Eclipse Standard Tank Bag
Yes, you read that title correctly...only the Eclipse tankbag is far from standard -- and more than a tankbag. While its primary function is to ride harnessed to the fuel tank, Eclipse simply added a sleeve to the back (or bottom) of the bag so it will neatly slide over a sissybar. It's perfect for a day ride or overnighter. Actually, the size of this bag, 21 quarts, is far more appropriate for keeping your load within recommended weight specifications. And the anchoring system to the tank should work on most cruisers too, allowing it to do double duty. If your motorcycle has a tank-mounted speedometer, the Eclipse tnak bag may fit below (or behind) it.
The Cordura nylon construction is reinforced with U-shaped stiffeners around the bag's perimeter to hold its shape even when empty. Two, large, zippered side pockets provide easy access to small necessities, and a two-point, snap-off front pocket clips to your belt when you're off the bike to keep valuables close at hand. The clear, full-size map pocket on the top of the bag can be snapped off and stowed when you use the bag on the sissybar.
The Standard tankbag finds yet another role as a backpack when you put the provided shoulder straps to use. At 14 inches long x 9 and 1/2 inches wide x 7 and 1/2 inches deep it's the perfect size for toting around town -- basically the size of a standard day pack. You can have this multifunctional bag and the 25 years of development that have gone into it for a suggested retail of only $95, rain cover included.
Rev-Pack Standard Rest Pack
There's a lot to be said about simplicity; consider the design of the Rev-Pack Standard Rest Pack. There's nothing complex here yet it offers ample storage capacity (37 quarts), the most efficient access to its contents, and produces the most luxurious back support. It might not look like much out of the box -- since it doesn't use a stiffening system like some of the other bags -- but once loaded, the Rest Pack reveals its well-proportioned lines and useful nature.
The Rest Pack is made from heavy Cordura nylon and uses a sleeve to attach to the sissybar. Two adjustable horizontal straps cinch down to tighten the sleeve around the backrest.
The Rev-Pack Rest Pack has several bungee attachment rings, the lower of which might be used wisely as an additional way of anchoring the bag. It is designed to sit on the rear seat and double as a rider backrest, or face rearward to rest on a rack or hang above the fender. Corduroy covers the bottom of the bag for increased durability and to protect the bike's finish.
There's one very large main compartment and a second large pouch set low and forward. Either can be accessed at any time via their large circumference zippers. At the base of each side you'll find a convenience pocket (with hook-and-loop style closure) and an additional flat, zippered map pocket on the front of the bag. A nylon carrying handle is provided on top.
The beauty of this rucksack-style sissybar bag is found not only in its simple design, but also in its affordable $85 price. A urethane-treated cloth rain cover is available for $15 more.
This is a very popular item at dealerships around the country. In fact, T-Bags are so well represented that many of the people who rely on their dealer for product information and are shopping for such a bag don't even know there are options available from other companies. At least it's a darn good product that has attracted the showroom spotlight.
The Lone Star T-Bag is made from heavy-duty 1000-denier Cordura and is lined with a vinyl-backed material. Between these layers are panels of high-density foam which insulate the bag and help to hold its shape. To further prevent drooping over the sissybar rack, the company has incorporated a new, removable zinc-coated steel batten into the bottom of the bag. As a result of all this bolstering, the Lone Star has an extremely tidy appearance, even when it is empty.
Included in the system is a top roll which can be used in tandem with the main bag or separately. Both the base bag and the top roll bag attach via a sleeve that's slipped over the sissybar pad. The bags can then be tightened down securely, using adjustable nylon straps, to the base of the sissybar or to the luggage rack. The main bag holds about 45 quarts, and the roll bag holds approximately 15 quarts.
If you carry the roll bag on top of the main bag as intended, you must use the included webbed harness to properly secure it. The Lone Star offers four convenient and sizable zippered pockets, and a hook-and-loop sealing map pocket on the front. D-rings provide additional anchoring points on the main bag. Dealerships sell the Lone Star system for about $175.
Tour Master Nylon Sissybar Bag
This is a completely new line for Tour Master and quite unlike anything the firm has done before. The Nylon Sissybar Bag is big, it's bold (well, maybe not the name), and it's brilliantly designed. On the other hand this bag is so big and laden with benefits and capacity that it's a little hard to heft around. The XL sissybar bag we inspected (which was a prototype) weighed in at about nine pounds. If size counts, Tour Master's offering is the bag. The main case measures 18 inches high x 22 inches wide x 11 inches deep and has a 75-quart capacity. The adaptable flat-bottom Barrel Bag holds another 21 quarts and measures 8 inches high x 17 inches wide x 9 inches in diameter.
The thick Cordura shell and Tricot liner encase plastic stiffeners so the whole system remains dimensional. The main compartment's box-style lid seals using gigantic swatches of hook-and-loop material. Inside there's a drawstring top built into the liner to further seal out the elements. There are pockets everywhere -- eight in all. Some are big, some small, some close with zippers and some with hook-and-loop fasteners. Whatever you want to bring, it will fit somewhere in or on this unit.
Additional features on the Tour Master system include rustproof black-anodized hardware, adjustable, padded backpack straps and padded handles, roll bag shoulder strap, reflective panel, and a rain cover (which doubles as a tent). Mounting is achieved using a universal-fit sleeve and hook-and-loop secondaries. (While we didn't see anything questionable about this mounting system it may change on the production version.) You can get the whole shebang for only around $110. Matching saddlebags are also available.
This is the sissybar bag for anyone who wants it all. The design is extremely functional, the bag attractive, and the price affordable. It's this blend of function and fashion that has Wolfman -- the new kid on the block -- turning heads in both the soft luggage and apparel markets.
The Cordura Rambler is a new addition to the Wolfman line and one of its outstanding features is the mounting system. It's the only bag that employs a bungee-and-hook retention system to back up the hook-and-loop sissybar wrap. The four heavy-duty plastic hooks and adjustable bungees tuck neatly into a Cordura panel beneath the bag when not in use. This thoughtful feature ensures that the bag stays put no matter what the model or maneuver.
Other innovations include five sizable outer pockets, including one that is perfectly shaped to receive a Camel Bak water bladder. The large pocket incorporated into the top flap is great for maps or a date book, and the full-size front pouch can stow rain gear or glove changes. All the pockets close with two-way, tabbed zippers and are covered by rain flaps. There are also removable, adjustable shoulder straps and a carrying handle.
The Rambler is extremely lightweight (about three pounds) even though the Cordura shell houses a high-density polyethylene support system. The overall capacity is huge, stowing up to 42 quarts. It uses a top-loading system which is great for, say, setting a spare full-faced helmet in the bottom of the bag. But it does make it difficult to get to items below the surface. All told, the Wolfman Rambler is quite a deal at $125. A rain cover will cost another $17.
Dowco, Inc.
4230 Clipper Dr.
Manitowoc, WI 54220
(800) 558-7755 or (920) 682-7796
www.dowco-inc.com
Rev-Pack
P.O. Box 175
New Cuyama, CA 93254
(800) 766-2461 or (805) 766-2454
(www.revpack.com
T-Bags
via CDL Enterprises
4050 West Chandler Ave.
Santa Ana, CA 92704
(800) 957-6288
www.t-bags.com
For additional evaluations of, comparisons of, and shopping advice for motorcycle gear and accessories, see the Accessories and Gear section of MotorcycleCruiser.com.