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Posts Tagged ‘Hard’

The market for hard saddlebags may have shrunk but there are still some manufacturers who continue to manufacture stylish bags. These manufacturers even offer matching brackets so that you can install the saddlebag with ease.

If you are looking for a hard saddlebag then you should look for three features: the bags should be waterproof, should be lockable and detachable. You should also be careful about the size of the bag. Often, the size may be misleading. This is because the hard bags, unlike soft bags, are not expandable, and have stiff internal lining that reduces storage area.

Here is a brief outline of hard saddlebags:

1. AUBURN LEATHER LEGEND BAGS: These bags come in two styles: bolt-on and throw-over, and are made of black American cowhide. They are classy looking with lock-stitched and stress-riveted seams and zinc-plated steel rivets. They have a hard back and their interiors are reinforced with ABS and HDPE plastic. The size of these bags is 12 inches by 13.5 inches by 6 inches.

2. BOSS BAGS: The Boss Bags are made of premium leather with heavy plastic reinforcing in the interiors. They are available in plain black leather or with trimmings. They have lockable lids and quick-release buckle straps. Each bag comes with a fiberglass mounting system.

3. PATRIOT HARDBAGS: These bags are known for their sleek styling and high-quality fit. They are 26 inches by 9.5 inches by 14.5 inches with a 35-liter capacity. Their side-mounting units are made of fiberglass. An additional feature is a watertight gasket seal that keeps rain water from entering.

4. CORBIN BEETLE BAGS: These bags are made according to the shape of motorcycles. This gives them a unique fit, and look. They are made of Fibertech and have a smooth finish. Their sizes may vary but their capacity is around 30 liters per bag.

5. GIVI LUGGAGE CRUISER: Givi’s bags, also known as Cruiser bags, are made of polypropelene. They are 16.7 inches by 13.7 inches by 7.7 inches with a capacity of 21 liters. They have side-mounting units and are sold as a pair. They are very light and come in a variety of finishes.

6. NATIONAL CYCLE CRUISELINER SADDLEBAGS: These bags are made from a high-density polymer that makes them dent-resistant. They normally have high-gloss black finish, but custom color matching is also possible. The size of these bags is 24.5 inches by 14 inches by 7.5 inches.

7. SADDLEMEN DESPERADO SADDLEBAGS: These hard bags come with inner stiffeners that maintain their shape even when the bags are empty. They come in several shapes, with each shape meant for a specific bike model.

Motorcycle saddlebags have been around for more then 50 years. They are great for storing supplies for long trips. From everything like purses, tools, first aid kits, drinks and snacks, to spare helmets and cleaning supplies for your bike. There are so many uses for motorcycle saddlebags, as very few of the necessary items for long trips or even trips to the local supermarket actually fit in the pockets of bikers. In addition, there are a few items that should always be carried by bikers, and the pockets won’t accommodate them all, but motorcycle saddlebags will. With all the motorcycle saddlebags out there, what sets them apart? There are two main types of motorcycle saddlebags. There are hard mounted motorcycle saddlebags, and there are throw over motorcycle saddlebags.

Hard Mounted Motorcycle Saddlebags

For more stability, these hard mounted motorcycle saddlebags are definitely in the lead in this area. In the 1950′s a group of bikers drilled holes in their fenders to attach the motorcycle saddlebags. This prevented them from flying off and flapping around. After some major motorcycle manufacturers got wind of the new trend, they saw how popular it was among the bikers. Instead of having the bikers drill holes into their fenders, they made mounting for motorcycle saddlebags. These hard mounted motorcycle saddlebags are now custom on many bikes, and can be added to many more. If you add these hard mounted motorcycle saddlebags to a package with a new motorcycle, you might end up paying more then you would if you added them yourself. The dealer marks it up when they are adding it to the accessories. Now the question is whether you want hard leather or soft leather. Hard leather provides better protection for your items then the soft leather motorcycle saddlebags because the hard leather would resist any objects bumping into them better then the soft leather motorcycle saddlebags. These generally have mounting brackets to keep them off the wheels and other vital motorcycle parts.

Throw Over Motorcycle Saddlebags

The advantage of throw over motorcycle saddlebags is that it is not necessary to make any modifications to the motorcycle, whereas hard mounted motorcycle saddlebags required modifications that have quickly been included by most manufacturers. Throw over motorcycle saddlebags are like the name says attached by throwing them over the seat of the motorcycle. Generally they go in front of the signal flasher and over the stocks. Many times these types of motorcycle saddlebags require removing the seat to install the throw over motorcycle saddlebags. These types of motorcycle saddlebags are generally harder to install, but they are traditional types of motorcycle saddlebags. While the hard mounted motorcycle saddlebags are easier and more sturdy, the throw over motorcycle saddlebags are the motorcycle saddlebags of the original bikers, before the hard mounted motorcycle saddlebags were designed. While some bikers or motorcycle enthusiasts may be daunted at the thought of the work involved in installing throw over motorcycle saddlebags, some true bikers revel in the ability to work with their hands to make something all their own.

Motorcycles with flat tires . . . roll hard! If your motorcycle is cruising along at 55 mph and your rear motorcycle tire suddenly deflates [has a blow out!] you now have a tremendously, dangerous challenge ahead of you. Avoiding other vehicles, controlling the steering, a swaying rear-end making everything unstable makes for a sizable victory when you roll off the side of the road and come to a stop. Congratulations, job well done! More riders than not end in an accident or something worse. All because of their motorcycle tires. Who knows your thoughts if it is the front tire to blow? You better be prayed up.

We all want a sharp looking bike. Once you select your make and model, your interest is on chrome, color, accessories, personal appearance, dress etc. but let us not forget about the importance of the rubber motorcycle tires that get us around. Frame, structure and engine all work together and hopefully are worry free for years. Motorcycle tires keep moving and we need to often watch for wear and safety.

There are two critical places that motorcycles need to be checked before each ride or at least once a month. Both are easy to do and both are many times overlooked. One area is brake fluid. If the pedal is mushy, bleed the lines or have someone else do it. Two, motorcycle tires need to be inspected. Why do we forget these?

Our safety depends on it. We trust our life to the two motorcycle tires under us that have at best two patches of rubber in contact with the ground the size of our two hands at any given moment. Move that along at 55 mph or even at 15 mph and each of the motorcycle tires is taking on a serious responsibility. The attention and care we offer towards our motorcycle tires can help us tremendously with our safety and enjoyment of biking.

Here are some areas where things can go wrong with your motorcycle tires:

- Tire Pressure: Under-inflation may cause uneven wear, loss of control [stability], wears the motorcycle tires out faster and increases the chances of the motorcycle tires failure. Over-inflation allows motorcycle tires to heat up, limit traction [although a slight 10% over-inflation may actually increase traction in wet conditions] and affects the wear. To correct these, use a good tire gauge and check the motorcycle tires when it is cool. Keep the motorcycle tires pressure at the recommended PSI.

- Fluids: Brake fluid, gas and lube spills need to be cleaned immediately. It deteriorates the rubber. Many of the cleaner protectants used on motorcycle tires harm the finish rubber. The best way to clean is to use old-fashioned soap and water.

- Bumps: Potholes, curbs and stones may slash or crack the tire. Look for any problem.

- Accelerated wear: Everyday use may be a potential hazard. Spinning motorcycle tires on take off or holding the brake on emergency stops need to be checked.

- Nails, screws etc.: It is better to find them before you ride than to discover these nuisances 20 minutes down the road. Motorcycle tires that use a tube may “pop” from a nail/screw or sharp object, where a tubeless tire may have the nail/screw actually plug the hole they created which gives you a little more time for repairs.

- Valve stems: Make sure the cap is on. It helps to protect the valve stem from leaking air and protects the stem valve from opening by centrifugal force and leaking air at higher speeds. When you use motorcycle tires with tubes, the valve stem should be straight out. If it is on a slant, the tire has been under-inflated and the tube has moved around the rim. Often this damages the tube and creates a leak.

- Tire weights: Weights need to be firmly fixed to the rim. If they fall off it will throw the tire out of balance and cause uneven wear.

- Rim: Cracked or dented rims are potential problems. You may want to replace wire spoke wheels when they become damaged with a cast or billet wheel that uses tubeless tires. Check with your dealer on this.

- Worn/torn: Thin tread is easier to detect. Flat wear is due to leaning very little and driving mostly in a straight line, resulting in a ridge at the edge of the flattened middle of the tire. This causes motorcycle tires to become unstable in a leaning turn. It wants to warble. The tire may have more wear but it should be replaced. [It is good to replace both front tire and rear tire at the same time.] Sidewall punctures, cracking, cord separation are an alert.

- Tread: Check the grooves called “sipes” making sure that the tread is still sufficient. The lack of having tread affects the cooling of the tire when in use, wear, stability, traction and can cause hydroplaning on wet roads.

When doing your inspection of motorcycle tires get a friend to roll the bike while you check the tread and sidewalls. You may need to get a work stand if alone. Obstacles to having a good inspection are long pipes, saddlebags, fenders etc. making it hard to see the rear tire. Front motorcycle tires are a bit easier to examine. This sounds like a lot but it goes quickly and is easy to do. Make it a habit to check your motorcycle tires frequently.

Some miscellaneous information you need to know. You will have better handling and get more out your motorcycles tires when you keep the rear tire aligned and balanced. Consider having this looked at approximately every1000 miles. Be careful when you have new motorcycle tires it takes the first couple of rides to get traction working well.

So! Happy riding and remember to check your motorcycle tires often.

Article by Jenny Carson

Riding a motorcycle can be tough for some riders because it challenges them to think on how they can carry their luggage safely with them while riding. For experienced riders, who have been back and forth traveling long distance trip, they know exactly the challenges of riding when bringing too much stuff. Sometimes, you cannot avoid this because worse comes to worse, your vehicle is one of your primary options when riding from one city or state to another. However, if you fear of getting your bags exposed while traveling, or you are worried that they might fall of easily, it is time for you to use hard panniers.

Why are they called hard panniers? They are called such because they are made of solid materials that make them tough. Commonly manufacturers make hard panniers out of aluminum, fiberglass and plastics like polypropylene. They take many forms and sometimes they can look as part of the bicycle when it is attached following the outlines of the bike (like the Corbets Beetle Bag, they have particular designs and shape for various models).

If you ask how these bags are compared to the soft panniers, here are some of the explanations of its advantages over other motorcycle luggage:

- They are waterproof. You can travel miles and miles away from home, whether rain or shine and your stuff can be protected from all types of weather. You do need special covers to keep them dry when it is raining hard. No water can penetrate on their hard shells.

- They are tough. Your things will be protected from their hard casings. Some are can withstand dents. They can really keep your things in good shape while traveling. They are also resistant to corrosion so it could mean that this piece of equipment can serve you for a long time.

- They have sleek designs and shapes. It also has an aesthetic value for your motorcycles. Therefore, you bikes can look cool because no one could tell exactly where you placed your stuff.

- They have special locks and lids that make it easier for the user to get their things conveniently. They usually have the concept of an ice chest or a toy box, only they have a more sophisticated system in opening and closing them.

- They are more stable for storage because they are mounted to the bike using screws. Despite the fact that these motorcycle luggage seems to look permanent, they have also undergone innovations so that users do have an option whether to remove them whenever they want to have it changed. Some have special features that make them detachable, so when you are staying at a place other than your homes, you can bring it with you easily to your rooms.

- They have wider space to accommodate a lot of your stuff. Since they are more stable and lightweight, adding load to your motorcycle should not be a problem. Just make sure you do not overdo it.

About the Author

For more tips and information about motorcycle luggage, please check out http://www.rockytopleather.com.

Motorcycle saddlebags have been around for more then 50 years. They are great for storing supplies for long trips. From everything like purses, tools, first aid kits, drinks and snacks, to spare helmets and cleaning supplies for your bike. There are so many uses for motorcycle saddlebags, as very few of the necessary items for long trips or even trips to the local supermarket actually fit in the pockets of bikers. In addition, there are a few items that should always be carried by bikers, and the pockets won’t accommodate them all, but motorcycle saddlebags will. With all the motorcycle saddlebags out there, what sets them apart? There are two main types of motorcycle saddlebags. There are hard mounted motorcycle saddlebags, and there are throw over motorcycle saddlebags.

Hard Mounted Motorcycle Saddlebags

For more stability, these hard mounted motorcycle saddlebags are definitely in the lead in this area. In the 1950′s a group of bikers drilled holes in their fenders to attach the motorcycle saddlebags. This prevented them from flying off and flapping around. After some major motorcycle manufacturers got wind of the new trend, they saw how popular it was among the bikers. Instead of having the bikers drill holes into their fenders, they made mounting for motorcycle saddlebags. These hard mounted motorcycle saddlebags are now custom on many bikes, and can be added to many more. If you add these hard mounted motorcycle saddlebags to a package with a new motorcycle, you might end up paying more then you would if you added them yourself. The dealer marks it up when they are adding it to the accessories. Now the question is whether you want hard leather or soft leather. Hard leather provides better protection for your items then the soft leather motorcycle saddlebags because the hard leather would resist any objects bumping into them better then the soft leather motorcycle saddlebags. These generally have mounting brackets to keep them off the wheels and other vital motorcycle parts.

Throw Over Motorcycle Saddlebags

The advantage of throw over motorcycle saddlebags is that it is not necessary to make any modifications to the motorcycle, whereas hard mounted motorcycle saddlebags required modifications that have quickly been included by most manufacturers. Throw over motorcycle saddlebags are like the name says attached by throwing them over the seat of the motorcycle. Generally they go in front of the signal flasher and over the stocks. Many times these types of motorcycle saddlebags require removing the seat to install the throw over motorcycle saddlebags. These types of motorcycle saddlebags are generally harder to install, but they are traditional types of motorcycle saddlebags. While the hard mounted motorcycle saddlebags are easier and more sturdy, the throw over motorcycle saddlebags are the motorcycle saddlebags of the original bikers, before the hard mounted motorcycle saddlebags were designed. While some bikers or motorcycle enthusiasts may be daunted at the thought of the work involved in installing throw over motorcycle saddlebags, some true bikers revel in the ability to work with their hands to make something all their own.