Leather Motorcycle Gear

Ever since the day I bought my Harley Davidson motorcycle, I’ve dreamed of taking a cross-country bike trip. All the books I’ve read and movies I’ve seen have convinced me that long-distance road trips are an integral part of the American Dream. I had never been to the American Southwest, but the photography capturing the region’s natural splendor seemed endlessly appealing.

Then, at the end of summer, I sat down and worked through the logistics of the trip - the fuel costs, the time I would need to get off from work and so on. I informed a friend in California that his house would be the final destination for the trip, and I went online to find a motorcycle luggage set. By packing light, I managed to fit most of my gear and provisions in the Xelement saddlebags.

It’s hard to trace the precise roots of the American road trip, but no doubt the movie “Easy Rider” played some part. That tale of two friends traveling the country together and taking in the sights and sounds of life on the road made a profound impact on an entire generation. These days, touring the country on a motorcycle is practically a rite of passage for adventurous types.

In my experience, there’s no better biking destination than the American Southwest, where the visual contrast of mountains and desert is spectacular to say the least. I would recommend bringing along some sizable saddlebags motorcycle with extra water and other supplies. The desert is boiling hot for much of the year, so it’s nice to be able to strip down to a leather biker vest when a leather jacket feels stifling

Let’s face it, it can be a little bit difficult for motorcyclists to keep all their belongings together.  After all, it’s not as if motorcycles have glove compartments or trunks where there is near endless storage.  It’s essential for every motorcyclist to have a durable set of motorcycle saddlebags to carry all of their personal effects.  Most motorcycle saddlebags have a kind of universal design that allows them to fit over the back of any motorcycle, however, it is still a good idea to check the dimensions before purchasing.  Depending on the items a motorcyclist carries around on a daily basis, you might need motorcycle saddlebags that are smaller or larger.  However, there’s no real drawback to having saddlebags that are larger just in case. 

When traveling with via motorcycle, make sure your saddlebags are secure before traveling.  If you have valuables that are also fragile in your saddlebags, it can be devastating for the saddlebags to fall off while riding or to be stolen while stopped at a gas station or convenience store. 

It is important to comprehend that motorcycle luggage is distinctive from standard luggage typically used for travel. Motorcyclist do not have the convenience of being protected from the whether etc. Fortunately, motorcycle luggage manufacturers have realized the importance of developing luggage and saddlebags that offer the necessities for easy transport of personal belongings while riding a motorcycle. Now, there are high-tech features in luggage for these means of transportation. Read the rest of this entry »

It used to be that motorcyle saddlebags carried the bare essentials for a long pony ride. Today our steeds and needs have changed, and our bags have grown appropriately. We like our stuff more than ever, and we like to take as much of it along as possible when we are on our motorcycles. We’ve got the necessities: rain suit, wrenches, flat fix and duct tape. We’ve got our essentials: clothing, toiletries, comely shoes and helmet-hair-hiding hat. We’ve got our basics: camera, film, binoculars, cell phone, palm-top computer, global positioning receiver… Read the rest of this entry »

The practical choices for motorcycle luggage are numerous-barrel bags, tank bags, tail bags, tailpack systems, to name just a few. However, if you want to get really retro, there’s only one option: the throw-over saddlebag-two cargo bags connected by a yoke.

That basic design still appeals today; just throw your stuff in the bags, toss them over the back of the bike and hit the road. Well, sort of. First make sure the load is balanced, then secure the bags to the bike frame. Also, we strongly suggest you mount a metal bracket to your bike to provide further support and prevent the bags from being ingested by the rear wheel. And finally make sure there’s enough clearance between the bottom of the bags and your exhaust system. (We suggest one to two inches.)

Leather is no longer the only choice in saddlebags; there’s now a variety of synthetic materials that tout superior durability, water resistance and an attractive appearance and feel. All come in a variety of sizes, dictated by both cargo needs and the location of your exhaust pipes. Finally, you can get your saddlebags smooth-sided or with braided leather edges, conchos, studs and fringe. You can also probably get sequins if you absolutely have to have them.

Article excerpt courtesy of www.motorcyclecrusiers.com

Disclaimer:  www.motorcycle-leather-gear.com and www.openroadcyclegear.com are wholly owned by RobyCo, Inc. of Reading Pennsylvania.  Excerpt articles do not represent the management opinions of RobyCo, Inc or its holdings.  Selected information is provided for discussion purposes

If you consider all the films about bikers or check a ‘real’ biker then you will find one thing is common in everyone; dependency on saddlebags. This is although very unsatisfying that most saddlebags do not go with the buyer’s personality; some are too large, too small, not secure enough or too fidgety about security.

Are you Planning a Bike Tour? Read the rest of this entry »

Leather saddlebags vary in quality and there can be several types of leather. However there are 3 general categories used to classify leather. They are split, vegetable and chrome leather Motorcycle Saddlebags. All of these different kinds of Motorcycle saddlebags have one specific way to care. Proper care increases the life of leather and protects the aesthetics of it. Leather care can be broken down in four main categories:

1. Cleaning
2. Conditioning
3. Polishing
4. protecting It is important to work on the leather Motorcycle saddlebags in a well ventilated area. This is because of problems related to the dangerous chemicals, which are included in the cleaning solutions. Read the rest of this entry »