of the saddlebag. Although it should come with the bags but I think even if the manufacturer charges you for the hardware it is fine. A motorcycle rider should never be left to figure out the semi complicated process of mounting the bags on a bike by companies that claim to be professional saddlebag manufacturers.
Third thing to keep in mind while purchasing a pair of saddlebags is the quick release buckles. It is not very easy to open a large leather bag again and again. Quick release buckle also known as easy locks give you easy access to the inside of the saddlebags.
The fourth most important factor to consider is re enforcement. Some of you might be wondering what that is. Every one who has riding experience of one year and more knows that leather is after all a skin of an animal and it tends to sag over time. However the bags that are reinforced with a metal frame are no subject to such problems.
The last and an important factor to remember is to have bags which come off the motorcycle easily. Many of you would agree that you do not want to see the saddlebags on your motorcycle all the time. Having a way to take them off the motorcycle under few minutes would be a feature the saddlebags must provide.
You might have noticed that I did not mention the issues related to leather. The reason for this is that leather and quality of saddlebags is a completely different however equally important issue. Many manufacturers and resellers of saddlebags claim features such as quality leather and come with 30 day money back guarantee as a feature which have nothing to do with the functions or features of the saddle bags. It is strongly suggested to ask a lot of questions before buying saddlebags in order to avoid unpleasant rides afterwards.
Both Justin Stewart & Harry Alan are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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