Tankbags
Tankbags are religion. Those who’ve been converted will tell you they do everything from making sure you don’t get lost to curing baldness.
In fact, tankbags are pretty wonderful. The tank-top location means that any weight you carry is close to the center of the motorcycle, where it’s least likely to upset your handling. Plus, that location means you can get to your stuff easily at a rest stop.
In addition, most tankbags double as map holders, making them worthwhile even if you don’t have much to carry. And larger models can be as effective as some low fairings in keeping wind off your chest. Also, many models come with straps that turn them into backpacks when you want to wander around off the bike.
No, tankbags aren’t perfect. Their carrying capacity is limited, most have to be removed when you go to fill the gas tank and they don’t adapt well to many cruiser-style bikes or tight-quartered sportbikes. But a good tankbag can carry everything you need for a day-trip and makes an ideal starting point for touring luggage.
There are two basic mounting systems—straps and magnets. Magnetic bags can be incredibly convenient, but they don’t work on all tanks, and you need to be careful if you’re carrying computer disks, memory cards, digital cameras, cassette tapes or even magnetic bank cards. With strap systems, you need to find a way to cinch the load down securely on your bike—there’s nothing worse than a tankbag that tries to fall off every time you turn.
Despite that, tankbags are addictive. Once you try them, you’ll never want to travel without one again.