Getting out on the open road with only you and your machine is the most invigorating and fulfilling time you can have. The sense of freedom, the air streaming past your helmet and finding 'that' sweeping road that dives in and out, up and down, and round the foothills, is simply bliss. The problem you'll have is being able to carry 'stuff'. If you're heading away for the weekend on a biking tour, whether by yourself, with a friend or in a convoy, there is still the need to be able to carry essential spare parts (bulbs etc), clothes, make sure your motorbike insurance is sorted, and your personal belongings. That's why it's a good idea to see if your bike has specifically-made luggage available for it.

OK, so a Ducati 1098 might not be the ideal touring bike and it's doubtful you'd want to cover that scarlet paint with a bulky leather satchel, but for those with 'long-distance' bikes, there are many areas on your bike that you can fit compartments, cubby-holes and bags to it so you can carry more 'stuff'. Even if it's just a trip to the shops and you want to take the bike to let the throbbing sounds reverberate off the city walls, you still need to be able to carry bags of shopping.

Different bikes can handle different bags. One thing is important to remember and that's to make sure it is symmetrical. There is nothing worse than having to lean at 60 degrees just to keep the bike going in a straight line. In most cases, once you find the right bags for your bike there will be a myriad of different ones to choose from. Evaluate your needs and if you don't want to have a backpack on all of the time, then motorbike luggage is handy. Many are lockable and as long as you tell your bike insurance company about it, the contents can be insured too.

You will need to mount the luggage onto your bike and make sure it's steady and tightly fitted. You don't want them to be flapping around when you're at motorway speeds, so check the tightness before every ride. Make sure that they won't scratch the paintwork and rub against anything hot. Most luggage will stick out away from the exhaust but it's still better to double check. It won't be very fun having to try and put out a fire on the side of the road.

Tank bags are usually the most popular types of luggage for a motorbike as the visor will keep the wind from getting to it. It's right in front of you so you can have easy access, which is handy for toll roads or tunnels when you need to be able to grab a pounds, and they can be strapped down hard around the tank to reduce them flapping around.

Don't forget to mention the luggage bags to your motorcycle insurance company as sometimes the bags and the contents will be insured, but it's best to check first.