Are Saddlebags on a Sports Bike a Good Idea?

Sports bikes are the most aggressive bikes out there in the market. They feature fairings, aerodynamic designs, and tight ergonomics to ensure they can go at high speeds. Whenever you hear the word sports bike, you will have a race track or a closed circuit in your imagination. However, there is a majority of riders who use sports bikes for long countryside rides as well.

A rider who owns a sports bike has the right to go wherever he wants on his bike. It doesn’t mean that sports bike riders should only travel within a specific range. Whether they want to go long miles for highway cruising or for weekend-long rides in an aggressive style, a sports bike can tackle it.

However, the only problem that may arise with sports bikes while on a long ride is the storage space. What if you need to carry gear and luggage? Saddlebags on a sports bike are a hot topic.

Mostly, bikers are of the opinion that motorcycle saddlebags and such luggage items are only built for cruiser bikes or touring motorcycles. They believe that saddlebags on a sport bike will not only ruin its look but also impact its aerodynamics and performance. They totally disagree with the idea of saddlebags on a sports bike.

On the other hand, there are sports bike riders who think saddlebags improve the aesthetics of their sports bike, and they are very practical. So, are saddlebags a good idea on a sports bike? Continue reading this article to learn more about saddlebags on sports bikes.

Street/Sports bike saddlebags are luggage bags designed ideally for sports bikes that come in pairs. They are attached to both sides of the sports bike at the rear end. In a sports bike, these bags are hung on either side of the passenger seat or tail cowl. Sport motorcycle saddlebags are either soft or hard. These saddle bags provide some storage space to carry your riding gear, tools, clothes, or accessories with you on the ride.

However, saddlebags for sport motorcycles are different from those that are built and designed for cruiser and touring bikes. The one main reason is the lack of mounting position/attachment points on sports bikes.

Sport bike saddlebags have to be carefully designed to ensure they don’t mess with the bike’s aerodynamics. They must also fit and suit the sports bike’s slim design.

Most sport bike riders are used to carrying a backpack as they can easily carry it on their backs. Also, a backpack provides good storage space for most items. However, there are a few drawbacks to carrying a backpack compared to sports bike saddle bags.

Carrying a backpack can cause strain on your back, especially if you are traveling on a sports bike. It is mainly because a rider has to lean forward and sit in an aggressive style while riding a sports bike. As a result, a backpack carried on the back feels much heavier on your back.

Considering that riding a sports bike for a longer period can already have a toll on your back, carrying a backpack can make it more painful for your back. Therefore, saddlebags for sports bikes are more practical and useful than backpacks. They also provide more storage than a backpack.

One major advantage of using saddle bags for sports bikes is that they are quite easy to install and remove. Unlike cruiser or touring bikes, sports bikes' saddlebags come with straps and buckles for easy installation and removal. Sports bikes don’t have large rear fenders with dedicated saddlebags mounting brackets. Therefore, the only feasible solution is to attach these bags using straps, hooks, and buckles.

At the same time, when you want to remove these saddlebags on your sports bike, you can just unlock the buckles and remove the straps. You may need to remove the passenger seat or tail cowl to remove the straps. Riders can easily remove the sports bike saddlebags when required for aggressive and stripped-down riding.

These bags hung on either side of a sports bike and are positioned low, ensuring a better weight balance. If you wear a backpack on a sports bike, it can shift your weight. At the same time, sports bikes keep the weight even on both sides with proper luggage storage techniques. The better weight balance offered by the sports bike saddlebags ensures a better balance while riding. It keeps the bike stable.

Saddle bags for sports bikes come in various types and materials. There are also waterproof bags available for your sports bike so you can keep your important stuff safe from rainwater. You can keep your stuff intact even if you choose to ride when it is raining.

As of today, waterproof motorcycle luggage bags have become a better option for storing your luggage safely. There are many electronics and battery-operated accessories that bikers have to carry, especially if you are a motovlogger. This expensive equipment needs to be protected from water or even a splash of it. Therefore, water-resistant sports bike saddle bags come in really handy.

Whether cruiser bikes, touring motorcycles, or sports bikes, saddlebags are among the most popular motorbike luggage bags. Saddlebags not only provide good aesthetics, but they are quite handy in carrying luggage on long rides. They make the bike look good. They offer the most space to carry useful stuff.

Other than the better storage space, sports bike saddlebags don’t interfere much with the smooth airflow. They are designed in such a way to tackle this.

Sports bikes don’t have as many luggage bag mounting positions as in the case of a cruiser or a touring bike. Therefore, good-quality saddlebags on a sports bike can help riders a lot on long rides.

Sportsbikes are quite attractive, aggressive, and eye-catching to bikers and non-bikers alike. They have such an aggressive appeal that makes most of us want to ride these bikes. Sports bikes also come in vibrant color schemes, which make them quite desirable.

With such appearance, rough and dull-looking saddlebags may not look suitable on these bikes. Saddlebags are usually available in black, which may not go with the overall theme of the bike. Also, sports bikes have a minimal profile, especially on the rear side. It is less likely that a sports bike will look good with saddlebags.

Saddle bags on a sports bike may add a few lbs of weight to the bike. These bags also have a certain width and size, which may impact the aerodynamics of a sports bike. As a result, the bike’s top speed and handling can likely be altered. Sports bikes aren’t inherently built to feature saddlebags and other luggage items.

These bikes have a specific purpose, and that is speeding, aggressive riding, riding at top speeds, and ensuring agility when it comes to handling. Even a slight change in the sports bike’s dynamics, size, weight, and features can impact its speed and handling.

Sports bike saddlebags do not come with specialized mounting equipment, unlike cruisers or touring bikes. It is mainly because sports bikes do not have built-in mounting brackets and large fenders for saddle bags installation. Therefore, these bikes use straps and buckles for mounting saddlebags.

However, if not fitted properly, these loose saddlebags can cause scratches to the sports bike’s frame and other body panels. This can cause a dent in the value of a sports bike.

Unlike the saddlebags designed and built for cruisers and touring bikes, sports bike saddlebags are relatively smaller and compact. These bags have low or limited storage space that may not fit most or all items you would want to carry on long trips on your sports bike.

• Soft sports bike saddlebags are usually made of nylon or leather, ensuring decent durability and flexibility.

• Because they are soft, they are flexible enough to accommodate different types of riding gear easily.

• These bags are lightweight enough, making them ideal for sports bikes where even a kilogram of extra weight must be considered.

• These saddle bags are often made waterproof to secure your belongings from water.

• Soft saddlebags also require soft and lightweight mounting mechanisms compared to hard saddlebags. They usually use straps and buckles for mounting them onto the sports bike.

• They are considered best-suited for short trips.

• Hard sports motorbike saddlebags are often made up of reinforced plastic or metal, giving them a hard and tough look.

• Hard saddle bags for sports bikes are made more secure as they come with a reliable locking system.

• They also provide better protection for your belongings.

• Being more secure and durable, hard sports bike saddlebags are well-suited for long rides.

• However, due to being hard and heavy, they are not considered the ideal choice for sports bikes.

• Also, hard saddlebags can cost more.

Not all sports bike saddlebags can fit every bike. It can be a challenge sometimes to install saddlebags on a particular sports bike model. Therefore, you should always look for the saddle bags particularly made for your make and model. Also, check your model’s space and dimensions before buying saddlebags.

Most sports bike saddlebags only come with a strap and buckle mounting system. It is usually the only option on a sports bike to mount saddlebags. However, while buying sports bike saddlebags, you must check if it has secure mounting. The bags should stay stable and fixed even at high speeds. They should not vibrate or move when accelerating or decelerating.

In modern times, when riding a motorcycle has become a lifestyle, waterproof motorcycle luggage bags have become more prominent. Riding in the rain has also become a thing, and therefore, your sports bike saddlebags must also be made of waterproof material to keep your stuff secure.

Though you would want to have more storage space in your sports bike saddlebags, there is a limit to what your sports bike can carry. Choose the bags that offer both optimal storage capacity and low weight. If the bags are heavy or too big, it can impact the aerodynamics of your sports bike. Also, if you stuff these bags with a heavy load, it will impact the handling of your sports bike. So, always consider the weight of the saddle bags before buying.

If you are planning to pick the best saddlebags for a sports motorcycle, style matters a lot. These bags have to go with the overall style and theme of your sports bike. You would not want to ruin the style of your premium-looking sports bike with some average saddlebags. So, always pick the one that goes with your bike.

Designed and made by Viking Bags, the Momentum XL Expandable Street/Sportsbike Saddlebags are among the premium choices in the market. Everything about these saddle bags is top-notch, including their look, style, build quality, shape, and durability. If you are a sports bike lover and love to travel long miles on a sports bike, these premium-looking saddlebags are for you. Let’s talk about the many qualities of these Viking Bags top-of-the-shelf street/sports bike saddlebags:

• The Momentum Extra Large Expandable Street/Sportsbike Saddlebags offer an incredible 40L storage space, making enough room for your stuff.

• These are the universal sports bike saddlebags that can fit all street/sports bikes on the market.

• These 40L Momentum Expandable saddlebags for your sports motorcycle are very easy to install and remove with a throw-over mounting system. No need for nuts, bolts, and brackets to get these bags attached to your sports bike.

• There is no need to remove or relocate the turn signal assembly on your sports bike to install these bags.

• Being saddlebags, these bags come as a pair.

The saddlebags must have come with an installation guide or a manual to help you safely install the bags on your bike. If you are unsure about any step, seek the help of a professional individual.

While installing the saddlebags on your sports bike, make sure they don’t touch or are near the exhaust pipes or wheels. Take care of the hanging straps if there are any.

Other than checking the clearance between your saddlebags and the exhaust pipes, also check if there is any obstruction. These bags must not block the turn signals or the taillight of your sports bike.

For reliable mounting, make sure to use strong straps to keep the saddlebags in place. Mount these bags tightly and securely to ensure they don’t move or vibrate.

Ride your sports bike and go slow at first to check if the bags are mounted securely. Check for any issues.

If you don’t like the look of saddlebags on a sports bike, there are a few other alternatives to choose from. They can either be an alternative to your sports bike saddlebags or can be used together for an improved storage space. The decision is yours. You can make your sports bike a decent long-distance option if you choose to prepare your bike for this purpose. Let’s find out the alternatives or the complete sports bike luggage package:

Tail bags are a good addition to your sports bike. However, they look good with saddlebags. They are also much easier to install than saddlebags and don’t interfere with the handling or riding position. They also don’t interfere much with the airflow or aerodynamics. They are attached right on top of the passenger seat in a sports bike using straps and buckles. If you want to try a tail bag on your sports bike, the Viking Bags Momentum street/sportsbike tail bags below are the best on the market:

• 13L - Momentum Small Street/Sportbike Tail Bag

• 33L - Momentum Extra Large Street/Sportbike Tail Bag

Tank bags are one of the most stylish additions to a sports bike. Most modern tank bags for motorbikes have magnetic mounts or grips. They do not offer great storage space like saddlebags or tail bags. Still, tank bags are one of the most accessible luggage bags. You can have access to them even while you are riding the bike. The very popular Viking Magnetic Street/Sportbike Tank Bag also features touchscreen compatibility.

Backpacks are also very popular among sports bike riders as they do not need to be attached to the bike. Instead, you can simply carry the backpack on your back. You can also carry these bags wherever you want. One of the best motorcycle backpacks available in the market is the Viking Bags’ 45L - Tactical XL Motorcycle Backpack, offering strong multi-straps, side pockets for water bottles, several organizers, weather-resistant zippers, quick-access pockets, and more.

Whether saddlebags on a sport bike are a good idea or not depends on the type of rider and what he or she prefers to do on their bike. There are certainly practical advantages to saddlebags:

• They are less taxing on your back than a heavily-loaded backpack.

• They are easy to install and remove.

• These sports bike saddlebags are usually made of waterproof material that keeps your gear dry in rainy weather.

• These bags also ensure better weight distribution, which makes long-distance rides more practical on sports bikes.

Yet, such convenience has its price. Even the most sleek saddlebags can take a little off the aggressive lines of your bike. The excess bulk can affect handling and acceleration. It also has the potential to develop scratches or scuffs over time, and storage space, albeit helpful, will still be limited to larger touring arrangements.

Whether you frequently take on long rides, commute on a daily basis, or require convenient storage without attaching weight to your shoulders, saddlebags can help you revolutionize your riding. However, in case you are more of a performance, speed, and maintaining the pure streamlined look of your sport bike, going without may be more in your style. The beauty of motorcycling is that it is personal. Your gear must suit your trip as much as your machine.