Every once in a while, when I head out with my non-riding friends*, I get asked, “How the hell do you use your motorcycle to go to work? Don’t you need to carry stuff there?” To which I reply, “What work?”
*Kidding, I don’t have friends who don’t ride.
But thinking about it, when asked about practically of a motorcycle, a lot of people are quick to point out that it can’t carry a lot of things. Frankly, this is just plain wrong. I get told you can’t use it as a tow vehicle.
BAM. MOTORCYCLE TOWING. “…ookay, but I need to tow my sister-in-laws E46 wagon after it breaks down! A motorcycle can’t do that…”
BAM AGAIN!
Anyways, let’s get on with discussing how to add some storage space to your motorcycle and make it more practical.
1. Fork Bag
Starting front the front, we have a cruiser favorite: The fork bags. For obvious reasons, you will probably never see this on a sport bike. These are smaller bags that attach to the fork legs of the bike and can store a small amount of stuff. Your phone, wallet, some cash, maybe your smokes or a roadside plug kit. They aren’t intrusive (if mounted right, anyways) and are relatively hidden from you line of sight. This is both good and bad – good because it’s not obstructing anything, bad because if it falls off you aren’t going to notice until you stop. Wouldn’t that be just swell? These are usually pretty cheap, $50 or so.
2. Handlebar Bag
What you see if what you get. Similar to the fork bag, but mounts up on your handlebars. Again, for small stuff. And again, cheap. $25? maybe?
