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Brief I've been using magnetic tank bags for years on my older style '98 with no ill effects whatsoever. Well, the new bike doesn't have a metal tank so my current magnetic tank bag wouldn't work. Yikes! I tried a buddy's strap type tank bag, but it was too bulky and I didn't like the way it mounted to the bike. I had to run the front straps down around the triples and the bottom strap down under the seat. It made the front of the seat want to lift and the strap scratched up the tank. I wasn't sure what to do, keep trying to get the strapped bag to work, carry a back pack, or just deal with the fact that I won't be able to carry much on the new bike. Overview Well I was so pleased to find that there was an alternative for those metal tank challenged bikes. The company was started up by a rider, like us. Leslie Alderman is simply a rider with a real great idea. It's one thing to come up with a great idea, but Ces has taken his simplistic approach to the plastic tank cover problem to the level of production. Lucky for us, as I wasn't looking forward to the few alternatives that are currently available. Details I've been using the back for a few months now. All in all I'd say that this system works great for the street rider out for a day rider or an overnighter. LuggageLocker (formally know as RocketLocker) is creating a line of bags that not only solve this problem, but do so in a way that makes total sense. ) The bag is a bit small compared to the other bags I have, but fits nicely on the tank, never touching the plastics. Being that the bag is small, it didn't interfere with the more spirited roads. I liked this fact because I loved to be able to let loose a bit even when out on a weekend ride. I was able to get enough in for a long overnight trip including all my electronic charges, music players and chatterbox radio. )
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) The LuggageLocker is very well built, with strong Cordura fabric and zippers that still close even with the bag over stuffed. The bag can be made smaller for shorter day rides or when commuting. Personally, I feel that when he bag is fully packed, hold just enough as to not interferer with my riding position or the controls of the bike. I have other magnetic bag that hold much more, but greatly decrease the ride-ability of the bike we fully stuffed. I think you find the compromise in space will greatly be out weighed by the bags seeming invisible profile when riding. Depending on the make of your bike, filling the tank with the mounting ring locked on the perimeter of the gas cap may be a bit tricky. It takes a little more time to unlock ad remove the bag from the base when filling up. The folding lid of the gas cap may come in contact with the LuggageLocker base and not open fully. This happens on my bike, but it doesn't make it impossible to fill the bike. You just need to angle the nozzle a bit to get the gas into the bike. Not a big problem but worth mentioning here. Another important thing I'd like to mention is that when the bag is on the bike, it is always in the locked position. You will need a key to unlock the bag and fill your tank. If you lose you key while out on a ride, you will not be able to fill the tank. I make sure that I bring the key on every trip. I've also decided to keep the extra key that was provided with the bag in my bike's toolkit which is mounted in the trunk. That way I figure worst case, I'll still be able to pop the trunk and retrieve the spare key and get the bike home no problem. )
) If space is a problem for you, they also make an extension pack for the tank bag as well as some sweet tail bags for the rear seat. the expansion bag zips onto the extension bag, which will make it much taller. Depending on your size and the ergos of the bike, this may hamper your riding ability while fully stuffed. Using a tail bag when riding solo is another option. LuggagerLocker makes a nice system for the rear seat that is also secured to detour anyone just picking it up and walking away with it. Let's wrap things up... I think the LuggageLocker is a great product, and I especially like the fact that the bag itself never touches the paint. I like that the bag is locked on the bike and can't be lifted off the tank by a would be thief. I think the bag could use a few more features like inside pockets to hold mobile phones, music players or maybe a cigar or two but otherwise this system is invaluable to those of us with plastic tank covers on your bikes.
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