Hence my thoughts about bags. I am a minimalist if I can. But work requires I bring a computer and some small hand tools (not part of the tools I usually have)

And I plan on going for RIDES this year, a bed roll won't cut it. I'm like on the verge of a back pack isn't quite big enough.....but then the question really is HOW much do I really need?

 

That's funny strap on

There is always someone you ride with who don't have bags here is the famous line do you have room in your bags for my coat, sweater, the shirt I just bought ect ect....... there is always someone in the pac. Or I see guys riding with the backpack. Yeah it takes away from the bike but the functionality of the bag. Can't see not having any bags unless staying local.

 

Yeah Man!
Or you start out in the cool 45° morning with your full jacket, 45° turns to 75° after lunch. So you reach in, pull out the vest, put away the jacket and someone says;
"Man, I wish I would-a brought my vest"
Sport Bike boy's can wear the back pack,, I finished college way too long ago to still carry a back pack/man purse.

 

I think you just have to find the right bag, I never find a reason to take mine off; if mine look like tumors, then count me in the cool tumor gang

 

I trust you notice that we all had the same bags...

 

Confederate and Suede are those the same bags? One bike with turn signal relocation and the other with out?

 

I like the looks without bags also, but mine came with quick attach bags which I will use on longer trips.
Suede Blue Man... you are right. Those are some good looking bags. Nice choice.

 

I like the idea of one of thesefor rides where I need to haul some ****

I just bungee a backpack to my sissy bar for going to and from work

 

I pretty much so daily ride to work and didn't want to hassle with bags so I use a small molle range bag rigged with straps to slide over my sissybar. It holds whatever I am going to need for the day and is just a small black bag tied on the sissy bar. If I am hauling a laptop around, I just bungee it to the sissy bar also.

When I go on an overnight, I put on the small leather throw-over bags and tie them down and tie my bags on the sissy bar. It really doesn't matter what it looks like out on the highway.

 

When I travel I take my $7 Canada military issue duffle and strap it to the sissy, I can fit a weeks worth of stuff in there and it's mostly waterproof. My saddlebags are usually empty but convenient for hoodies, jackets, etc...

I use my saddlebags daily to and from the office for my work shoes and briefcase. I couldn't bike commute without them.