I've always had mixed feelings about Harley-Davidson accessories. They have some beautiful, well-made bits that I desperately want to bolt to my bike, but then I see their logo on everything from mud flaps to minivans. I respect a company that puts out great products, but they tend to plaster their name around town like an insecure real estate agent on so many park benches.

I suppose that's why I find myself so fond of their Sissy Bar Backpack. It's never going to be a Harley icon, but they saw a need and were ready to fill it. Not just for students, the Sissy Bar Backpack gives any rider a place to keep whatever they own that will fit in 1,600 cubic inches. It's easy to take off the bike and is as convenient and comfortable as any other backpack.

However, you can rest assured that this is not, despite its appearance, just any other backpack. It is made to strap to the passenger backrest and has plenty of internal padding to protect a laptop. This backpack comes with a rain cover, because you can't give up the commute just because there's a little precipitation.

High quality backpacks are not cheap, and this is a Harley pack so it's certainly no exception. The simple color scheme and nearly generic backpack look, however, will never go out of style. So long as you treat it well, you can have this handy pack for a very long time.

Find this Harley-Davidson Backpack:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this backpack on eBay:

Harley Sissy Bar Backpack 94751 08 US $134.96   Auction Ends: 28d 1h 2m Make it yours...

Harley Davidson Sissy Bar Backpack Luggage 94751 08 US $134.95   Auction Ends: 2d 16h 28m Make it yours...

Harley Davidson Sissy Bar Back Pack 94751 08 US $139.95   Auction Ends: 18d 20h 56m Make it yours...

There are a few things that I always have on my bike: a set of tools, maps, a flashlight, a mini-compressor, a first aid kit, bungee cords, oil... and I'll stop there because this list is getting long. You may be wondering why I carry so much, but everything I just mentioned has come in handy on one ride or another. Saddlebags are great for things you carry occasionally, but when you've got a riding kit like mine, a hard case with a lock is far better.

A motorcycle trunk might be getting too car-like for some riders, but it provides permanent storage space that no one can walk off with. Very few riders will need it for the following purpose, but if you ride and camp where there are bears, being able to legally bring a pistol along can be helpful -- and soft, accessible bags won't cut it for safety or legality.

This trunk does have a silly little spoiler that I would normally say is useless, except that it provides a handy place to strap a bedroll. Brake light and turn signal LEDs are ready to be wired in and it comes with mounting accessories for any flat surface. A flat rack is the best place -- and with some models it's the only place -- to mount this trunk.

This trunk will blend in on a bike with black, plastic fairings. Depending on where you mount it, this inexpensive trunk will also give you a comfy backrest.

Find this Luggage Trunk :

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this Luggage Trunk on eBay:

Candy Red MOTORCYCLE LUGGAGE TRUNK Light Spoiler Suzuki US $79.95   Auction Ends: 7d 4h 45m Make it yours...

Black MOTORCYCLE LUGGAGE TRUNK Lights Spoiler Suzuki US $79.95   Auction Ends: 7d 1h 15m Make it yours...

Conserving space is important, whether you're on a bike or in a small apartment. Thus, I like things that are stackable, like Dowco's Iron Rider luggage.

Six different bags with six different purposes are included in the Iron Rider system. All are ready to strap and stack on your bike alone or together in numerous combinations. If you're using a couple of bags, they are designed to connect to each other, meaning you'll only have to strap one bag down to the bike.

The Iron Rider overnight bag is one cog in this machine. Use it in tandem with other bags or on its own to carry everything you need for an overnight trip. Constructed of 1680 polyester (like its brothers and sisters), the overnight bag is 14 inches by 10.5 inches by 9 inches.

Interior compartments and side compartments give the rider options of accessibility, and a rain hood will keep your precious possessions dry. The overnight bag has a rigid construction to permit stacking without crushing your luggage or whatever you've put in it. This solid construction also gives you the liberty to leave some space for items you might want to pick up along the way, and a removable plastic-molded handle and shoulder strap makes it easy to lug your stuff around.

There are a lot of luggage options out there, but if you think you might want to assemble the Iron Rider set, this is a good place to start. The ability to combine any of the six bags to suit your travel needs is unique, and the 2-year warranty will certainly give you time to collect the whole set.

Find this Dowco Iron Rider Luggage:

• Click here to find this product at Revzilla.com
• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this motorcycle luggage on eBay:

DOWCO IRON RIDER LUGGAGE SYSTEM LARGE ROLL BAG HARLEY US $99.00   Auction Ends: 25d 21h 28m Make it yours...

Dowco Iron Rider Luggge System Roll Bag 10 2127 US $44.95   Auction Ends: 19d 19h 33m Make it yours...

Dowco Iron Rider Main Bag Motorcycle Cruiser Luggage US $79.94   Auction Ends: 3d 12h 25m Make it yours...

So, for the sake of amiability, I'm not going to tell you that you need to run out and buy the Venom tires by Avon Tyres (that's British English for "Tires"). We're all adults and we make adult decisions, so here are the facts:

Avon has been making tires since 1890 and tires for motorcycles and sidecars since 1911. In a couple years they will have made bike tires for one hundred years. I don't believe it's possible to do anything that long and not learn a few tricks of the trade. What about the glory days of riding in the '50s and '60s? They were there too, supporting the bike under every solo world champion.

Enough history, because we all know that the best of roads can turn rotten after a while. That's not the case with Avon. Their Venom and Venom-R lines are a good solid set of cruising tires. The unique tread makes them quiet on the road and their internal construction gives them excellent durability for heavy bikes and heavy loads. If you're regularly going to ride a fully loaded bagger, reinforced fitments are available.

The aramid fibers are closely positioned at the center of the tire to provide straight, high-speed stability. The fibers are then spaced more widely on the sides to allow a controlled deformation and increased footprint when cornering.

The Venom tires come in a wide selection of sizes, including the Venom-R for custom fits. You can even get them in whitewall, which is great if you are a compulsive bike cleaner.

Find this Avon Venom Series Tire:

• Click here to find this product at Revzilla.com
• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this tire on eBay:

FRONT 21 90 TIRE AVON VENOM TIRES WHEEL RIM FIT HARLEY US $118.95   Auction Ends: 4h 42m Make it yours...

AVON VENOM 90 90 21 21 CUSTOM TIRE FOR HARLEY 305315 US $129.95   Auction Ends: 3d 15h 54m Make it yours...

AVON VENOM WWW MH90 21 WHITEWALL FRONT TIRE 90 90 21 US $145.95   Auction Ends: 1d 2h 22m Make it yours...

A bike is not a couch, and while many touring bikes sport comfortable butt-holders, long road trips can seriously infringe on one's ability to sit anywhere at all. You can shift position some over the long haul, but it's a little restrictive where you can go, obviously.

A seat pad can make a big difference. Pro Pad's ProGel SuprCruzr is made for big bikes with big seats. 16" wide and 17" long, it's designed for such as Goldwings, Road Kings, Valkyries and Intruders, etc. The fabric model is black quilted nylon with purple stitching. The gel inside the pad is a medical grade of polymer and is the main ingredient in making this pad a comfortable place to park it.

Clips in the back of the pad anchor the sides, and an elastic strap keeps the front in place. Underneath, the pad is a non-slip material that also won't damage the stock seat. Installation and removal are easy and quick.

At about a hundred bucks, this isn't a cheap fix, but it's also not an exorbitant price if it does the job. And Pro Pad has a 30-day money back guarantee which should give you enough time to figure out if this is what you need.

The SuprCruzr also comes in smooth leather and black sheepskin models.

And your glutes just might appreciate it to the maximus.

Find this Pro Pad ProGel SuprCruzr:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this motorcycle seat on eBay:

Harley-Davidson touring bikes aren't known for handling prowess in the esses, and in fact they've sometimes been described as having a hinge in the middle. It can be disconcerting to go into a turn while your bike's back end meanders about, seemingly of its own whim and accord. But then, touring Harleys are designed primarily to handle straight-line runs on long American highways. You wanna corner, you gotta fix it up.

Happily, a number of companies make a fix for this problem. Progressive's Touring Link is an excellent solution, as well as being the most reasonably priced. It bolts up to the back end of the transmission on one side, and to the frame on the other. Tucked up out of the way, you'll never notice the additional parts, and the handling difference can be life-changing.

It's essentially three parts. You get a bracket that bolts to the transmission pan's holes with three bolts, a bracket that bolts to the frame, and a turnbuckle that joins the two brackets. Simple and clean. Most people report installation taking from 20-40 minutes and requiring only common tools to do the job.

Some owners have mentioned an increased vibration at idle once this part is installed. Progressive, however, claims there is no increase in vibration, while most riders say they can't tell the difference. Personally, I'd be okay with a little more shake if it meant less swerve and shimmy.

Find this Progressive Suspension Link:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this handling kit on eBay:

Progressive Suspension Touring Link Chassis Stabilizer US $139.45   Auction Ends: 24d 14h 20m Make it yours...

Progressive Suspension TOURING LINK Chassis Stabilizer US $159.99   Auction Ends: 26d 20h 53m Make it yours...

Progressive Suspension ‘Touring Link’ Harley Dressers US $168.95   Auction Ends: 27d 4h 15m Make it yours...

Staying dry on a ride is high on my list of priorities. But then I don't really know anyone who actually enjoys becoming soaked to the bone. Even ducks don't like it. That's why they're… well, you know… waterproof.

Meanwhile, Nelson-Rigg has been supplying rain protection since 1972. Their AX-1 Mk III two-piece rain suit is constructed of polyester with a PVC coating. The seams are heat-sealed for complete waterproofing. Vents in the underarm and back help keep air moving, and the pants are vented as well. The jacket is also mesh lined to further aid air flow. A Velcro "storm flap" covers the front zipper. The two big outer pockets are waterproof, too. The jacket comes in black-on-black or your choice of black with red, black with yellow, black with orange, or black with charcoal.

The pants are suspendered and have an elastic waist. Getting these on over boots is made easier with Velcro cinch straps and 17" gussets. Both jacket and pants have highly visible reflective striping.

These two-piece rain suits are very reasonably priced and come with a 2-year "no hassle" warranty. Nelson-Rigg stands behind their products, and feedback from the web backs them up regarding the AX-1 Mk III's durability and functionality.

Find this Nelson-Rigg Rain Suit:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this rain suit on eBay:

NELSON RIGG AX 1 MK II 2 PIECE RAIN SUIT BLK RED XXXL US $24.99   0 Bid Auction Ends: 1d 19h 18m Make it yours...

NELSON RIGG AX 1 MK II 2 PIECE RAIN SUIT BLK YEL XXL US $24.99   0 Bid Auction Ends: 1d 19h 18m Make it yours...

NELSON RIGG AX 1 MK II 2 PIECE RAIN SUIT BLK ORG XXXXL US $24.99   1 Bid Auction Ends: 1d 19h 18m Make it yours...

I am in the market for a new set of saddlebags, so I've been going over my routines to find out what features I need. Right now, I have classic leather bags with no bells or whistles. They pack as well as cardboard boxes and to remove them I need to break out the tools and take off my seat, making them far from convenient.

Chase Harper is an obvious stop when you're looking for bags. Riders who travel know how robust they are, and the company fully honors its unconditional lifetime warranty. If you're looking for a tank bag or a full luggage set because you've decided to save rent money by living on your bike, they will accommodate you.

The Sport Tour saddlebags have everything a traveler could want. They are easy to pull on and off the bike, so there are no worries about leaving your valuables unattended. Sport Tour bags have a ridiculous number of pockets and storage compartments that give you 2.3 cubic feet of storage space. The main compartment alone is 14.5 x 9.5 x 10 inches. These bags are a little bulky as a result of the storage space, so I wouldn't buy them if you're just looking for a place to keep an extra quart of oil.

The seams are bound on the inside and out and stress points are bar tacked, so that lifetime warranty won't need much use. The bags are DuPont Cordura Plus urethane-coated nylon. Chase Harper even threw on a couple of reflective strips to keep the rider seen and safe.

Simply put, these are just a great set of bags.

Find these Chase Harper Sport Tour Saddlebags:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this Sport Tour Saddlebag Set on eBay:

Some parts are easily replaced in their entirety, but sometimes a broken piece is ridiculously expensive. Or you break certain parts regularly, or like me you simply prefer fixing things yourself. And if perhaps you've done some damage to one of your plastic parts by performing a modification, and then said modification went awry... not to worry. Salvation is available.

Urethane Supply Company has a professional repair kit for plastics. The kit will repair most rigid plastics such as: ABS, PVA, polycarbonate, PA (nylon), PET, SMC, and also fiberglass. And it works quite well on wood and metal, too.

Fair warning, however: no plastic bonding kit will work on olefin-based plastics such as TEO, TPO, polyethylene, or polypropolene. For these you'll need a separate plastic welding setup.

The kit is packed with two powder cups, two applicator bottles, a pair of mixing cups, 230ml of PlastiFix liquid, and 150 grams each of black powder and white powder. The powder is available separately in clear, amber, or red, but the finished repair is sandable and paintable no matter the color. Included are two applicator bottles and four applicator needles, all reusable.

You also get three FlexMold molding bars that can be softened in a cup of hot water. Softened, the bars can be used to press onto broken pieces for a perfectly matching mold, and you can do your own sculpting with them as well.

Fix your broken parts and redeem yourself to yourself. Kit comes in a handy plastic carrying case.

Find this PlastiFix Plastics Repair Kit:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this repair kit on eBay:

Fix A Chip Repair Kit Works on Formica Wood Plastic US $8.99   Auction Ends: 18d 2h 58m Make it yours...

DIRTBIKE ATV UTV FENDER REPAIR PLASTIC WELDER KIT US $24.95   Auction Ends: 6d 58m Make it yours...

Tube Less Tire Plug Repair Kit NEW in Plastic Case US $25.00   0 Bid Auction Ends: 1d 54m Make it yours...

A lot of hubbub is going on about the Pro Circuit Works pipe. Some people love them and some people hate them, but the reasons are different and everyone is right. I realize this sounds contradictory, but bear with me.

The Pro Circuit, first off, is a fantastic-looking pipe. It has a visceral appeal, as if torn from the belly of some great mechanical beast. Art imitates nature, and this organ-like pipe fits to the contour of your bike like it was born with it. The seams are hand-welded and pounded on the bare metal finish, giving it a look like no other pipe on the market.

The bare metal finish is precisely what some riders detest because, like so many beautiful things, it requires a lot of care. You have to keep this pipe clean, dry, and oiled, or it will rust. Tarnishing is not inevitable, and if you're buying this pipe then you obviously care about your look, so maintain it or you're throwing your money away.

The Pro Circuit does more than draw attention with its distinct appearance -- it will also boost your bike's performance across the board. The unique shape gives superior gas exchange for increased horsepower and throttle response. The exhaust system on a 2-stroke engine has significant effect on performance, so the Pro Circuit can give you an edge, but you really, really have to be willing to take care of it.

Find this Pro Circuit Works Pipe :

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this Pipe on eBay:

PRO CIRCUIT Works Pipe SUZUKI RM 125 RM125 2004 07 US $208.99   Auction Ends: 8d 16h 44m Make it yours...

PRO CIRCUIT Works Pipe KAWASAKI KX 250 KX250 2004 US $208.99   Auction Ends: 29d 22h 26m Make it yours...

PRO CIRCUIT Works Pipe YAMAHA YZ 250 YZ250 2002 09 US $208.99   Auction Ends: 29d 22h 18m Make it yours...