| Author | Message | ||
     Fmaxwell |
Buell XB Tank Bag Review: Tank Bag and Deluxe Tank Bag (Yes, they are really airbox cover bags, but Buell still calls them tank bags.) Availability After driving to half a dozen HD/Buell dealers, I finally found one that carried some of the Buell luggage in stock: Frederick Harley Davidson/Buell in Frederick, MD. Why are Buell accessories so hard to find in stock? If you want a pair of chrome-plated, miniature metal skulls with light-up LED eyes for your Harley's tire valve stems, they are hanging on the wall. But if you want something as basic as a tank bag for a Buell, from most dealers, it's a non-returnable special order that you have to buy sight unseen. Every time I went to a dealer that did not have the tank bags, I gave them hell and I encourage you all to do the same. It's one thing for a dealer not to stock some seldom-replaced, model-specific part, but they should stock basic accessories like tank bags, tail bags, etc., that fit a wide range of models. Overview of Buell Tank Bags Buell sells two tank bags for the XB series: The Tank Bag (91213-04YA) and the Deluxe Tank Bag (92330-06Y). Both feature molded, UV and weather resistant polyester construction with waterproof zippers. They have semi-rigid bodies to maintain shape empty or full. Each bag can expand up to a claimed 4" for extra carrying capacity (see below). Each includes a see-through map holder and extra removable (snaps) storage pocket with pass-through for wiring (think headphones). Each bag uses a quick-release mounting system and includes a rain cover and shoulder strap. The weatherproof zippers, while useful for keeping the contents of the bags dry, are stiff and not at all smooth in operation. If you're used to the kind of high-quality zippers found on bags from companies like Marsee, these will take a bit of getting used to. The mounting system is fairly simple, with short straps ending in quick-release buckles being attached to the airbox cover via screws. What is confusing is what hardware (stock or as supplied with bag) to use with non-translucent airbox covers vs. translucent covers -- or why there is a difference anyway. For my Sunset Orange (non-translucent) cover, I used the factory hardware for mounting the straps and it seemed to work fine. I would have preferred to see a system that put large snaps at the front so that the straps could be removed completely when riding without the tank bag -- especially since the only things that keep the buckles from scratching the airbox cover are attached to the bags. It's unfortunate that Buell elected to include a shoulder straps rather than backpack straps. Had the bags included backpack straps, the owner could have chosen to ride with the bag in backpack mode for convenience (think quick hop between a store and a restaurant). Not many riders will choose to carry the bag in "purse mode" while riding -- and that is probably a good thing from a safety perspective. If you're looking for a cavernous tank bag into which you could put something as large as a change of clothes, these bags will not be your cup of tea. They are, simply put, petite. That is partially necessitated by the rather small size of the Buell airbox cover. It's not like the acreage of steel that one used to face when looking at the gas tank of a "standard" motorcycle in the 1980s. It is also a matter of trading style vs. practicality. While there are the people with milk crates strapped to motorcycle racks, most of us would not consider doing that -- no matter how practical.  Tank Bag (91213-04YA) MSRP: $109.95 This bag is an attractive slate gray color that nicely matches the frame of the XB12 series. This Chinese-made bag includes the blue Buell "American Motorcycles" logo on the top of the bag above the map pocket. The interior is wide open and has a hard floor so that carried objects don't endanger the airbox cover. The base of the bag has foam with a grippy, rubbery surface to keep the bag from moving about on the tank. It works well. The detachable map pocket is small. It's not going to fit a full-sized map very well. Unfortunately, the supplied rain cover includes a clear plastic top so that you do not lose sight of any tiny map that you may have in the map pocket. The problem with this is that it makes it hard to fold and store, making it likely that the clear plastic will end up creased. I wish that Buell had elected to just use a conventional rain cover. WARNING: This bag does not expand 4" as claimed in Buell's advertising. It expands 2". This is a basic truth-in-advertising issue. When you unzip the expansion zipper, the bag gets only 2" taller. While that might be adequate for many users, it's only half of the expansion promised by Buell. Given that many users are buying the bags sight-unseen, this needs to be corrected so that the bag matches the description. Even with just a 2" expansion, the expanded bag obscures visibility to the lower portion of the instrument cluster for this 6'2" rider. Shorter riders should carefully evaluate whether, in their normal riding position, that they can see all warning lights and instruments with this bag in place.  Deluxe Tank Bag (92330-06Y) MSRP: $142.95 This bag features movable dividers that attach via hook and loop. If you're a photographer, you're probably very familiar with these from camera cases. It also includes pockets on the outside. Like the standard tank bag, it is a semi-hard bag with walls that have stiffeners in them to make the bag retain its shape. The construction quality seemed very good but the fabric and design were uninspired. The Buell logo, so attractively displayed on the top of the standard tank bag, was missing from the top of this one. The fabric was just a basic black cloth. For my tastes, this bag was too "busy" with all of the dividers and baggy external pockets. If you have a specific set of small items that you want to carry, then the ability to custom-tailor the dividers might make this the bag for you, but if you just want a an open bag in which to carry random stuff, you may be better served with the standard Buell tank bag. Note: Because I did not purchase this bag, I cannot say, with certainty, whether it expands to the promised 4". If that's important to you, then make sure that you check before buying it. | ||
| Tdiddy |
I have the smaller bag and I love it!! I can fit my day planner, 2 cell phones, wallet, lunch and dinner. (I work a 12 hour shift. It really steady when you keep the weight below 10 lbs. I had about 15 lbs in mine for about 100 miles and the bag kept shifting, which scrached the air box cover a little bit. I was loaded up with water and the road's were really twisty. If or when this bag takes a crap, I'll be buying another. | ||
| Fmaxwell |
I have the smaller bag and I love it!! I have the smaller bag and I like it, but it is not without flaws (as mentioned in my review). I don't like the clear plastic that makes the raincover hard to fold and stow. I don't like being told that it expands 4" and finding that it expands 2". I don't like a map pocket that's too small for any standard map. I don't like the a quick-release that requires that I screw straps and buckles on the front of the tank. I don't like that there is no backpack mode. And the bag is petite. I cannot wear riding boots and toss a pair of sneakers into the bag. I can't buy a magazine and put it into the bag. I can put my cell phone into it, but why would I when I have a case for the phone that clips onto my belt? My Eclipse tank bag that I have been using on my Suzuki Bandit 1200S is strap mount. The straps don't have to be screwed to the bike. It has lots of room. You could get backpack straps for it. The map pocket is full-size. The rain cover compacts nicely to store inside. And it expands the amount that it is advertised to expand. That was my basis for comparison. | ||
| Snowhownd |
Thanks for the writeup Max. Anyone have experience owning the bigger bag? I would like to have a tank bag, and I figure if I'm gonna spend $100, I mind as well get the bigger one and spend $135. | ||
| Mikemax |
I have the small bag and it is acceptable. Availability was definitely an issue a year ago, it took even the illustrious DaveS quite awhile to get one from the factory for me (he had just run out). The attachment system could be better, it is a pain to reach one of the front buckles once you have locked the handlebars at a gas station for a fill up; one in front two in back would be better. Quality is OK; after a year the soft protective strips on the bottom of the rubber pads are just about off on both sides. No matter how hard I pull on the straps to tighten, the bag seems to mount loose enough to drift around while riding. I CAN get a change of clothes in mine and have only had to expand it when overloading on long trips. Overall, not great but not bad, and it is handy to have. | ||
| Jaimec |
No mention of the rain cover? Let me add my observation: The rain cover seems to be designed for the full four inches of expansion. As noted above, the tankbag only expands two inches. There is no facility to shorten the rain cover if the tankbag itself is not fully expanded. If you install the raincover on the bag in its smaller configuration, after a short ride air pressure will cause the rain cover to swell up and rise to its full height. This results in it flapping about in a VERY distracting manner. As noted, even when fully expanded there will still be two inches of dead space, but at least the flapping doesn't get distracting. It does make it impossible to read any map or route directions you have in the map case, though. After a prolonged ride in the rain with the rain cover in place, the items in the tankbag still got wet. My advice? Forget the rain cover. Put everything you want in a plastic bag and then put that inside the tankbag. You'll be better off. | ||
| Lastcyclone |
I bought the Delux this time, I had the other one previously. I'd say it is worth the extra $. The side pockets come in handy every trip and I think the black goes better with the bikes than the gray. The zippers seems more sturdy on the Delux as well. Most dealers don't carry much in the way of Buell accessories etc. Just order one from Andy for the 15% discount. He can probably ship it right out. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
I have the smaller of the two and am 5-8". I've ridden with the bag expanded several times and have never had a problem seeing ahead of me or my gauges. I've stopped using it now I added saddle bags and a caron fiber cover. Buell needs to find a way to enable locking on all their tank and saddle bags. | ||
| Towjam |
Thanks for the review. This verifies what I already suspected... I'm a "shorter" rider (5'6" on a good day) and I've yet to find a tank bag - for any bike, that I was comfortable with. I'd give my left nut to see Corbin come out with a smuggler trunk for the Firebolt. | ||
| Paint_shaker |
I have one of the "old skool" Buell tank bags (BUELL in big letters on the side). I believe it is the first version available for the XB, but I have modified the straps so it fits my tuber. It has faded some, but I sure can stuff a lot of crap in that thing!!! | ||
| Dutchboy |
I have the larger (deluxe) bag. The dealership had it and a set of the saddlebags when I bought my CityX (and that was pretty much the extent of their stock of Buell accessories...) and I rode home (120 miles in the rain) with them on the bike. I like the bag. It doesn't interfere with my view or access to the grips. It has reasonable capacity. It is semi-rigid, so it doesn't collapse or flop to one side when it isn't full. Occasionally one of the tabs that holds on the detachable pockets rotates to the 'open' position, but it doesn't seem to cause any problems. The colors work nicely with the CityX color scheme (Kickash black), saddlebags and Streetfighter seat. I just checked the expansion and it appears to only be (ahem) 2" | ||
| Teddagreek |
I just measured my tank bag and getting a little over 2 1/2inches.. I've ridden my bike During a tropical storm and and cover works great every thing is dry.. It is a bit long but I tuck the excess under the bag.. The bag by its self is kinda water proof for a while.. After a little wear and tear in a heavy rain it soaks up water like a sponge. |
