Posts Tagged ‘viking bags’

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!

5 star

You can checkout some of their other products (like sissy bar bags) here.

Debbie and I left the house at about 6:30 AM this morning on our way to Myrtle Beach (as a first stop, more on that late).  We had looked at the forecast and it appeared that the high temps for our trip this day would be about 93F…. wrong…. at one point the bike indicated it was 103F.

We made it to the beach, 523 miles, in about eight hours.  We made several stops and took a long lunch to cool off.  I drank four bottles of water, two sodas,  two glasses of tea and a glass of water today.  One has to stay hydrated, right!  Of course if you travel I95 you must stop at South of the Border!

After a few days here we are going to ride over to the “Wheels Through Time” motorcycle museum and then maybe up the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Also I am using this trip to evaluate some new “things”.  First, Viking Bags has asked me to review one of their “Tail Bags”.  Next we are looking at our Nolan helmets a lot closer, this is the longest ride with these helmets and lastly I bought a new pair of Kevlar pants so you can expect a review of those pants in the future.

ijustwantwride.com

I know it is a geezer glide.. but really

ijustwant2ride.com

If you have ever traveled I95, you know what this is.

ijustwant2ride.com