Hi everyone.  Started riding a Suzuki C50T last year and thus far, have only had short evening group rides to nearby destinations for dinner and ride back, or 200-300 mile day trips.  No commuting at all.  Have not needed to utilize stock saddlebags for anything other than raingear, etc...just in case.  I'm planning an approximately 12 day trip for last week of July/first week of August (about 2400 miles total) and could use some advice as to how to choose the most useful and practical add-on bags to accomodate not only basic changes of clothes for riding time, but also clothes for non-riding social gatherings (e.g. playing golf) as part of a family reunion consisting almost entirely of non-riders.  I've looked at Kuryakyn, T-Bags, Rigg-Sport and others whose names I can't remember.  Each have features that intrigue me, but they also all seem to have more little segments and pockets than you can shake a stick at which don't seem to be designed to hold much of anything and strike me as being mostly pretty gimmicky, and all seem a little pricey!  I find myself wondering if I shouldn't just go to a sporting goods store and buy a decent backpack and strap it(them) on with bungee cords.  Please tell me what has been your experience with what works best for you under what circumstances.  I need to get my act together pretty soon and could use your help.  Thanks.  Cheers.  Herb.  

Good luck finding a good set of bags at a reasonable price. I just said to hell with it and started making my own. Made out of 1/8 in plywood with 3/8 side as a foundation. covered in fiber-glass and to be coated with carbon fiber. So far they are looking good and are made to order! Whats even better, they are hard bags that cost less than a hundred to make.  

I'm probably the most "un-handy" guy you would know, so building something like you describe is not an option, but thanks for your thoughts.  But, as I mentioned before, I've already got the stock saddlebags that are OEM on that bike, so it's the type that attaches to the backrest and sits on the passenger seat or parcel rack that I'm inquiring about, or what other riders have used for that purpose.  Looking forward to hear what others may have to contribute.  Thx again.  Cheers.  Herb.  

Herb,

I have a VTX1300 and we are leaving on a 1500 mile trip for 5 days tomorrow.  It will be my first trip of this length.  I was in your same situation not knowing what to buy, and the dealers in the area weren't really helpful having a great selection in the shop.  I went to motorcycle-luggage.com and picked up the  Kuryakyn Ultra Tour Bag by Bagtec.  The thing got pretty good reviews of people who bought it, and it is freakin' huge.  I have packed for 5 days and still have room for more.  It velcro's around the backrest and sits on the passenger seat.  Provides you a backrest while you drive as well.  It is very well made, comes with a rain cover and has a bunch of "D" rings if you wanted to strap anything additional on the top of it.  Take a look at it, and see.  Sorry about the shameless plug for luggage, but this is the cheapest price I found it.

Happy riding.
Patrick  

I rode from Ohio to Wyoming and spent 3 weeks riding around that area. I bought a T-Bag and put it on my passenger seat. It held a lot of gear and I could use it as a back rest. It has a rain cover if you need it. It was designed to attach to the passenger backrest. It never moved an inch. My round trip and riding adventures equaled 7,000 miles. I would never leave on a long trip without it.  

Chewyjax, how did your trip go, and how did the Kuryakyn bag work for you?  Otter, which T-Bag did you try?  Thx.  Herb.  

I'm looking at taking a 2400 mile ride myself. The second week in September. I'm looking for something like saddle bags or something like that. I'm riding a  06 Kawasaki Vulcan 500. I bought the bike 3 months ago and I could use a little help with what all I need to take with, other than cloths. I all ready have a tire gauge, chain lube, riding jacket, boots, helment.  

I just bought the tourmaster cruiser II nylon X-Large bag.  When I say just bought, we're talking about two days ago...so I can't really say how they do fully loaded but...

They are engineered well and have a lot of options for attaching to the bike that suggest it/they (with the optional rollbag), will be very stable.  I paid about $160 from J and P.

I was suppose to go on a tour next week, but the dog kennel didn't work out and we'll be taking our dog with us...so we'll be in the corolla...

I think this site has a review on features and suggests a few bags...  

I got the tourmaster Cruiser II hard bag/barrel bag combo "large", and it popped right on my sissy bar, and sat on the luggage rack. I also had saddlebags, and a Joe Rocket Tank bag. I was out for 2 weeks (didn't have a clue how long I was going to be gone when I started). I also didn't have a clue about the weather (beginning of May). I packed 2 entire riding outfits (with 2 sets of jacket body armor. I had the Tourmaster Cortech Jacket and pants, and a Joe Rocket mesh, plus chaps.  Only 1 set of gear, and there would have been a ton of room.
For the daily clothes, I had a couple of space bags, so I could squeeze the air out. Plus, they're waterproof.
Just had to find a laundry every 4 or 5 days.  

Shopped around, read everyone's contributions (thanks for that) and opted for the T-Bag "Super T" bag which also includes a roll bag.  Not cheap ($300.00 up here in Canada) but worth every dime.  Sat on the passenger seat (like a rock), attached to the sissy bar with a  great attaching system.

Roll up all your clothes into as tightly rolled individual garments as you can.  You won't believe how much you can pack this way, although your shirts, etc. do get pretty wrinkled, but that disappears pretty quick!  Pack in small groups, e.g. each day's clothes in a small individual plastic bag.  Each day's worn clothes go back in a bag and thus are kept separate from your clean stuff.  When you get to a laundry, the clean stuff is still separated and "non-contaminated", if you know what I mean, so it's all easy to sort out, wash, dry and re-pack.

This bag left my rear rack available for tying on my bike cover for use for over-night parking at motels.  This was important to me as the OEM saddle bags still held other riding gear, raingear, etc., which I didn't want to haul inside every night.

So for whatever you might think my opinion is worth, you'll be well served with the T-Bag line, in my case specifically the "Super T".  Great product!  Cheers.  Herb.