So the wifey and I are taking a road trip on the new to me ultra. I've always just used my big sissy bar bag for trips, but I now have two hard bags and a tour pack. My question are there bags that are better for the Harley's other than the harley brand bags? I just think it would be convenient to have the bags that fit in all three but they are spendy, just curios to see what you all are using as far a travel bags on road trips?? If it was just me a back pack In the tour pack and I would be good to go, but the wifey is coming and will wanna bring the house lol.

 

I usually have tools, small air compressor, ect in my bags and keep rain gear and leathers in the tour pack if we are travelling any distance. You might look at some rack bags instead, you can just unstrap them from the rack and carry the whole thing in. I personally use a Dekker II, it'll hold a weeks worth of stuff, but it's as spendy as the HD bags you speak of.

 

When touring with wife
Left saddlebag: some tools, bike cover, her rain gear, extra gloves, other "gear" (jacket liner, etc) and enough room for road snacks (fruit, energy bars)
Right saddlebag: more tools, my rain gear and other riding gear, snacks.
Basically saddlebags are for items we may need to access during a day's ride while getting from point a to point b.
Tourpak: use HD's bag for my clothes, laptop, her extra boots, anything that goes into the hotel at night.
T-bags dekker II rack bag, her clothes and anything she needs in hotel room.
Get to hotel, rack bag and tourpak bag are all we have to carry in.
When packing saddlebags - make sure on the hottest days, the gear we take off will fit. We wear Olympia mesh tech jackets so on the hottest days, we still wear the outer mesh jacket and the rain liner and quilted liner are in the bags.
In the tourpak, the nooks and crannies around the HD bag is great for air compressor, battery tender, and the like.
Goal is, during the days, we never have to open the tourpak, just the saddlebags.
We can travel for two weeks this way without doing laundry but usually do so once.

Go to http://www.storagepouches.com for options other than HD for saddlebag/tourpak liner bags.

 

Mrs B and I use all three of the Harley soft bags. Unless you take a LOT of stuff like tools, the saddlebag soft bags will sit down on top of them. We also use a Harley bag on top of the tourpak for our extra riding gear, that way you don't find yourself riding in the rain with empty 'bags and a ton of stuff up high!

 

With the bottom of each saddlebag containing my tools ( using the tool pouches from my link above ) there is plenty of weight down low that removing the rain/cold gear is negligible. Been doing it this way since '99 thru 48 states in all kinds of weather.
If taking the rain gear out of the saddlebags causes that much of a handling problem - there are other issues going on.

 

We use the soft HD bags for the saddlebags to store tools, rain gear, gloves, walking shoes, etc. In the TP, we typically use a gym-style bag for a majority of our clothes and then use this:

http://www.harley-davidson.com/store/tour-pak-rack-bag

This bag, although $$$, has been great - well built, holds a fair amount of stuff, has held up great in the rain (with the supplied cover) and is super easy to clip on and off the TP rack. We've also used it with the should strap, but it's just easier to unclip it and carry it.

The top pouch is great for ball caps, sunglasses and cell phones...I'd buy another one in a heartbeat.

 

Thanks for the replies guys!!! I've decided to just order some of the generic style liners from the good old magical money draining site we all are very fond of lol.. My tool kit is a basic one with the necessary items.. Packing I'm good on that, was a army grunt for 12 years..

Guess I was just wondering because the hard bags are such an awkward shape, if anyone has found anything convenient or works better than the Harley style drop in liners.. I was looking for bags because then I could tell the wifey hey you get exactly this much space for all the crap you wanna bring, after she picks it out I repack it and I know it will all fit.. But I don't leave until Halloween morning so I'll give ya an update after the ride.. Phx to San Diego then to Ventura via pch highway to see an army friend then to Vegas and home...

 

I use a "sac" by Hd bag on my tourpak- the weight you can put there is limited and trying to open the tourpak with a heavy bag on it can break the hinges or abs.

I use mine for down sleeping bag, light jacket and a couple of maps.

it is waterproof

I'd be ok with lending you mine for your trip- i'm near shea and SR51...you could leave a deposit

I have found over time that I don;t much use the soft saddlebag liners- they don;t really hold shape well when trying to reload.

what does help is I weigh my saddlebags and try to balance the weight between them.


as for bags- craigslist usually has a selection of bags and stuff.

that's where I got my Tbag and alot of other stuff.
guys sell their bikes and end up with all the other crap clogging the garage


Mike

 

See I have an old assault pack from bug out hear that I take everywhere.. I was going to bungee to my tour pack rack.. I'm just worried about weight.. I'm 6'1" 205, gf is 5'8 and she would hit me if I put her weight but I'd say with her and I on a bad day we come in around 340.. I know to put as much weight down low as I can.. Just my first trip with a bike that has a pack.. I'm a dyna guy lol

 

so, rather than assign each thing a "place" prioritize by weight.

heavy low, lighter high.

I usually have "tool" type stuff on the right side, so if I am roadside, I am away from traffic while digging around.

once you have a routine, you'll both know where your stuff is. ( like my chaps and beanie are on the rt side, padding the tools, my jacket is on the left side)

plan on a laundry stop 1/2 way and that reduces what you need to carry.

some take old t shirts to wear, use as rags and throw away...knowing that you'll buy replacements on the trip

you'll need helmets for CA and NV, so make allowances for them, probably not raingear- but maybe a little chilly up North in the morning

figure out how to want to get from Orange County to Ventura...if you can get the the end of I10 at PCH in Santa Monica by 2 pm you'll be ok for traffic.
getting thru to there can be a pain...405

mike