Recently, on my road trip west I thought it would be handy to have a map close by since I intended to ride on the roads less travelled. When stopping in unknown territory it is not always convenient to open up your saddlebag or trunk to find a map. Generally, you don’t find a tank bag on a cruiser or touring bike and I thought to myself, why not? No matter what you ride, they are still convenient. I started doing a bit of research and found a Canadian company, Gears, that produces a tank bag that I felt would be suitable for my journey. They not only manufacture tank bags, but all kinds of storage products in many different sizes for motorcycles, ATV’s and snowmobiles. I chose the Classic Utility Tank Bag. It’s made of durable UV treated polyester and the top of the bag has a map holder, the base of the bag was magnetic so it held tight to the tank of my bike, and has a handle for easy removal and carrying with you. Two easy to reach zippered pockets on the sides held gum, Lypsol, earplugs, sunscreen and Tylenol. The main body of the bag itself easily held my camera, extra glasses, a bottle of water, my wallet and there was still plenty of room in it for commonly used items that you take on a long trip. Also inside the main storage of the bag is a mesh zippered pocket, cell phone pocket and key clip. This bag was a valued addition to my two-weeks on the road. The bag comes complete with a rain cover and the overall size is 14” (L) x 9.5” (W) x 5” (H) (Excluding Pockets). www.gearscanada.com

The Classic Utility Tank Bag sells for $49.95 and is a great travel bag.