许多乘客方便携带小物品时y ride. Whether it is a phone, maps, food, wallet, house keys, there’s almost always something you want to bring along. Stuffing them in your pockets is usually possible, but it is not always the most convenient and comfortable carry method. So, how can you keep those items within easy reach when you want them?

Tank bag solution

For many motorcyclists, tank bags are a convenient way to carry small items with easy access, and I usually have one mounted on my bike. But they can be bulky and make refueling more time-consuming and bothersome. Still, they hold all the stuff I want to carry, and many are waterproof, so my chosen storage solution has usually been a tank bag.

自行车包

However, I recently saw a small advertisement for a bicycle bag on one of my social media feeds. The bag is mounted directly to a bicycle’s tubular handlebars. And it made me wonder whether the bicycle bag would work as a smaller alternative to the tank bag.

I contacted the bag’s designer and asked if the bag would fit onto a motorcycle. He said that he didn’t know whether it would work but would send me a bag for free to try to fit and test.

Bag materials and construction

When the bag arrived, it seemed well made and of good quality. With dimensions of 8.5 in. x 4 in. x 4 in, it doesn’t take up much space but still offers a decent amount of storage, all for a 4-ounce weight add.

The bag is made of polyester and uses what appears to be a waterproof zipper design. It is made up of both exterior and interior layers. Between those two layers is a material that provides some padding but is more designed around helping the bag keep its tubular shape when filled.

The bag’s interior sports a layer of high visibility orange rip-stop-like material that helps you more easily see the items stored inside. There’s also a single mesh pocket that provides two separate interior compartments. The mesh compartment easily fits and holds an object about the size of most smartphones and other small items.

On the exterior of the bag, there are two strips of reflective material that encircle the bag. However, depending on how the bag is attached to your motorcycle, it may or may not be visible to traffic (remember, this bag is designed for bicycles). Both sides of the bag have mesh pockets that can hold very small items.

Attaching the bag

To attach the bag, you use two straps that you pass through a locking “plastic” buckle. A separate adjustable elastic strap acts as an additional line of defense should one of the other straps become undone. The attachment system is simple and easy. However, as with anything you attach to or near your handlebars, you need to ensure that it doesn’t interfere with the full range of motion to the bike’s handlebars or anything near them. If there’s even a slight issue, this bag won’t work for that particular bike.

Performance

When the bag arrived, my wife, Kim, immediately latched onto it, saying it would be great for carrying her small items and making them readily available. And since we were soon leaving on a multi-week trip across Canada, she wanted it mounted on her Ducati Scrambler. I obliged.

Once mounted on the bike, Kim set about putting her daily items inside with various small items. Ultimately, the bag was nearly full for the duration of the trip. She liked the mesh pocket for holding those things she wanted to get to quickly.

The bag’s zipper worked well and opened and closed easily. During our travels, we rode a fair amount of gravel and dirt roads in dry and wet conditions. We also did a fair amount of off-roading in the rain due to road construction with lots of water-filled potholes and mud. Despite this, the zipper never jammed, even when the bag was wet or covered with dust and mud.

However, many days of rain riding proved that the bag was not waterproof. Whether the water entered through the bag material, the zipper, or both, some of the bag’s contents did get wet. That said, the bag is not advertised as waterproof, only water-resistant.

When we returned from our trip, I contacted Altitude Brands and told them about the leakage. They confirmed that the bag was not made to be waterproof, but with our suggestion, they would look into making a waterproof version.

Pros

• Small but can hold several items
• Easy access to bag contents
• Attaches securely
• Lightweight
• Smooth working zipper
• 如果它不适合你r bike, returns are free.
• If you have a pedal bike, it can be quickly removed from the motorcycle and used on your bicycle.

Cons

• Not waterproof
• May not fit some motorcycles (particularly if you have clip on type bars).
• Reflective striping may not be visible

Summary:

When our 6,000-mile, multi-week journey was over, we came away impressed with the little bag. It held everything securely and provided quick access to the items inside. Of course, a waterproof version would make this bag better suited for motorcycles. But if you don’t often ride in the rain or don’t care that the contents inside may get wet (e.g., tire tube, tire irons, etc.), this bag provides a reasonably priced, good way to carry your small items.

TheAltitude Brands Bike Handlebar Bagis available on Amazon for $27.99 and comes in Black, Navy, and Green.

NOTE: Altitude Brands provided the bag reviewed in this article free.