Handlebar Bag Review
- Motorcycle Gear Reviews
- Feb 4, 2024
- 5 min read
Handlebar bags go by many names. You will sometimes see them called Tool Bags, Roll Bags, or Fork Bags. These are small bags that are usually mounted on the riser, but can also be mounted to the front forks or a sissy bar. These types of bags are great for carrying small essential items, such as wallets, phones, glasses, or other small items. I usually carry some zip ties, paracord, and a few tools. Handlebar bags are great for bikes that have limited or no storage. They are at home on Softails and Dynas, or any cruiser.
There are a lot of styles available to fit whatever look you are going for. The Californian style has become very popular with the Dyna and Low Rider S and ST riders. If you are more of a traditionalist, a round leather bag might be more your style. Handlebar bags are usually made from vinyl (to look like leather), real leather, or a synthetic material (such as ballistic nylon).
Let's review some of the top rated Handlebar bags to find the one that fits your needs and style!
Fox Creek Leather Tool Bag
All Fox Creek Leather products are made in the USA. They work with local craftsmen around the country and produce leather goods in their own facilities. They offer Leather Tool Bags in several styles. They do offer oblong bags, but the round tool bag is the most traditional look. These bags are made from real 10oz. leather. The weight of the leather, actually refers to the thickness. If you don't work much with leather, it's kind of confusing. 10oz, is very thick. For reference, wallet interiors are usually 2oz, jackets are usually 2 to 3.5 oz, belts and holsters are often 8oz, while 10oz is a common choice for saddles. This heavy weight leather lends itself to a very sturdy and durable bag.
The Fox Creek Leather Tool Bag has traditional roller buckles to adjust the straps, but has hidden quick release buckles under the strap. This makes opening and securing the bags much easier, especially if you are wearing gloves.
This bag comes with real leather straps to attach the bag to the bike in a variety of places. It can be secured to the handlebars, forks, or the lower portion of the frame. The bag is available in two sizes and you have the choice of brown or black leather, to match your style.
If you prefer a more traditional look, these bags are a great option and are very reasonably priced for the quality of the bag.
Thrashin Supply Handlebar Bag Review
The Thrashin Supply Handlebar Bag Plus is a much more modern styled bag. It has more of a rectangular shape and is made from ballistic nylon. These bags are very popular on Dyna's and the newer Lower Rider S and Low Rider ST. It has more of a west coast style that fits with these motorcycles.
Many riders like the Thrashin Handlebar Bag because of the tactical appearance. It does have some Molle webbing, though it is quite limited due to the size of the bag. The Molle webbing allows you to attached other items to the out side of the bag. There are a variety of items that can be added to expand your storage capacity.
There are two different Thrashin Supply Handlebar Bags I would recommend. One is the Thrashin Supply Handlebar Bag and the Plus version. The only difference is the plus adds a front pouch that is padded, that is perfect for storing sunglasses or anything else you might want to toss inside. The front pocket is also lined with a microfiber material with sunglasses in mind. Personally, I prefer the plus version. Not only does it provide a little more much needed storage, I also like the looks better. The non plus version tends to look a little plain, but that is just my opinion.
Ballistic Nylon is very durable and is water resistant, but the bag is not waterproof. The storage compartments are opened and closed with zippers, which makes it easy to open with or without gloves on. There are also included straps on the back of the bag to attach it to your motorcycle. These straps use velcro to attach each side to the other. The velcro straps makes installing or removing the bags quick and easy. They also secure the bag to the bike quite nicely.
Biltwell EXFIL 7 Universal Tool Bag
If you are looking for the most storage possible in a handlebar bag, you have to check out the Biltwell EXFIL 7 Universal Tool Bag. This is one of the largest and most versatile tool bags. This bag can be mounted in several places on the bike, but be sure to take measurements of where you want to place the bag before ordering, as it is quite large. It works best on a T bar set up or on a sissy bar due to it's size.
This thing can hold up to 7 12oz cans. Seriously, that's a ton of storage for a handlebar bag. The bag has padded sides to provide some level of insulation. It does have drain hole grommets in the bottom of the bag. So, if you use ice, it will leak through the bottom. I would recommend a small ice pack to keep your drinks cold and minimize leaking. If you do not have the bag loaded with your cold beverage of choice, the interior can hold a lot of other much needed items for a day of riding. The interior is very bright orange, which makes finding things inside the bag much easier.
The Biltwell EXFIL 7 is made of a water and weather resistant nylon. It does a decent job of keeping things inside dry, but water resistant is not water proof. There are MOLLE straps on the bag as well. This gives you the option of attaching other bags to expand your storage. The pockets are secured with zippers to ensure things don't blow out of your bag going down the interstate. Nobody likes a litter bug! It also has two quick release straps. These straps can be adjusted to keep the weight off the zipper and prolong the life of the bag. All of these elements give the bag a very tactical look that many riders like.
The bag does come with straps to secure the bag to your bike. The straps do not really fit with the overall style of the bag, as they use buckles and not velcro or quick release to attach. Personally, I like the use of buckles, but not everyone agrees. I like buckles because it takes a little more time to remove the bag from the bike. Nothing every really stops a determined thief, but something that takes more time to remove is less likely to be stolen, in my opinion.