When it comes to motorcycle traveling, I like to pack light, bringing only the necessities. This allows for a little less weight while ripping through mountainous roads, and makes for an easier entrance and exit from the motel room.
For nine years, my motorcycle luggage consisted of the same Tour Master tank bag and a set of used Tour Master saddlebags. The tank bag was used for almost every ride on my sportbikes throughout the years, and the saddlebags on long trips.
The only problem was my saddlebags...they became a bit beat, mostly due to burns from the CBR’s exhaust because they were too big for a sportbike. And as for the tank bag, it sustained a few accidents, but still performs flawlessly; let’s just say it’s the one piece of gear I truly got every cent out of, and more.
But it was time for a more convenient setup…
So knowing I tour light, I began researching for the best setup possible. It didn’t take long to decide on Cortech, since they’re Tour Master’s sport division; I knew the quality would be there. After reading some reviews, I decided on the Sport Saddlebags and Sport Tail Bag that combine to make a tri-bag setup. And since I’d have so much room out back, I went with a Super Mini Tank Bag, enough to hold a camera, phone, gum and other necessities without cramping up my space, especially while blasting through the twisties with all weight towards the gas tank.
My first trip with the tri-bag set up and Super Mini Tank Bag was a 1400-mile round trip from Northeastern Pennsylvania to Virginia International Raceway for Aaron Stevenson’s Cornerspeed school. And although I left the day preceding the first day of Spring, early weather predications reported my return trip would be anything but spring-like. So I needed some cold-weather riding gear, the toiletries, the electronic equipment, and, since I was doing a track school, my Teknic one-piece suit. And there was no way I was wearing it there…so I hoped it would fit.
So we’ll start with the Sport Tail Bag. Amazingly, after about 20 minutes of trying, I fit a size 42 (USA) one-piece Teknic suit into the tail bag. I also had some room (about a millimeter) for a pair of Shift Vertex gloves. While expanded, the tail bag has room for 18 liters, measuring 8.5”H x 19”W x 13”L (unexpanded: 8.5”H x 15”W x 13”L, 16 liters).
The tail bag, available in black, red or blue, is constructed of durable 1680 Denier ballistic nylon with a soft tri-cot interior lining. The top flap makes for easy loading, and like Cortech tank bags, the flap contains an internal organizer compartment for loading little things, such as insurance/registration documents, some Advil and a cell phone.
Also included is a Jacquard shoulder strap, some Scotchlite 3M reflective striping and logo so others can notice you easier, and a rain cover. Regarding the rain cover, I almost lost mine doing 80 mph on Route 29 in Virginia…luckily I noticed it flapping in my left mirror, grabbed it, and stuck it between my legs until the next fill up. Point? Make sure to really tighten the string on the cover before taking off.
The tail bag can be used alone with built-in bungee cords, or they store away when the quick-release buckles are used for the easy attachment to the Cortech Sport Saddlebags.
And these saddlebags fit my ’98 VFR as if Honda built them specifically for the sport tourer. They fit best while the cowl that covers the back seat is used (see pictures), with ample room above the exhaust pipe; but for bikes where the Sport Saddlebags would be closer to the exhaust, a protective heat shield is located on the lower sections of both bags to help prevent pipe burn (Cortech requires a minimum of 2” clearance).
As for your bike’s paint being protected, the bags, also built of 1680 Denier ballistic nylon, feature Neoprene straps on top that attach the two bags above the rear seat, or as in my case the cowl, and also side pads to protect your tail.
Talk about room...when expanded, the bags carry 17 liters (8.5 per side), and measure 12”H x 15”W x 7”D, and also feature a zippered side pocket able to hold the supplied rain covers, maps, phone chargers or a few bottles of water. I fit my UnderArmor, a thicker shirt, five each of T-shirts, socks and boxers on one side, and my bag of toiletries, a pair of Sketcher sneakers, a First Gear Rainsuit, a helmet camera and some spare eye glasses in the left bag.
What was nice, also, was the quick-release mounting system for attaching the saddlebags to the bike. When I got to the hotel room, all I had to do was unclasp the four straps for the quick-mounting system, leave the tail bag attached, and bring them inside as one unit. The Sport Saddlebags also feature a Scotchlite 3M Reflective Cortech logo and striping, have internal support panels, and have convenient carrying handles. Like the tail bag, they’re also available in black, red or blue.
The Super Mini Tank Bag has become my favorite, due to a slim size of 10”L x 8”W x 5”H, and 6.5 liters of space. This was perfect for the cell phone, a Coolpix digital camera, some notepads and pens, and a few other necessities. And while at the hotel, I emptied it and visited a few liquor stores…two regular-sized 750ml bottles of Shiraz will fit with the pouring end sticking out. The zippers tightened around it, and the magnets holding the tank bag down were powerful enough to keep the bag settled on the sharpest of turns.
Made of 1680D ballistic nylon, the Super Mini Tank Bag features a protective non-slip/non-scratch mounting base, and a Clear-Vu snap map pocket (although you may have to be a folding artist to stuff in bigger maps).
I ran these bags through five-hours of sustained rain, and a few snowflakes on the way home from my trip down to VIR, and when I returned home everything contained within remained dry. This ability to keep items dry, along with the quick mounting/releasing and attractive styling make for a set of bags I’ll have for a lifetime.
And on trips without the need to carry a full leather track suit, the tail bag will be the perfect location for a laptop, some additional camera equipment, and more than two bottles of vino that’s needed after a few hundred miles on the road.
The Cortech Sport Tail Bag retails for $62.99, the Sport Saddlebags for $116.99 and the Super Mini Tank Bag (magnetic) for $62.99.
