DEEMEED’S buyer's guide to the best motorcycle bags and luggage
23 - 02 - 2022
DEEMEED’S Buyer’s Guide to The Best Motorcycle Bags and Luggage
Every motorcycle enthusiast lives for riding and appreciates the experience. Whether you use your motorcycle as your main means of transportation, whether it's a form of escape from everyday life and an opportunity to commune with nature, or maybe you enjoy motorcycle tourism, you will usually sooner or later face a dilemma: what motorcycle bag to buy to best fit your motorcycle and also meet your personal needs. There is a very wide range of solutions on the market for virtually any motorcycle regardless of its type or purpose. For the purpose of this guide, we will focus on what our company has to offer.
Soft bags
- sissy bar bags - This type of motorcycle bags usually comes with some kind of mounting system allowing the sissy bar to be used as an attachment point. The Deemeed travel bags use a Universal Mounting System that allows you to adjust the circumference of the mounting straps around the sissy bar or backrests.
- tail bags - this type of motorcycle bags are designed to be mounted on the back rack or directly on the rear fender. Very important characteristic of this type of bags should be the possibility of quick and effective assembly and disassembly, as well as the possibility of stiffening the bottom of the bag, which will allow for a strong fastening with assembly straps without deforming the bag. In Deemeed motorcycle Tail Bags it is possible to add an aluminum plate to the bottom of the bag and use additional accessories to create mounting points.
- front bags - These are travel bags designed to be mounted on the handlebars above the headlight or on the front shock absorbers under the headlight. Front Bags allow you to obtain even a small luggage space, which in the case of some motorcycles can be quite a challenge. Examples include chopper, naked or sport bikes. Motorcycle front bags, apart from the possibility of taking small luggage on a motorcycle, also serve as protection against the wind
Side bags - Due to the shape, type of material and method of assembly, side bags can be divided into the following categories
1. Side cases - This is a type of rigid luggage bag, usually aluminum, plastic or leather, that is permanently attached to the motorcycle and usually requires additional metal structures to enable assembly. Some cases can be detached from the motorcycle, but then the motorcycle remains an unsightly structure, which greatly affects the appearance. Side cases are very often offered by motorcycle manufacturers as basic or optional motorcycle equipment. The unquestionable advantages of this solution are the lockable option and complete water resistance. The disadvantages are mainly: no easy and quick disassembly, low functionality after disassembly, strict assignment to a specific motorcycle model.
2. Detachable soft bags - This type of motorcycle bags is a solution valued by motorcyclists due to its functionality. Usually made of very durable textile materials eg. Cordura they offer a wide range of sizes, shapes and styles. Installation is usually fairly easy, although it may require the use of accessory mounting hardware in some cases. The advantages of this solution include functionality, the possibility of using the bag outside the motorcycle(you can take the bag with you, e.g. to a hotel, restaurant, etc.), no or minimal interference with the appearance of the motorcycle after disassembling the bag, a wide range of manufacturers, price range tailored to every pocket . The main disadvantages are the lack of anti-theft protection and poor water resistance.
3. Sadle bags - This is a type of motorcycle bags, which in their traditional form should be mounted on the passenger seat, under it or directly on the fender through a central belt connecting two bags hanging on both sides of the motorcycle. The idea is borrowed from bags used on horses by cowboys in the wild west. Not very functional and usually made of leather, they are more decorative than functional.
4. Swing arm bags - another type of luggage that rather adds style and emphasizes the individual character of the motorcycle, but does not constitute too much space for luggage. Swing arm bags are attached with leather straps on the motorcycle's swing arm and are popular among softail motorcycle owners. Due to the placement of the muffler, swing arm bags can usually only be installed on one side of the motorcycle.
5. Fender side bags - Similarly to swing arm bags Fender Bags do not have too much load capacity and are an element of image rather than functional. They are usually mounted with screws directly to the fender mounting elements. The elements that protect the bag against dangerous approaching the wheel while driving are additional metal stiffening structures or metalplates built into the back wall of the bag. The main disadvantage of this solution is: low load capacity, no possibility of quick disassembly for use outside the motorcycle.
Tank bags
- Bags mounted directly on the fuel tank by means of assembly belts, rubber suction cups, and magnets. Popular among Adventure bikers, they give the possibility of increasing the luggage space during long trips. The main advantage of this solution is easy and quick access to the necessities. The main disadvantages are: limitation of the rider's space, difficult refueling, riskof scratching the paintwork.
Speciality bags
- Pet Bags which have been gaining more and more popularity in recent years can be an example of this type of motorcycle bags. Pet Bags intended for the transport of pets must meet certain criteria in order to ensure the safety of animals transported on a motorcycle, but also for motorcyclists themselves. The most important features that must be met are: - safe andstrong universal fastening system - structure stiffness - ventilation - high resistance toabrasion and damage - pet security system inside the bag
2. Security bags - these are bags whose main task is to protect against theft. Deemeed offers Helmet Security Bags in Double and Single versions. In this type of bag, a metal cord is sewn between the three layers of fabric in a weave forming a mesh. This type of protection prevents the bag from being cut with a knife. In addition, the Helmet Bag can be attached directly to the motorcycle while blocking the front wheel of the motorcycle and therefore immobilizing the bike.
Hard bags
1. Swing arm bags - these are bags that are hung on a motorcycle's swing arm in softail motorcycles. Usually made of thick natural leather, more decorative and style emphasizing than functional. - fender bags - like swing arm bags, they are usually made of leather. This type of bags is mounted with the use of mounting screws that fasten the fender or accessory racks fixed permanently to the motorcycle frame.
Bags that you wear
backpacks - as the name suggests, Backpacks designed to be worn on the back. In order to be transported on a motorcycle, they are usually equipped with belly straps for better stabilization while driving.
leg bags - these are usually not large bags that can be attached to a belt and worn on the thigh.
messenger bags - these are usually bags, used by professionals to transport documents or electronic equipment, adapted to riding a motorcycle. Messenger Bags are ideal for riding in a city.
Liners
- Bags used as textile inserts for hard cases - manufactured with the user's convenience in mind. All luggage can be easily slipped in and out of the case.
What should you pay attention to when choosing a motorcycle bag?
- size - before buying a bag, it is worth considering what we will use it for most. Will it be long motorcycle trips or short trips around the city, or maybe a permanently installed bag for small everyday objects or tools.
- assembly method - this is an extremely important feature of a motorcycle bag. We must always make sure that our motorcycle complies with the bag manufacturer's recommendations related to assembly. The best solution is always bags with a universal mounting system, which means that we can install them on many motorcycles
- quality - motorcycle travel bags, due to their intended use, must be made to the highest quality materials. They should be a type of investment that will serve us for many seasons, without the need for replacement or repair.
- waterproofing - is a very important feature of motorcycle bags. It is worth noting whether the producer provides full waterproofness or only some resistance to soaking. In many cases, if complete waterproofing is not ensured, manufacturers include rain covers with the bags which, if well made, provide excellent protection against water.
- material - when talking about quality, one cannot forget about one of the most important factors, i.e. the materials from which an ideal motorcycle travel bag is made. The Deemeed company uses Italian laminated Cordura as the base material, which, due to its very high resistance to abrasion or tearing, is ideal. As for other materials used in the production of bags, we must make sure that they are light and durable. Aluminum, stainless steel, high-quality composites such as Triplex should be part of every good motorcycle bag
- warranty - motorcycle luggage should be protected by a good manufacturer's warranty, which will give us peace of mind when using it. Deemeed is a company that gives its flagship Cordura products a 30-year warranty, which is also the longest warranty for this type of product in the world.
Examples of what types of motorbikes Deemeed bags fit:
- cruiser - HD Softail Standard, HD Softail Slim, HD Street Bob, HD Fat Bob, HD Fat Boy, HD Low Rider S, HD Sport Glide, HD Breakout, HD Heritage Classic, Indian Scout, Indian Chief, Triumph Bonneville, Triumph Rocket 3
- touring - HD Electra Glide, HD Road King, HD Road Glide, HD Street Glide, Indian Challenger, Honda Goldwing - naked - HD Sportster, HD Sportster S, Bmw R series, Yamaha MT 09
- adventure - HD Panamerica, Bmw Gs, Triumph Tiger, Ducati Multistrada Which brands are the most popular? - Harley Davidson - Indian - Triumph - BMW - Yamaha - Honda - Kawasaki - Suzuki
What are the most popular textile bags?
Among the many models of Deemeed bags, the DiscoveryM(60 L) and Explorer M(35 L) have been the most popular over the years. It seems that these two Midium size models suit our customers' needs best.
Cordura or Leather?
This is a question frequently asked by our customers. Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to it. It is a matter of personal preference of the client. From a pragmatic point of view, Cordura bags are certainly more durable and designed for more severe conditions of use. Leather on the other hand speaks with its aesthetics and matching to many more sophisticated stylizations. At Deemeed, we strive to satisfy all our customers by providing them with a wide range of products and trying to adapt to their various needs and preferences.
