Tank Bag

[tommymck]

I used to use tank bags regularly. Yes, you have to pay attention to the accumulated dust level on the tank and, if applicable, wipe off any fine metal bits that might have been attracted to the tank bag magnets.

Why I stopped using tank bags:

* Mounted GPS (later replaced by smartphone GPS) has replaced me looking at paper maps in plastic windows. For me, that era has passed.
* Had a bike that did not have a metallic tank. I also did not have the patience to strap the tank bag down. I was a bit of easy-on, easy-off tank bag user.
* Had a bike with upfront, accessible waterproof storage.
* I did not routinely pay attention to my metal fuel tanks and every once in awhile the tank bag scuffed the paint finish.
* I like the naked look of the fuel tank.
* It bugged me to remove a tank bag to fill traditional mounted fuel tank.
* Sometimes I pushed the loading limit of the tank bag which made it scary when leaning into corners.
* Untethered tank bags can be ripped off at stop lights. Though, it never happened to me.
* My tank bags required a rain barrier to stay dry. That was a drag for me - yet another piece of minutia to manage.
* For daily commutes, hard top box (and at times hard side bags) solved all my convenience-related pains, including using no backpack. I never looked back at tank bags.

I've never...and I mean never over 30 years... have been a fan of tank bags. And I agree with GO that the days of needing a plastic window for maps have passed us by. But my new BMW came with a tank bag. The ease with which you can snap the thing on and off really has sold me on the concept. I even like the leather bra that came with it. On my CB1100, the tourmaster soft bags look great and serve the purpose and negate the need for a tank bag for me. But when I don't want to ride with a full tail bag on the BMW, the tank bag has just enough storage to make it worthwhile.