Travel Saddle

Here are some more information for Travel Saddle:

Saddle Bags for Motorcycles

When you travel on a motorcycle, you'll eventually need something that you can stow your "stuff" in. There are a number of options available to you on the market today. We'll take a look at one of them now, saddle bags.

As the name implies, these bags are situated on the bike in much the same way the Pony Express riders used to use them. You can carry items without them being in the way up front, interfering with your control.

Three things you might want to consider before buying motorcycle luggage are:

1) Can be mounted on a motorcycle securely, can be locked and are easy to          access?
In order to mount a motorcycle saddlebag on any motorcycle the saddlebags must have mounting hardware.

2) One of the most needed features of saddlebags is their ability to lock. Try to buy saddlebags that can be easily locked. This would give you a piece of mind while away from you motorcycle.
 
3) Convenience. Look for saddlebags that are easy to access and have quick release buckles. They let you open and close the motorcycle luggage without having to buckle and unbuckle straps.

Types of saddle bags available:

1) Toss over
2) Hard mount 
3) Leather
4) Plastic (Fiberglass)

Toss-Over saddle bags are more portable. The bag's yoke goes on your motorcycle frame and hang downwards on the sides of the frame.

Hard-Mount saddlebags are sturdier and better suited for heavier items. Manufacturers introduced this type after the Toss-Over saddlebags.

Leather saddlebags are soft and flexible. Lighter than other materials, leather makes it easier to transport whenever you need to remove the saddlebags. While leather is waterproof and stain resistant, it still need conditioning and cleaning to keep it looking good.

Plastic (fiberglass) is less flexible than leather, but sturdiness is key. Since plastic is heavier than leather, you may want to keep your saddlebags attached to the motorcycle's frame. Plastics are more waterproof than leather and less vulnerable to stains. Plastic  bags remain durable with less maintenance.

Before you run out to add saddlebags or luggage to your motorcycle, think about the following questions:

What are they going to be used for?

What is the best type for me?

These and other answers can be found at

http://www.luggageformotorcycles.com.

About the Author

Cecil is an experienced rider and spends many hours out on the road travelling on his motorcycle.

Where is oil leaking from my 1999 Honda 1100-cc Shadow ACE motorcycle?

I bought this ride new in 1999, but after the break-in period I failed to change the oil when due, maybe 4000 miles overdue at 8000 on the odometer. I rode the bike with my wife as a passanger from Dayton, OH to Memphis, TN and from Dayton to Virginia Beach, VA traveling mostly on the Interstate at 70 to 80 mph. When I finally remembered to change the oil, it came out very black. After the oil and filter change it began slowly leaking. I replaced the washer on the drain plug, drained and re-filled the oil again, making sure the filter gasket had a film of oil on it before tightening it, but it still leaked. Near as I can tell, it may be leaking at the oil pump gasket. I rode for awhile with four quarts of replacement oil in the saddle bags, but now I don't know if it would make it ten miles to the dealer for repairs. Service manual says removal of the sub-frame and a bunch of other parts is necessary to gain access to remove the oil pump. Any suggestions before I do this?

If there are no visible signs of oil leak such as n the ground where you leave maybe it is being used by a worn motor or because the rings are worn crankcase pressure is forcing the oil out the filler hole

Bianchi Methanol SL 9500
Stylish Italian performer

Thanks for visiting!