Saddlebag necessities

[Bubba]

[quote="R3sp4wN"]So, I now have a great motorcycle and there are these huge bags strapped to the back. What do I do with them? Are there any important things that I should always have stored away or any suggestions on how to make the best use of my luggage? Any advice would be appriciated. Thanks in advance.[/quote

I carry rain gear, bike lock, tire repair kit, sun block and a couple of towels. Other than that, and maybe making the bike look good, they are usless.

[Pittance]

I carry rain gear, bike lock, tire repair kit, sun block and a couple of towels. Other than that, and maybe making the bike look good, they are usless.

Shenanigans. Saddlebags can hold anything you can fit into them. Groceries too if they arent too crushable. I mean, they are little suitcases on the back of your bike. If you are commuting on your bike, you are probably gonna need to bring things to work you cant fit in a tank bag or under the seat. Laptop in a case? Et cetera. If you have them, I'd keep them. If they make the bike ugly, maybe find some that match up better with your bike.

[jonnythan]

I keep some really lightweight rain pants (in a ziploc), some tie down straps and bungee cord, and a 1-liter fuel canister in the saddlebags.

In the fork bag, I have a spare spark plug, tire gauge, clear riding glasses, spare fuses, and a couple of other small items.

I carried a tire repair kit until I realize my tires had tubes

I use em to carry my lunch when I ride to work, shove my riding pants into them so I don't have to wear them into the office, anything I might pick up while running small errands or riding, etc.

[Johnj]

Most of the time my saddlebags are empty as I keep stuff in the tailtrunk. Like a sweatshirt, bottle of water, lens cleaner, paper towels, etc.

[DireWolf]

Had to look in mine to see.

Spare tube, spare brake cable, spare clutch cable, tool bag, fuses.....old denim jacket bunched in the bottom. Old Grateful Dead baseball cap. Older Cubs baseball cap. Empty Diet Coke bottle (tossed in recycling)..... insurance card, Web-bungee net (beer-hauler), 25' measuring tape (?).

[flynrider]

I don't have saddlebags, but i do have a small backpack strapped to the backseat. I generally don't keep anything there (permanently) that I couldn't afford to lose, since there's no lock. Right now the inventory is earplugs, tire gauge and some cheap gloves.

[MZ33]

air compressor

Serious?? What kind of air compressor can you fit on a bike?

The small 12V kind?

Overpriced option.

You have a nicer bike than me. Quite sure mine doesn't have a cigarette lighter/12V adapter. Although, I'll keep looking . . . maybe I'll find one on it somewhere.

[the_sandman_454]

You could always just install your own 12v adapter, or even wire the compressor up with a pair of clips you can just clip to the battery. Might be a hassle to use, but less of a hassle than a deflated tire I would think.

[Grey Thumper]

air compressor

Serious?? What kind of air compressor can you fit on a bike?

The small 12V kind?

Overpriced option.

You have a nicer bike than me. Quite sure mine doesn't have a cigarette lighter/12V adapter. Although, I'll keep looking . . . maybe I'll find one on it somewhere.

Or you can make a pump for about US$20 . . .

http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/features/Mini ... ressor.pdf

[drrhythm39]

In my saddle bags and sissy bar bag i carry: Spare gloves, clear, smoked and yellow helmet shields, tool bag, towel, tire guage, spare eye glasses.