Rolling Touring Bag
Harley-Davidson
#93300008
$259.95
www.harley-davidson.com
My motorcycle luggage of choice has, for a number of years, been the simple duffle bag. Originally intended as kayaking gear, the bags I own are waterproof, sit low on the passenger seat or luggage rack, and, depending on which one I choose to take along, can fit one to two weeks’ worth of gear. These no-frills, utilitarian bags ain’t pretty, but they do the job.
The night before I left for Sturgis, I began packing my 2012 Dyna Switchback for the journey ahead. I was (and still am) smitten by the FLD’s striking good looks, but to my dismay, that big ol’ duffle bag gave her a slightly scruffy, hobo-ish appearance; not fitting at all for my lovely Road Queen. Plus, the tie-down method I use on my FXD isn’t suitable for the Switchback. I’ve always fastened one end of my Rok Straps around the upper shock mount of my Super Glide, but on the FLD, there’s a retro shock cap on each side that interferes with the Rok Strap loops. In fact, somewhere in Canada, I lost an end cap and had to replace it when I got home.
Last year, Harley-Davidson introduced their Premium Luggage Collection, and I decided to try the largest bag in the series—the Rolling Touring Bag. The bag comes in black and is made of a tough cordura material, with reflective piping running along every curve and corner. It’s apparent that the design was well thought out, with nice accents such as large side pockets and a front pouch—all with glove-friendly zipper pulls that make it easy to get to whatever you decide to stash there, without having to unhook and open the main compartment to find that warmer pair of gloves or rain gear. The bag also holds its shape even when empty, adding to its allure.
The bag rolls along on ball-bearing wheels, and has a large top handle and a locking push-button extension handle that stows away inside a zippered compartment when not in use. These features make my life a lot easier when my motel room is way on the other side of the parking lot.
At 18.6″ wide x 10.5″ deep x 18″ tall, and a capacity of 3,100 cubic inches (about 50 liters), it can hold at least a week’s worth of my travel gear. It mounts on a passenger backrest, a tall sissy bar with a backrest pad and luggage rack, or alternately, facing frontward on the sissy bar and resting on the passenger seat. The entire back of the bag has a spandex mounting pocket so it will fit pretty much any sissy bar or backrest width. It fastens with adjustable mounting straps that attach the left and right sides of the bag to the backrest, sissy bar, or luggage rack. If you like more security, i.e., extra straps, you can purchase the Auxiliary Strap Kit (Part No. 93300015, $14.95). I probably didn’t even need the set of Rok Straps I used instead of ordering Harley’s strap kit, as the bag didn’t budge the entire time it was mounted on my sissy bar and luggage rack.
I also tried out the fitted rain cover that comes with the bag, which is held snugly by a cinched pull string underneath, eliminating the “sail effect.” The cover also has a wide reflective strip across the back, affording as much visibility as the bag without the cover.
For added comfort, you can also purchase a Clip-On Rider Backrest (Part No. 93300010, $29.95), and if you need to carry the bag rather than rolling it, a Premium Shoulder Strap (Part No. 93300014, $14.95) is available as well.
The bag is quite versatile, and would be equally at home in a five-star hotel or in an airport. I think it actually enhances my Switchback’s beauty. Finally, some luggage that’s fit for a king or queen—a Road King or Road Queen, that is.
