Soft luggage options advantages disadvantages

[JustPassinThru_imp]

Interesting how you folks are doing it. Right now I'm flailing...my old standby was a Bags Connect tailbag. Thing was/is good-sized, although it's towards the end of its life...holds about half of what you need for a weekend trip. When I had my Burgman 650, the tailbag would go on the pillion seat; and the overflow luggage go in the underseat luggage area. Worked well. Longer trips, I'd tie a duffle crosswise on the pillion like a dead body on a horse; and again, worked successfully. Especially if I had the tent inside the duffle; the poles of the tent kit would make the duffle rigid crosswise.

On the BMW R1100RT, I had hard panniers, and the tailbag gave me enough with the panniers. Very professional.

But now, the Bags Connect tailbag, used on the CB...it has droops on both sides of the seat or rack or fender; and those obscure the CB's turn signals. I have a plan to modify them, but that is going to wait.

Saddlebags, likewise. I need to move those turn signals; and I haven't seen a kit or gotten any idea from my Honda guy that I like.

BUT, in the interim, I'm using ANOTHER duffle, this one a little shorter and broader...a six-gallon milk crate just fit inside. I put brackets, hard brackets, on it through the milk crate. Strap it on the rack; and although it looks a bit Beverly Hillbillies, it works just fine.

Never had a tank bag. The idea of scratching that paint up, just doesn't appeal to me; and as noted, it's in the way on fuel stops. It works for a lot of folks; but I generally have a small grip on top of the big duffle in the back - where I keep maps and rain gear and other need-it-quick stuff.