or lots of riders and lots of situations a tank bag makes sense. They always have. It’s a neat, easy and convenient way to transport all those everyday necessities from here to there. Tank bags have come a long way, too. Modern versions are worlds better than the old strap-on models of years past, better in their ease of use, method of attachment, features offered and in the quality of construction and the materials used. Saddlemen has some great ones for 2008, too.
     Saddlemen’s Expandable Magnetic Tank Bag deserves a close look, and a spot right up on the tank of plenty of motorcycles. As the name suggests, this one securely attaches to any steel gas tank with a series of super-strong magnets that are protected with–as is the entire bottom surface of the bag–a super-soft/non-scratch padding. This bag is tough, too. It’s made with 3-D formed 600 denier SaddleTuff™ and the rigid, lightweight construction lets the bag hold its shape and look good whether it’s empty or full. And when it’s full it’s holding a lot. The bag easily expands by opening a zipper, giving you increased storage space when you need it. Inside there are separate pouches to keep all those small items safely organized and the main compartment can be locked, too; a small padlock will slip right through the zipper pulls. Those zippers are waterproof, too, eliminating the need for a separate rain cover. There’s a removable/reversible map pouch and the lid even features a recess that’s perfect for a cell phone, MP3 player or GPS. The Saddlemen Expandable Magnetic Tank Bag holds plenty, offers plenty, looks good empty or full, it’s built to last and best of all the installation is about as quick and easy as it gets. For everyday commuting or for that quick day trip a tank bag can be a rider’s best friend. The Saddlemen Expandable Magnetic Bag is a beauty.
     Take a look at Saddlemen’s Magnetic Map Pocket with removable pouch, too. Here’s a magnetic-attachment Velcro-closure map pocket offering a nice, clear view of your map as you’re motoring down the road. And there’s a separate pouch that twistlocks right on, nicely sized for all those little things that can have a rider’s pockets bulging. With the top pouch in place there’s still full access to the map pocket underneath and the whole pouch is quickly removable when all you need is the map pocket. Saddlemen offers all this in two sizes, a Medium measuring 9-in. x 11-in. and a Large that’s 10.75-in. x 11.75-in.
     And finally, Saddlemen fully realizes that some riders, especially those with expensive custom paint jobs, might have reservations about attaching any kind of luggage to their bike, magnetic or not. Well, to protect that paint Saddlemen now offers a Protective Tape Kit. It includes two 6-in. x 12-in. panels of tape with a light but strong adhesive that won’t hurt or mar that paint in any way. More importantly, it’ll protect that paint from possible damage, whether it’s from luggage or road debris, or your kids in the garage. The Protective Tape is crystal clear, non-obtrusive and can even be left on when you’re not using any luggage at all. Neat stuff.
     Tank bags, map pockets and pouches make a lot of sense to a lot of riders. Saddlemen has them and they’re in stock now at Parts Unlimited.