For most of us motorcyclists, long distance touring has provided the first tryst of true motorcycling. Being one with your steed while coming across gorgeous vistas might sound captivating but the biker life is hard to adjust to. If there’s one thing which I’ve learnt by clocking more than 150,000 kilometers on different terrains and situations, you have to pack it right and light. Luggage solutions play a rather crucial role in determining that you’re spending more time on the road, enjoying the sceneries as they become a mere blur, rather than fiddling around with bungee cords and a rucksack. Having spent almost my entire riding life doing the latter, it was about time to get a ‘proper’ luggage setup. A 3,500 km roadtrip on the Hunter 350 was on the cards and given this roadster’s compact dimensions, something had to be done. And that something arrived in a big package – Rynox’s navigator range of luggage solutions including a 50-litre tailbag and a 15-litre tailbag.
Initial impressions
Rugged. That’s the first thing which struck my head right after destroying the packing, given the excitement. The 50L tail bag is oval shaped but in a more rectangular way. The outer shell of the tail bag is constructed using heavy-duty 1000D Invista Cordura which is highly resistant to abrasion and scuffs. There are some NOCTEX retro-reflective panels on the tailbag, making it visible in the dark. This is something which can prove to be extremely safe for riders who often find themselves traveling in the dark. Utility is one area where the tailbag scores very high as it can also double up as a duffle bag and a backpack, using the straps provided with the bag. And if the need arises, there’s also a provision of hooking your helmet with the bag. The bag also comes with its own muck cover, custom-developed G-hooks and internal dry bags to keep your stuff dry after your dirty adventures.
The same features and construction are replicated on the tank bag as well, whose capacity stands at 15-litres. Both the solutions also come laced with MOLLE panels integrated above them, giving them an unmatched versatility as you can hook many tactile accessories and equipment. Coming to the bigger of the two, the tail bag also comes with a top flap, that can hold something like a jacket or a 2-person tent, making it even more versatile for someone looking to penetrate deep into the wilderness.
Since this was my first time fiddling around with a tail bag, I took my own sweet time understanding the mechanism. Not much though because the tail bag come with G-hooks and four straps which have to be mounted on the motorcycle, depending on the make and model how you can mount it. It wasn’t much of a problem to hook the mechanism and once it was done, it was an even easier affair to mount the tail bag and fasten it.
Out on the road, the tail bag failed to budge from its place, despite the rollercoaster ride that I had on some patches. I wouldn’t say that this is the regime one should follow for actually ‘testing’ this particular luggage solution which promises to be slightly more inclined towards the adventurous side. But my total kilometre count on this roadtrip did cross the 3500lkm mark, enough cred to outline the credibility of the product. Reiterating again, the tail bag failed to budge and given my understanding, it will retain its place when the road gets bumpier or disappears for that matter. Another thing which impressed me is the amount of stuff it can gobble up, so that’s another plus if you’re looking at a multi-day expedition.
The same can be said about the tank bag which was also easy to get a hang of. It also comes with a separate Velcro system on its belly which sticks to the actual harness, bringing multi-level assurance. It also makes another frequent job at hand a lot easier: to unmount the tank bag while filling up the fuel as you just have to unbuckle it from the harness and give the Velcro a little pull to dismount it. Fill up, shut the lid, mount it again and off you go.
I was impressed with the tail bag’s gobbling up capacity but the tank bag is also a proper hoarder. On one very particular instance, my pillion princess decided to be a part of this adventure so I had to transfer the important stuff inside the tank bag and send the tail bag by courier. The spec sheet might read 15 litres but once you extend its neck (quite literally), the spec sheet would stop making sense. The only problem I faced with the Hunter 350 and the tank bag being filled to the brim was hampered mobility of the handlebar during tight turns. On a burly adventure-tourer, I don’t think it will create any hindrance.
When you go out riding in its actual sense, clocking hundreds of kilometres in a day, the sensory overload should be because of your surroundings and your motorcycle being one with them. Not because of a half dangling rucksack with your undies flying in the air or a bungee strap coming loose and being the reason you kiss the tarmac. Or, the rain coming down on you for that matter! And for these very reasons, it is essential to get a proper luggage system, especially if you’re planning for long expeditions. This is what makes the Rynox Navigator tail bag and tank bag great solutions as they provide a hassle-free experience. And they look good too, for someone who always likes some brownie points!
Price: INR 4,450/- for the tank bag, INR 6,350/- for the tank bag
Checkout- https://rynoxgears.com/collections/luggage
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