The folks on Mighty Goods asked me to contribute to an article about preparing for a long motorcycle trip. So I did!
My content is at the bottom of Mighty Goods article:
8 Motorcycle Tourers Share How They Packed and Prepared for the Big Trip
In the article I mention the motorcycle luggage we use for long trip along with tips that have made those longs days on a motorcycle a little more comfortable.
Check it out along with the rest of the Might Goods website.
First I have to say that I am a bit late on this motorcycle product review. I have had the bag for a few months but I wanted to wait until we could really put the Viking Bag Sport Tail Bag through a real test. (Also available at Motorcycle House)
If you follow this blog you know we just finished a 1700 mile tour from our home in northern Virginia to Myrtle Beach, SC then to the North Carolina and Tennessee mountains before heading home. This bag (their model AXE-23) was strapped to the top of our tour-pak for every mile of the trip.
We gave this bag a real work out. We experienced conditions of 100+F degree heat, multiple rain and thunderstorms, twisty mountain roads and this bag hung right in there.
OK, so what do I think about the bag. While the video will give you better details here are some of the major + and – of the bag.
+ It fits the Harley Davidson Air Wing Tour-Pak Chrome Luggage Rack really nicely.
+ The bungee cord tie downs really gave the bag a snug fit to the luggage rack. I NEVER had concerns of it coming loose.
+ The hooks for the bungee cords are coated, which provides added protection against scrapes and scuffs to chrome or paint.
+ It holds a LOT more than it would appear to hold. The design of the expansion sides gives the bag an extra 6 inches of space. Look at the video and you will see why their design is better than any other expansion side that I have seen.
+ The rain cover works well and did not come off in 70+ MPH wind.
+ The no-mar, anti-skid bottom did not scuff the chrome and helped hold it in place.
– The clips to add soft saddle bags. I would have liked to have had a female connector to use them as a secondary tie down or the ability to remove them completely.
– The side pocket zippers had tuck in spots to prevent wind “tinkle” but none of the others had that option.
– The bungee cords had little caps to protect the ends of the hooks and thus your paint and chrome, it think that was a great touch for protecting our bikes. But, two of the four tips came off during the ride.
During our ride I was considering giving the bag a 4 star rating. But, after we got home and I had time to reflect on the bag AND get my wife’s input I have no problem at all giving the Sport Tail Bag (AXE-23) a 5 out 5 rating.
That extra star came about when I realized that I was thinking of giving the bag away before the ride began and after it was over we decided that we are going to keep it for our future rides!
You can checkout some of their other products (like sissy bar bags) here.
