Hard Saddlebags

If you’re really serious about touring, you’ve probably at least thought about buying hard saddlebags at one time or another. Indeed, back when airhead BMWs roamed the earth, hard bags were at the top of the touring food chain.

These days, fewer companies are in the hard-saddlebag business, but the products they make are more functional than ever, rivaling the integrated luggage you’d get on a full-dress touring bike for both carrying capacity and convenience. 

To add hard bags, you’ll have to purchase mounting hardware specifically for your machine. Some of these brackets will also give you a luggage rack or a mounting point for a touring top box, to boot.

Bolting this stuff on shouldn’t be too difficult, although it will likely require you to relocate your rear turn signals. Then, once you have the hardware in place, you can simply pack the saddlebags and clip them into place on the machine.

The advantages of hard bags are many. All should be waterproof and lockable for security. And when you get to a hotel, you can unclip your bags and carry your luggage inside—just like you arrived in a car.

It’s not all beer and skittles, though. Hard bags may appear huge on the outside, but some are oddly shaped, leaving you with little nooks and crannies that aren’t particularly useful. And unlike soft bags, they won’t expand as you keep cramming stuff in. Plus, the mounting brackets can position the bags pretty far out, adding significantly to the width of your motorcycle. And even with the bags off, you’re left with brackets that might not be your idea of fashionable.

Still, life is full of compromises, and if you want the greatest convenience for long-haul touring, you at least need to consider getting a set of hard saddlebags.