I put this 50-litre all-weather roll bag through its paces on a week-long tour of Europe aboard my Kawasaki ZZR1100 .
It was a two-up trip across France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and a splash of Germany, and I needed something that could comfortably swallow all of our casual clothes, documents, and spare tools – whilst retaining enough space on the pillion seat for my better half.
4.0 Price: £139.99 www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk
Fixed to the bike’s rear-mounted luggage rack via the four supplied buckle straps, a base-mounted security strap, and an additional bungee cord (not included) for a little extra security, it stayed solid and secure for the entire journey whilst also providing a handy backrest for my passenger.
Although sitting in place nicely, it would work better with a slightly bigger rear rack or mounted to a pillion seat (as seen by the KLE500 used in these photos) – but I wouldn’t hesitate to use it again across a wide range of motorcycles.
Opening at the top with a cavernous rolling closure design, the 50-litre capacity was just about big enough to carry everything required without additional luggage (barring a tiny tank bag for the passports) – including a pair of casual shoes each, a small bag of tools, and a can of chain lube .
There are no compartments inside – just a vast opening, which we opted to split down the middle for a fair share of space. I would’ve welcomed a couple of external pockets for small essentials like visor cleaner, ear plugs , and possibly a side stand puck; however, many riders will have additional storage for these elements elsewhere.
Should you be travelling alone, I am confident in saying there would be ample room for clothes, waterproofs, and some smaller camping components if required – with the bag compatible with other luggage in the range to stack securely on top of each other.
Loading and mounting was aided by the removable semi-rigid base inside the bag, with the top then securely shut with a buckle on each side, plus two additional staps running over the top. Opening a valve on the side allows any trapped air to escape when rolling it closed too – giving the contents a solid and secure feeling when fully loaded.
Mounting the bag to the bike is done via four Double D-ring fastening straps that clip into the buckles. These can be pulled tight and then secured quickly thanks to subtle Velcro tabs – although some of the webbing did feel excessively long.
The buckle system also means the bag can be unclipped and removed from the bike quickly too – leaving just the straps in place. Once off the bike, it’s then carried by handles on the front, back, and sides – easy when shared between two people, but a little long and cumbersome when handled on your own. It can also be converted into a backpack if you’d prefer.
Despite the length, it didn’t hamper rear visibility through the ZZR’s mirrors, and the exterior feels rugged, and sturdy – with reflective highlights boosting visibility, too.
Dan is a fully-trained journalist, with a Gold Standard Level 3 Diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists. He has a passion for motorcycles of all capacities, but feels at home aboard a sportsbike. He's been working for MCN in print and digital for the best part of 10 years, with regular contributions to RiDE Magazine on the side.
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