Hi,

What are the best and cheapest options for carrying luggage on an Iron ?

Is using a Sissy Bar risky, in that stuff strapped to it might fall off ?

Are there affordable saddle bags that people have used and can recommend ? 

 

Thank in advance for replies

Are you going to be riding two up and how often are you wanting to do it? I have the HD leather/hard bags but to honest, they are just big enough to carry a fresh pair of undies.

As most of the time I am one up I carry most of the stuff across of the passenger seat in a roll

http://www.motorcycleadventure.com.au/shop/image/cache/data/manufacturer/HepcoBecker/Luggage/Ortlieb%20Bags/Drybag_35-250x250.jpg

Sissy bars are great for bulky light stuff, eg a sleeping bag

I love the sportie but I do miss the carrying capacity of the old beemer 

 

Thanks , I was going to be one up. Thinking about riding from Perth to Wollongong in October for Harley Days. I have the standard Iron seat. Tent and Sleeping bag would be good to avoid paying for accommodation. I would have to travel very light.

awsome pic !

The lower and closer to centre you can carry the heavy stuff the better the ride and you can use the roll as a backrest as well Another trick with clothes are you place them in a compression bag (like a sleeping bag one)

I've got a dyna not a sporty but a sissy bar is a sissy bar and I use (and recommend) Saddleman sissy bar bags, they're well made and reasonably priced.

 

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/saddlemen-br3400ex-combination-sissy-bar-bag

 

Or they do a lot of styles of saddlebags too.

 

http://www.jpcycles.com/harley-sportster-saddlebags/saddlemen

 

Thanks Geoff, I like the look of the Sissy Bar bag

famacdonald, I didn't get want you meant initially about the 'roll' but now I do and that seems great. How do you strap it to your bike ?

I have a sissy bar so I strap it to that but resting on the seat so weight is not an issue, but you can just look for places to attached it with an ocky straps but just be careful of the paint.

Part of the reason I use the 'roll' is they are 100% waterproof and I use it on the bike as well as in the back of the ute.

fmacdonald, Thanks for the help

Hey mate. I've not yet ridden across the Nullarbor but want to some day. How will you go doing it on an iron in terms of speed, comfort, fuel range and luggage capacity? I reckon it'd be a bit hard going. Hope it works out for you though. Using luggage for back support would be a must for comfort and storing stuff. Good luck.

Will you need to carry extra fuel? Like fatbat "I've not yet ridden across the Nullarbor but want to some day"

fabat and famacdonald, It will be hell. revving over 3,300 rpm all day , bad suspension, bad seat (unless i change it). Yes i will need more petrol, thanks for the reminder. i will need another 5 litres to get 300kms in at least one spot

Broke, many moons ago I rode two up from Sydney to Fraser Island on a Yamaha XV250 with camping gear etc ... I could just make it over 100 and yet I still managed to get a ticket.

Using a towel on top of the seat did help are bums spread the load

I am in the northern suburbs of Sydney so if you need anything while on the east coast give me a yell

beaglebasher, was a local stray that decided he wanted to come ... if I had been in Aus I would have taken him home but I did feed him well for a few days at least

thanks famacdonald, if i do the trip I will let you know. Sydney to Fraser Island is a long way, especially on a 250 - kudos to you. I rode from Perth to Albany on a previous sportster, my bum was killing me when I got there.

I have done the trip from Canberra to Perth and back on a 1200C sportster. It has the 4.5 gallon tank. I could not imagine doing it on a smaller tank.
As far as luggage goes, i had two saddlebags, a tool bag up fromt and more luggage on the seat. On the way back I sent half the gear back.
A bike cover is a good thing to pack. It keeps attention off your bike at night and means you don't need to fully unpack everything each night.
I now have a bikers friend roll bag which is quite nice to use all be it a bit small.

Bikers friend medium large basic bag