Motorcycle Saddlebags Buyer's Guide:

Saddlebags have been around since, well, saddles. The concept is easy to grasp, with bags hanging over the sides of a bike's tail section. Motorcycle saddlebags are available in both hard and soft designs. Panniers on a motorcycle refer to hard bags, often metal and box-shaped, which are fitted for hard-core touring duties.

Soft motorcycle saddlebags are made from either textile material, which complement sportier models, or leather, which are popular on cruisers. Advantages with soft motorcycle saddlebags include the fact that a rider can stuff a lot of material into the flexible interior. Soft saddlebags are also often easy to mount and remove, although a little more intensive that most tankbags. One potential wrench in soft saddlebag plans are hot exhausts, which can melt or burn nearby bags.

Hard motorcycle saddlebags are for Tourers with a capital "T." Most hard bags require more permanent mods to a stock bike with mounting brackets, but once installed, they can transform a regular bike into a formidable touring platform. One advantage hard bags enjoy is the fact that they are often lockable and easy to remove from the bike.

Read the complete Motorcycle Saddlebags Buyer's Guide at MotorcycleUSA.com