Tank Bag

[Tony Varadero]

Anyone has any idea of a good, not too expensive, tank bag that seats well on the AT please...?
need one for the Longest Ride 09.....I decided to try and do it with top box and a tank bag, no throw overs...

Any advise welcome.

Thank you!!!

[Zenarchy]

I've been using one I got from lidl a couple of years ago. It comes with straps and a headstock loop, but I've never bothered with them and the magnets (in wings on the sides) seem to hold it to the tank fine. Wasn't confident it was going to hold at first but seems OK with the magnets alone, even in heavy side winds, unless I polish the tank with mr sheen - then it starts to slip a bit. It's handy for refueling or going for a wander as it pulls straight off and can be used as a carry bag.

I'm not sure how well it'd work on the later bikes though as the fuel tank is a bit different on the RD04 not having the air filter in the tank, but I'd guess it'd be OK as the magnetic wings hold to the side of the tank.

This looks like the one I've got:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MOTORCYCLE-TANK-BAG-MAGNETIC-FIX-TO-TANK_W0QQitemZ160319256883QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Mo torcycle_Parts?hash=item160319256883&_trksid=p3286 .c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1689|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1| 240%3A1318

They usually sell them at lidl and similar ones at aldi when they have their bike stuff sale, so if you're not in an immediate hurry for one there might be a chance they get them in again.

I think I paid about £23 for mine new, so can't complain and it's held up well and remained waterproof.

Probably no use if you've got a tank cover though as I'm not sure the magnets would be strong enough to hold through it (and without one you'd need to be careful the magnets don't pick anything up and scratch your tank - though my tank is full of little stone chips etc. already so that was less of a concern for me).

There are lots of other similar looking tank bags on ebay so they may work too if the wings are big enough and the magnets strong enough. I wouldn't be without mine now - its really handy having a bag right infront of you and saves a lot of hassle.

[Tony Varadero]

Zenarchy,
Thanks a lot for the comprehensive advise. I aam not in a hurry at all as I will only use it for the Longets day ride. rest of teh time I coomute to work and the top box is more than enough for that.
I will also probably sell the AT after june 'cos I am dying to get on a varadero.

Cheers mate a safe riding

[Zenarchy]

No worries If you've got an RD07, before buying one of these it might be good to see if anyone else has used one or similar, just incase the air filter gets in the way.

[Tony Varadero]

I should know this off the top of my head .... it's a y reg....I am sure it's an 07 as the air filter is on the tank...

[Zenarchy]

Yeah, it'll be an RD07 or RD07a if it has the air filter in the tank. It may still be OK with this sort of bag, but it'd be best to know for sure (I'd be surprised if there wasn't someone else here using one of these - they seem very popular as they're such good value so someone might be along soon and able to give you an idea).

[Zenarchy]

Just a quick heads up incase you hadn't spotted the other threads about it. Coming to a lidl store soon:

http://www.lidl.co.uk/uk/home.nsf/pa...316.index.ar10

http://www.lidl.co.uk/uk/home.nsf/pa..._Tank_Bag.ar10

Not sure how well it'll work with the rd07's and the air filter, but might be worth a try (and if it doesn't fit you can stick it on ebay and probably make your money back easily - perhaps even a small profit if you're lucky).

Probably a good idea to try to get there first thing when they open (or have someone go for you if you can't make it) though as if it's anything like our local shop things will start to sell out very quickly.

[Tony Varadero]

Zen
you are a star thank you!! I have got a big lidl shop down the road from me in Crickelwood.

Will let u know how it fits. I have never had one and I am a classic thicko when it comes to instructions on anything but hopefully I'll manage to navigate round this one!

[Zenarchy]

No worries.

It comes with straps to tie around the tank and headstock, but I just scratched my head for a minute before chucking them aside and trying it with the magnets alone and they seem to hold it onto mine ok without the straps (though you're probably best to try it without anything costly or breakable in the bag first if you don't use the straps as your tank will be a little different). If it works OK for you without the straps you can't go far wrong - just drop it onto the tank so the magnetic flaps stick to the sides of the tank, then yank it off when you want to fill up or take it off.

It's still worth having a look at the instructions though as you can undo bits of it, make it into a carry bag with the straps, and I think there's a hidden map bag underneath too (so you you can zip off the top of the bag if you don't need to take it but still want a waterproof map pocket).

[Zenarchy]

P.S. Remember there are strong magnets in it, so be careful about putting your wallet with bank cards in, or anything else that might be effected by strong magnetic fields. I've heard they can wipe bank cards (haven't done this myself but have caught myself just in time a couple of times when I've absent mindedly been about to put my wallet in the bag).