By 
Tankbags are becoming increasingly popular with the adventure-riding set. That could be because they were so bloody unpopular to start with. Should you be using one? Here’s a few things to think about…
There was a time, way, way back, when ships were made of wood and men were made of steel, that tankbags were a bit of an oddity.
Let’s be honest: off-roaders thought tankbags were big and stupid.
Nowadays riders, especially adventure riders, want to carry a lot of gear, and a tankbag offers the opportunity to have at least some of that luggage mass near the centre of the bike. It also allows for a very convenient storage centre for items riders like to grab without fuss.
And of course, for the tech heads, the tankbag allows items like phones and MP3 players to be accessible and plugged in to the bike’s on-board power.
Even for the non-tech heads, most tankbags have a map pocket in the top that allows a route sheet or map to be visible while riding.
So they have a lot going for them.
Scott Britnell uses one
Not so great
There are plenty of riders who won’t use a tank bag at all. Whenever they see one they’ll take it off and hoik it into the nearest support vehicle.
Why would they do that? They say
• It interferes with the rider, and
• It makes the bike look like a constipated camel
These two arguments against the tankbag are fading fast. There’s a huge range of bags available to Australian adventure riders now, and if a rider can’t find one that suits, he’s simply not looking. Adventure Rider Magazine recently visited AdventureMoto and was stunned at the number and variety of tankbags on display.
Here’s a tankbag that’s probably going to be way too large for comfort unless the rider sits down the whole time. Some riders do, and a large tankbag can make for a balanced load and mega-convenience. Be careful not to overload tankbags.
A well-designed tankbag can have a big capacity but still be amazingly compact.
The editor, known for not being a fan of tankbags, even bought one for his own personal bike (and he’s becoming a real princess where that bike’s concerned). There’s absolutely no credence in the statement that tankbags are ‘too big’ anymore. The Wolfman Enduro Pocket is really tiny and it’s hard to imagine how it could get in anyone’s way, but it’ll still hold a wallet and phone or other small accessories a rider might like to have handy.
At the other end of the scale, Andy Strapz sent us a prototype of a new tankbag he’s making for the Safari tanks, and it has little side pockets like tank panniers and an amazing capacity, even though the bag itself is actually quite compact.
Some of the ones we see on big adventure bikes look like they’d hold a concrete mixer.
Tankbag or no tankbag? And what should a rider look for if he wants a tankbag? We asked a few people whose opinions we valued.
Overkill
Even Gally uses one!
End user
BMW Motorrad’s marketing man Miles Davis is one of the biggest barrackers for the tankbag we’ve ever met. He’s a fast and spectacular rider, and if a tankbag was going to interfere with technique, Miles would be one to spot it.
“I think it’s funny when people get their first adventure bike and they look at the tankbag and go, ‘Oh. I don’t want one of them.’” GSed Miles. “There’s nothing like being able to plant your foot on the ground, open a zip, grab what you need and just get on with things without messing around. With a tankbag I don’t have to take off a backpack and I don’t have to unstrap gearbags for those small items. And maps, route sheets and notes can slip into the clear panel.
“It’s the most necessary accessory for a very practical set-up.”
Miles went on to explain how a tankbag doesn’t bother him on the bike.
“I find it complements my riding. When I stand up and lean forward it’s almost like a bean bag on the tank.”
A seated rider won’t even notice a tankbag.
Even colours can be matched to brands.
Bag man
Andy at Andy Strapz is the brains of baggage, the leader of luggage and the king of capacity. Andy manufactures his own excellent product, and we asked what sorts of things a potential buyer should consider when looking for a good tankbag.
“You’ve already picked the most important component,” stitched Andy, “does it get in the way of your riding?“Then you have to start looking at the quality of zips.
A lot of modern tankbags are being made with the semi-waterproof zips – the ones that look shiny on the outside and have no obvious zip teeth. They’re actually very good, but the problem with them is, if the zip track turns a very tight corner they’re often really fiddley and hard to use. Potential buyers should look for a bag to have a nice curve in the run of the zippers, not tight, 90-degree corners.”
Andy also pointed out a rider needs to be very careful the shape of a tankbag suits his particular bike. Some of the road-bike guys find turning the ’bars to full lock will cause the tankbag to blow the horn. Make sure the bag you’re considering doesn’t interfere with controls or handlebar movement.
Andy’s specialist knowledge brought up another very important point.
“A problem for a lot of off-road bikes is that the fuel cap is right on the top of a steep-sided tank, so it’s often difficult to find a place to site a tankbag comfortably. Leading on from that, probably the final thing potential owners should look at is the harness system. Will it be secure enough for the sort of riding the person does? Someone who’s doing high-speed desert riding with lots of corrugations, or high-country riding with lots of single track, needs something very different to a rider who’s doing long distance on open road.
The Wolfman Enduro Pocket shows how compact a tankbag can be.
The harness is a very important part of the luggage and needs to be considered when making a purchase. Will the harness offer the strength needed to handle the style of riding the buyer has in mind?
. A clear pocket in the top is hugely useful.
This one looks like it’s bursting at the seams! Obviously the rider’s keen to stick with it, though.
Dam!
Bags not being weatherproof has been the cause of frayed tempers around the AdvRiderMag office lately, and it turns out there actually aren’t too many tank-bags that claim to be waterproof.
All the Giant Loop range are weather-resistant, all Wolfman tankbags have rain covers available as optional extras, Touratech bags are supplied with separate rain covers and Andy’s own Andy Strapz tankbag is supplied with an affixed weather cover that can be stored in a pocket when not in use.
“What we find with tankbags is that they have a large, flat surface on top which you need for things like maps,” dribbled Andy. “They hold water on top like a little dam and that water slowly seeps through the stitches.
“The best result seems to come from a waterproof or plastic liner inside the tank-bag itself. That way, no matter how much water gets through the zip and skin of the bag, the contents stay dry.
Miles Davis is a big fan of the tankbag. It doesn’t seem to interfere with his riding. We don’t think we know a more stylish rider
Bikes with fuel caps on the top of steep-sided tanks can be difficult. Look for a set-up that allows easy access.
Leader of The Pack
What about the weight up high on the bike? Is that likely to be a problem? Packing expert Robin Box says it’s not likely.
“Tankbags are a bit like a car glovebox,” he said.
“You put in the things you need, and then you start putting things in there because it’s the easiest place to put things. It just keeps getting fuller and fuller.
“You have to remove the tankbag to fuel most conventional bikes, and that reminds a rider of the weight of the thing.
Tips and pointers Also, if they’re overloaded they’ll go into a shape that’s uncomfortable to ride with, so that’s another good check and balance.
“One way or the other, riders are generally well aware of the weight of the tankbag, and tend not to overload them.”
An outfit like this one can serve a lot of uses. The big map pocket, the smaller side pockets and even high-vis panels for added visibility make it not only incredibly convenient, but a good, bonus safety feature as well.
Do you need one?
Clearly whether or not to run a tankbag is a decision for each individual rider. The convenience is huge, and the range of sizes and shapes is enormous, but it still won’t suit everyone.
Adventure Rider Magazine’s staffers all use tankbags, and probably the most telling point in favour of the tank-mounted luggage is that the editor often says how much he dislikes them, but he has one on almost every bike he rides – he has two for the KLR.
Ask around your riding mates and see what they’re using, especially those with bikes the same model as yours. Give one a try if you can. We bet you don’t ride without one very often after that.
It’s really only when standing a rider might find a tankbag uncomfortable.
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