Intro
I have used several tank bags in the past because that is the only sort of luggage you would need for a 1-2 days long ride. In fact, I’ve used the Rynox Magnapod, Optimus, and Navigator on a range of motorcycles. The Navigator intrigued me the most, and I ended up calling up Rynox for this bag, but they also sent the tail bag.
Things I liked
Of all the tank bags available in the market, the Rynox Navigator is the best-looking in the entry-level segment. While the credit goes to that black and neon green colour scheme, a lot has to do with the overall aesthetics of the bag and the robust construction.
This bag is purpose-built for ADVs, so the folks at Rynox used Cordura to construct the outer shell. This material is usually seen in equipment used by the armed forces. The use of Cordura has allowed the bag to have a solid shape and feel, which I loved. Even after six months of use, the tank bag feels and looks the same as the day I unpacked it.
I’m a big fan of the mounting system. The support harness is super easy to mount on the bike tank. Due to my job, I ride various motorcycles throughout the month, and it barely took me any effort to take it off one bike and install it on the other. With its adjustability, this support harness allowed me to mount and position the tank bag the way I wanted. Plus, this system works so well that the tank bag doesn’t move any bit, even in off-road conditions, and this inspires a lot of confidence to keep your expensive objects like your phone and wallet inside it.
Now, the space inside this bag is perfect. To give you a perspective, I use this bag as my emergency and maintenance bag. It usually has two 250ml chains cleaner and lube, a tyre puncture kit, a pair of extra gloves, a Xiaomi portable air compressor, and a microfibre cloth (to clean the visor); the wallet and phone also go inside occasionally. Then, the zipper storage on both sides is usually used to keep toothbrushes and loose change.
Things I didn’t like
Other than taking a lot of effort to get the dust out of the tank bag, there isn’t anything I haven’t liked yet. I don’t want to nitpick because the bag stays with me for some more months, and now, with the monsoon around the corner, it will be more exposed to harsh weather conditions.
What’s next?
The Rynox Navigator Tank Bag will be going for a few monsoon expeditions. I use the word expeditions because the extreme rains in Maharashtra give us adventures that no other state can, especially near the coastline.
Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi
Gallery
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