Mar 31 2009
Motorcycle specific luggage. Tank/Tail bags and other small luggage.
This is another category of luggage that became popularized by sport and dual sport riders. Tank bags are placed as their name implies on the fuel tank in front of the rider. These can be attached by means of straps or magnets. These bags can be small enough to be a place to put your phone and gloves or some can be expanded (tall) to fit a full weekend of clothes for a trip. Most have a main compartment and some pockets on the side for easy access to commonly used items (eye protection or sunscreen). Another option that I really like that is fairly common is the map pocket on top. Make sure that when you attach a tank bag to your motorcycle that it is placed where you can still easily get to any instruments or your fuel cap. Also make sure that it is firmly attached, so it doesn’t flop around in turns or a hard stop. Tank bags aren’t just for sport riders anymore. Harley Davidson has made a tank bag for some of there motorcycles that are specific to the spine that usually runs down the center of their fuel tanks.
There are other small storage solutions out there. You will be best to look at different manufactures to get ideas. Some of these are Tail bags that fit behind the passenger seat (usually on sport or dual sport motorcycles). Backrest bags that hang from the passenger backrest over the fender. Windshield bag that bolts right to the windshield support. There are a slew of creative storage solutions out there, just do a search or look at on line catalogs like Dennis Kirk, J&P or JC Whitney. As I have mentioned before, my favorite manufacture of soft luggage is Wolfman from right here in Co. Check your motorcycle manufacture first for luggage specific to your motorcycle, then look around at motorcycle specific luggage manufacturers to see if they sell anything specific for your motorcycle and last but not least if you must purchase universal luggage, make sure that it will firmly attach to your motorcycle without interrupting the function of your controls or obscuring your view of instruments or the road.
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