Helpful Hints

< Back

Motorbike Luggage Tips, Facts, and Types

Touring by motorbike is an exceptionally fascinating way to travel. The world is wide open before you, the winds are gently nipping at your face, and everything you need is tucked safely away inside the luggage that you have selected for your journey. In fact, your bike might have come already fitted with luggage, especially if you have purchased a touring bike. What is there that you should know about bike luggage if you don’t already have it and if you don’t already know it?

Selecting your bike luggage is an important step that requires careful consideration. Not only do you want to get something that is going to meet your needs, but also, you need to get something that will be appropriate for your bike. Bike luggage can be divided into two main categories- hard luggage and soft luggage.

Soft luggage is available in a wide assortment of styles, brands, colors, and sizes. In fact, bike riders do not have to purchase soft luggage that is labeled “for motorbikes” only. Any number of different luggage pieces will do almost as well. Although I would recommend buying luggage that is designed for use with motorbikes.

One of the most important features to get in soft luggage that is destined for the motorbike is water-resistant material. Additionally, the material should be sturdy for longer wear. You can either purchase permanent fitment or temporary depending on your needs.

It’s a good idea to bring your bike along when you are making your selection. This way, you can try it out and make sure that it fits well. Using soft luggage is amenable to situations where you only need to pack a small amount of stuff that does not require special packing.

Hard luggage is often fitted to touring bikes as part of the standard package. However, sometimes it does become necessary to purchase hard luggage on your own. Rather than being a problem, this is actually quite easy since quite a few aftermarket pieces of hard luggage are available. Many of these will be bike-specific, so it is important to take note of this in the store.

Hard bike luggage as you might expect is more expensive than soft bike luggage. It is also sturdier and therefore, more durable. Plus, it is usually more secure than its softer counterparts. Plus, it is usually larger so you have increased capacity, which is great for those longer journeys. Likewise, hard luggage is typically more weather resistant than soft luggage. Since hard luggage is now available in several colours, it is possible to purchase something that will blend with your motorbike’s colours as well.

Carrying luggage on your motorbike will influence a few things such as your driving and maneuverability. The first step that you should take is to read the set of instructions that come with your luggage, compliments of the manufacturer. Make sure that you secure it properly to your motorbike.

Since the carrying of luggage will typically increase your tyre’s wear, make sure that you keep an eye on them. It might be necessary to change your tyres more frequently. This is especially true when the luggage is placed at the rear of your bike.

Checking your tyre pressure can significantly reduce any issues with the handling performance of you bike due to the excess weight of your luggage and contents. In fact, it is worth checking your suspension settings as well.

Among the other things to watch out for is the placement of your luggage. Since your mirrors are critical for proper driving, check to make sure that the luggage you select does not block your view. Plus, if you plan to lock your luggage, bring along a spare key just in case you lose the first one.

Another word of caution is necessary here since the added weight can cause instability issues. In order to minimize these, pack your luggage with the heaviest items nearest to the center or middle of your motorbike. This won’t eliminate the issues, but it should significantly reduce the instability that extra weight causes for your ride.

A final point to ponder is the necessity of checking the security of your luggage throughout your touring trip. Luggage and the components securing it to your bike can work themselves loose, so be sure to tighten your luggage fittings when necessary.

< Back