IncrediRides.com

I’ve always been a fan of tank bags on my motorcycles in the past. They’re a great way to store gloves, a hat, bandanna, some tools, etc. I had never used a strap down tank bag before (always opting for the magnetic ones for ease of removal), but when I got my Triumph Tiger 800 I decided to try something a little different. I ended up with the Touratech Expandable Touring Tank Bag that can expand from 14 liters to 22 liters of storage. It also has a removable map holder and two small side pockets.

My main concern with using a tied down tank bag was the difficulty of moving it out of the way when it comes time to fuel up. My worries were put to rest when I went to fuel up the first time and simply had to undo the velcro attaching the end of the bag to the tank and flip it up. I actually like this method better now than removing the entire magnetic tank bag and then trying to secure it somewhere so it doesn’t fall onto the ground.

The bag uses water resistant zipper liners to help keep the moisture and dirt out. I haven’t had a chance to ride with it in the rain yet but it seems like it should do the job well. I also haven’t had any real need to expand it from the compressed 14 liter size to the larger 22 liters. I did open it up fully and it will definitely be a great way to store extra items for longer rides.

I also like how the inside top of the case has holders for pens and tire pressure gauges as well as a flap that could hold a map or book. This makes it extremely easy to quickly find those little items that always seem to sink to the bottom of the bag and get lost.