Luggage?
 

I was wondering if there are any particularly inventive ways of fixing your things onto your bikes... the tip i've had is to strap an army kit bag across the back of the bike, and i've also heard strapping it longways along the tank and up onto the handlebars works too. any other ideas? :)

bikes without panniers are very narrow and strapping long things across the back is not good for balance and does not give so many options for tying down, which is why most luggage uses 2x panniers.
if you are not carrying a pillion then strap the bag longways from your bum backwards, most bikes have a lot of room and it will give better balance and be more secure.
bags you can use could be anything, ive seen huge cricket kit bags put on securely this way, i use a 90ltr ortlieb drybag from a kayaking store.

I've used the 80 litre roll bag from Hein Gericke as seen in this link.

Hein Gericke (UK) Ltd.

I bought mine purely to carry camping gear. Carried it across the back of a sportsbike with a combination of webbing straps and bungees secured to D-rings on my soft panniers. I certainly wouldn't carry mine without panniers to support the ends and provide tie down points. Due to the size and mostly the type of bike, carrying it lengthways wasn't an option.
The width was approx the same as the bike + panniers but due to the diameter (or height laid on it's side), it can obscure your mirrors but that depends what bike you're riding. I'm actually thinking about getting the 40 litre version and travelling lighter.

Hello Qiyamah
 

What is your motorcycle make and model? Companies like Touratech and Overland Solutions make pannier racks/frames that attach to you motorcycle, via these you can attach panniers boxes of varying size. Not all makes and models are covered though; just the 'adventure' types. Costs are high.

I use a top box, a much cheaper alternative, but it has to be packed very precisely so that the weight is in the middle and towards the front.

For soft luggage you can go with fabric panniers. I have a pair and there awesome. Or/and a tank bag which is very useful; good for spreading the weight around aswell.

Check these out: Cramster - Travel Gear For The Restless : Motorcycle Luggage, Saddlebags, Magnetic Tankbags, Riding Gear - Jacket, Gloves, Backpacks...
Think am gonna get some of these.

Don't forget all the nooks and crannies. Spare/emergency paperwork can be slipped in beside the battery, different sized sprockets or spare levers can be zip tied to the frame and so forth. I have a length of 25mm plastic pipe zip tied to the frame under the seat on my MZ to hold spare plugs and the like. Also, move the tool kit if your OEM actually supplied one and it's under the seat. The original will be too small to do more than replace the odd bulb (which you have to carry elsewhere) and is going to be under most of your normal kit, the daftest place imaginable. Use the space for something you won't need everyday or quickly or only in camp.

One thing I don't do anymore is fasten spare cables alongside the originals. This works and saves space if you do it for a few weeks, if it's months the spares end up as useless as the originals, the tape you used to keep water out ends up holding it in.

Andy

Thanks everyone,

I'm kind of new to this, haven't gone out on any trips yet but plan to do a small one this summer. I've got an old Honda CB550, and very little money for flashy gear (though that Cramster stuff is amazingly cheap!).

Off topic, but can anyone recommend a good first trip (from London)? I am thinking going up around the coast of Scotland for a while, or to the southern France, this summer. And also, have I forgotten anything essential for travel:
fuses
bulbs
fuel hose
socket set, screwdrivers + plug socket
spark plugs
spare oil / small flask of petrol

hmmm
anything else....?

I am relatively handy so would clean / replace the plugs and change the oil before I set off... thanks very much people!

a £50 return ticket at dover and camping in france is as cheap as youre going to get. 25 euros a day should see you and the bike well fed.
a few days in southern france and a bimble across the countryside there and back is easily done in a week. spend longer down there by using their excellent autoroutes, but they are as boring as in-laws, most are toll roads (but good value, i think) and to make the most of them you really need a bike thats happy to sit at 90 for hours at a time.

How old is old? I wouldn't bother taking a full socket set, just the bits you need. Better off with Euro breakdown cover unless you're Ewan and whatshisname and have a Snap-On van following you. I wouldn't bother taking petrol either, just make sure you know how many miles you get from a full tank and refuel with plenty to spare. Just service it 2 weeks before you go so you have time to sort out any problems you find.

Also have a look at...

Motorcycle Luggage - Great Value Unbeatable Quality

I bought the luggage set at the top of the page. The panniers are well up to the job but the roll bag across the top needs more D-rings on it as it does move around a bit.