Motorcycle Luggage - Rear-Seat Bags

If you’re traveling alone, one of the most logical places to carry clothing or gear is on the passenger seat. And a number of companies offer rear-seat haulers that make the process convenient.

There’s plenty of variation in this class, so it pays to look around for a rear-seat pack that fits your needs and your bike. Some are as small as an office briefcase, while others qualify as full-fledged luggage.
Besides size, the major difference between bags is in the attachment system. Many rear-seat bags use standard bungee straps, while others use nylon webbing with clips that hook under the seat itself.
Rear-seat bags made specifically for motorcycles are convenient, but there’s nothing to prevent you from using a bag you already own. Several companies make innovative systems to attach almost anything to the rear seat of a motorcycle. Nets of bungee cords can secure odd-shaped loads—even helmets—while adjustable bungee and flat spring-tension straps give you the capability to cinch down a small duffel bag or gear bag.

The main thing is to avoid overloading your attachment system. Heavy loads may fit inside a rear-seat bag, but that doesn’t mean you can safely transport them that way. Most bag and cord makers offer guidelines on how much weight you can carry.

There are two other issues to keep in mind: Most rear-seat bags are not waterproof, so look for one with a rain-shedding cover, and remember that a rear-seat bag can get in your way when you go to swing a leg over your machine. Get used to propping your bike on its sidestand, then standing alongside it and kicking your leg straight out over the seat.