Rally Recommends

THE SHORT AND SWEET

1. Why I Have This Bag: Viking reached out to me with an offer to check out one of their backpacks. I have used some of their products before. In fact I had a tool roll of theirs that I unfortunately lost on a previous trip :(. 

2. Where I Tested It: I used this bag in a few different conditions to see what would work best, and honestly, the fact that it didn’t really fit in any of them is where it kind of makes its mark. I was on my Yamaha Tenere 700 on the road in mixed weather, and I also threw it in the back of my truck and let it roll around with all of my other gear. Read on for more detail about that.

3. What Stood Out: Attachment points and straps - Ammo clip style pockets on exterior are great for misc storage like sunglasses, lipbalm, batteries, cigars.

4. What Could Be Better: Shoulder straps for the backpack. Edge finishes are a bit rough. Water resistant vs water proofing. 

5. Who/What I Think It’s For: It is your ‘Truck Gun’ of bags. It’s not going to be your premium bag, but it is going to be the one you just throw around. It is going to be the one you can use for groceries, camping, date night, or hauling drinks to the favorite spot with your cousin like I did - Read on for more detail

6. Would I buy it again: I feel like this is one of those kinds of bags that you might forget you purchased, use it so much for random stuff. Then put it on the shelf when you go do your big expedition stuff and forget about it. You wouldn’t know it had gone missing till you were looking for that good general bag you didn’t care about getting dirty. I have a few of those.

Full Review:

I have my expedition gear for when I do my big trips, and then I have some gear for when I just want to go down the road with my cousin and make some drinks and smoke some cigars with a great view. Not every piece of motorcycle gear needs to be the most premium option on the market. Sometimes you simply need equipment that does its job reliably, fits your style of riding, and leaves enough room in the budget for the next adventure.

I also realize that my use case for a bag like this is completely different than perhaps what it was intended for, so perhaps you might get something useful out of this review. This bag was designed for cafe racer style bikes, and I definitely do not have any of those. One might argue that those kind of riders tend to do 'nice clean activities' at 'nice clean cafes' with 'nice clean coffee cups'. Where as I am riding adventure bikes and dual sport bikes, and mixed off road, and often times walking around barefoot, hiking deep into the woods and drinking from wild rivers. We do things a little different here :) Doesn't mean I can't use a bag like this!

One comparison that kept coming to mind while I was using this Viking bag: it's the ‘truck gun’ of motorcycle luggage. For those unfamiliar with the term, a truck gun isn't someone's prized collector's firearm. It's the dependable one that lives in the truck because it's there to be used. It might get dusty, scratched, bounced around, and exposed to the elements, but that's exactly what it's built for. It's practical, reliable, and ready when you need it. It is not something you're afraid to put to work.

That's the role this Viking bag filled for me.

It isn't trying to be the most premium luggage on the market, and I don't think it needs to be. Instead, it delivers the kind of functionality that encourages you to throw your gear inside, head down the road, and not spend the entire trip worrying about every scratch or scuff. 

There's something refreshing about gear that invites use instead of caution. Not every rider needs an expedition-grade luggage system that costs as much as a used dirt bike. Sometimes you just need a bag that carries what you need, mounts securely, and lets you focus on the ride instead of the equipment.

To me, that's where this bag came in handy. I have my premium rackless soft panniers for when I am doing my long distance expeditions or Backcountry Discovery Routes. I also have my hard panniers for getting around town or general use. Sometimes though, I want a backpack, or something I can throw my shoes in and take off the bike and carry with me. Sometimes I forget that the best gear in the garage isn't always the most expensive gear. Often, it's the gear you don't hesitate to use. If a bag gets covered in dust, rained on, tossed into camp, and still keeps showing up for the next ride, it's earned its place on the bike. 

First I tested it with a ride on the Yamaha Tenere 700 from my home to Seattle along the interstate (approximately 2 hours). It was mixed weather and I rode with it wearing it as a backpack.

I then tried strapping it to the tail tidy of the Tenere with it full of groceries. This backpack does contain buckles and straps for attaching to sissy bars for cafe racer style bikes, and I was able to use some of them to clip to the tail tidy.

**I still used my personal spare ROK-straps just in case, lest I potentially lose that evenings dinner with a bag I had never used before. The buckles seemed to not be an issue, so the ROK-straps were probably not necessary.

On one of my dawn swims I shoved my towel and some extra gear into the bag just to feel the weight of it. I tried to strap it on the back of the DRZ 400 and gave up because I wanted to get to the water before sunrise, eventually wearing it as a backpack. Perhaps it was because of my own clumsiness afterwards, and the wet towel in the bag, along with the general feeling of my bike (I am trouble shooting a potentially bad rear wheel bearing) but the bag felt clunky and big after the swim. Everything about that ride felt off so I am not going to fault the bag, lets fault myself on this one.

The last use was to throw a blanket and a bunch of ingredients to make old-fashioned's and a handful of cigars into the bag, and throw it in the back of my truck and ride to a favorite spot with my cousin to hang out and chat about life. It performed absolutely admirably as this, and I didn't even care about tossing it down on the ground. All the dirt, dust, moss, and random bits of grass easily brushed off after. Even the dirt and grass that was on my shoes that went into the bag later on. It was easy to clean out the bag and get everything out.

Features I personally liked:  The laptop sleeve inside compartment and the one in the back feel like they kept the electronics protected. Also I really appreciated the shoe compartment later when my hiking shoes were dirty and covered in grass and seeds. The price on this bag is kind of hard to beat, it is right in the that price range of bags that sits nicely in the "I can kind of forget about it, and not worry about damaging it, giving it away, losing it, or needing to replace it, but it is more durable and versatile than say a Jansport backpack" range. That has to be the biggest advantage for me and will keep it as a solid contender in the garage.

The Downsides for me were the shoulder straps did not lend to wearing it as a backpack very well for an extended ride. I had it on for about 2 hours and it was uncomfortable with my jacket by the end of the ride. I was riding on my Yamaha Tenere 700 in mixed traffic with light rain, and while it generally kept most of the contents inside the bag dry, the outer layers retained the moisture. They eventually dried out in the sunshine, but had it been more than a mere sprinkling, I would have had to pull over and really had to stop and double check all of my gear. I didn't expect the bag to be waterproof, so, maybe this isn't fair.

The edges of the fabric are a bit sharp, rough and angular for my personal taste. This is a personal preference and doesn't really have any impact on function.

The buckles and attachments could use an upgrade, but again, this is not premium luggage, so.... perhaps this is also my own personal preference. I am hard on gear, and I have broken so many buckles like these on gear that I actually have containers of them in my gear box in my garage for easy repairs. I fully expect to be replacing at least one or two of these at some point.