SW-Motech PRO Tank Bags

[shanekingsley]

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I accidentally bought the PRO ring for my bike istead of the EVO ring... so anyone here have one of these?

I am thinking about getting this one and am curious if anyone has tried these new designs out.
I like that they can slide forward or back to fit the bike or rider a bit better.

SW-Motech Pro Daypack Tank Bag (5-8L)

SW-Motech Pro Daypack Tank Bag (5-8L)

www.gpbikes.com

 

[Lightcycle]

I've installed the Pro tank ring on both Beemers.

I think they're great. SW Motech offers a wide variety of sizes of tank bags, and all of them fit the same tank ring. We're both running the smallest Micro tank bag, but you can interchange it for any size SW Motech Pro tank bag and the new magnetic guide makes it a snap (literally) to put on and pull off. All without the bag touching the bike's tank and paint.

Only two drawbacks I can think of are:

1) most of the tank bags in the Pro range are not waterproof. The only model that is waterproof-rated is the Pro Yukon, but it's fairly large (6L compared to our 3L Micros). That said, I've ridden in light rain with the Micro, and while the outside material may get waterlogged, it would take a pretty big downpour for it to soak through and get the inside wet. It may not be 100% waterproof, but it's water-resistant enough.

The Pro tank bags do come with a little elasticized shower cap that you can pull over them when it starts raining, but I'm used to 100% waterproof bags, so this seems like a bit of an extra hassle. Another solution is to keep your water-susceptible items inside a ziplock or small dry sack inside the tank bag and just let the outside material get waterlogged and not worry about shower caps.

2) SW Motech warns riders not to use the Pro tank ring and bags if you're riding off-road in very dusty or sandy conditions. The locking mechanism may get gummed up with the sand/dust and you may not be able to get the tank bag off. Obviously, cleaning it with a good spray of water (all over your non-waterproof bag?) helps loosen the mechanism, but if you're on a trip and need gas and don't have a pressure washer...

However, I think this gumming up problem is not unique to the Pro tank ring/bags. I feel like any of the quick release tank bags will have the same issue, regardless of model or brand. And if you're just doing a lot of gravel roads and not riding *right* behind someone who likes to roost up a cloud of dust and sand behind them, then it shouldn't be a big problem.

Or just take the tank bag off if you're planning to go dune-bashing.

 

[mimico_polak]

Always considered a tank bag with a ring. I just have the magnetic OXFORD one but the ring may be a better option.

 

[shanekingsley]

I've installed the Pro tank ring on both Beemers.

I think they're great. SW Motech offers a wide variety of sizes of tank bags, and all of them fit the same tank ring. We're both running the smallest Micro tank bag, but you can interchange it for any size SW Motech Pro tank bag and the new magnetic guide makes it a snap (literally) to put on and pull off. All without the bag touching the bike's tank and paint.

Only two drawbacks I can think of are:

1) most of the tank bags in the Pro range are not waterproof. The only model that is waterproof-rated is the Pro Yukon, but it's fairly large (6L compared to our 3L Micros). That said, I've ridden in light rain with the Micro, and while the outside material may get waterlogged, it would take a pretty big downpour for it to soak through and get the inside wet. It may not be 100% waterproof, but it's water-resistant enough.

The Pro tank bags do come with a little elasticized shower cap that you can pull over them when it starts raining, but I'm used to 100% waterproof bags, so this seems like a bit of an extra hassle. Another solution is to keep your water-susceptible items inside a ziplock or small dry sack inside the tank bag and just let the outside material get waterlogged and not worry about shower caps.

2) SW Motech warns riders not to use the Pro tank ring and bags if you're riding off-road in very dusty or sandy conditions. The locking mechanism may get gummed up with the sand/dust and you may not be able to get the tank bag off. Obviously, cleaning it with a good spray of water (all over your non-waterproof bag?) helps loosen the mechanism, but if you're on a trip and need gas and don't have a pressure washer...

However, I think this gumming up problem is not unique to the Pro tank ring/bags. I feel like any of the quick release tank bags will have the same issue, regardless of model or brand. And if you're just doing a lot of gravel roads and not riding *right* behind someone who likes to roost up a cloud of dust and sand behind them, then it shouldn't be a big problem.

Or just take the tank bag off if you're planning to go dune-bashing.

Thank you sir!

That was great information. I was also looking at the Yukon for that waterproof exterior, but it just looks so boxy and clunky that I'm not so sure. I also prefer the bags that can zip open to increase the storage like the one you have or the one I posted up too. My recent tank bags are the smaller Givi ST611 and the SW-Motech EVO City bag. I liked them both, but also disliked them both for different reasons. I gave the Givi away and still have the EVO city bag for the V-Strom.

Does the elasticized shower cap attached and get tucked away into it's own zippered pocket, or is it a loose item?

I'm just ordered the PRO Daypack one above and hope I like it. It will be pavement only, so shouldn't be an issue with the dirt/grit.

Thanks again.

 

[robertv19]

Always considered a tank bag with a ring. I just have the magnetic OXFORD one but the ring may be a better option.

I've had one before and they are awesome.
I think the newer ones use a magnetic connection between the ring and the bag. The older versions required you to choose where you wanted the ring to connect and drill out small holes in the underside of the bag for the ring connector piece.

 

[shanekingsley]

Years ago I used to have ones that were either magnetic or connected by straps, but without fail some grit would get caught under a strap or under the magnets and my tank or fairings would get scratched. Now it's tank ring tankbags for me only.

 

[danp]

I think the Pro range replaced the Evo range in 2020. I'm probably gonna buy one for my new bike. A bit on the expensive side but very good quality and well thought out. I haven't used a sw motech tank bag before but I have their side carrier and pannier set for my KTM and it's good stuff.

Here's a review of the pro tank bags:

 

[robertv19]

Years ago I used to have ones that were either magnetic or connected by straps, but without fail some grit would get caught under a strap or under the magnets and my tank or fairings would get scratched. Now it's tank ring tankbags for me only.

Agreed - the only way to fly now. Other manufacturers have copied this approach as well. Motech's gear is top quality all around.
I miss the days when A Vicious Cycle was located in New Dundee - they were a satellite shop for Twisted Throttle and it was on my drive home from work. I bought a lot of Motech stuff from them. They became Twisted Throttle Canada, closed the New Dindee location and now I don't think they even exist as a web entity any longer. Seems Twisted Throttle is US based fully now. :-(

 

[shanekingsley]

Agreed - the only way to fly now. Other manufacturers have copied this approach as well. Motech's gear is top quality all around.
I miss the days when A Vicious Cycle was located in New Dundee - they were a satellite shop for Twisted Throttle and it was on my drive home from work. I bought a lot of Motech stuff from them. They became Twisted Throttle Canada, closed the New Dindee location and now I don't think they even exist as a web entity any longer. Seems Twisted Throttle is US based fully now. :-(

I used to like that shop too. I had a KLR at the time and Eric from AVC had lots of cool stuff for the KLR's.

 

[mimico_polak]

Years ago I used to have ones that were either magnetic or connected by straps, but without fail some grit would get caught under a strap or under the magnets and my tank or fairings would get scratched. Now it's tank ring tankbags for me only.

My OXFORD bag caught a paperclip once...didn't notice until a few days later when I saw scratches on the tank. I double check each time now.

 

[Lightcycle]

Does the elasticized shower cap attached and get tucked away into it's own zippered pocket, or is it a loose item?

Just loose. I've already lost one of them...

The Micro comes with a zippered pouch on the inside, I think most of the Pro tank bags also come with one. I suppose I could have tucked the shower cap inside that. Oh well.

 

[Gary]

Years ago I used to have ones that were either magnetic or connected by straps, but without fail some grit would get caught under a strap or under the magnets and my tank or fairings would get scratched. Now it's tank ring tankbags for me only.

Ditto. When I used the magnetic stick on bags, (always bought Oxford) I'd use a layer of kitchen cupboard liner between the bag and tank. No scratches. Been using a Givi no touch on the fjr. Will definitely have one on the next bike.

 

[Lightcycle]

I think the newer ones use a magnetic connection between the ring and the bag. The older versions required you to choose where you wanted the ring to connect and drill out small holes in the underside of the bag for the ring connector piece.

Correct, the magnetic ring connector on the bottom of the Pro tank bags comes pre-installed on sliding rails. IIRC, it's only one or two screws to adjust the position of the connector to fit your bike. This makes it possible to move the same Pro tank bag across different bikes. It's very easy to change the position of the tank bag to adapt to the new bike for comfort or so that it clears your body or handlebars.

 

[timtune]

Hundred year old tecnic magnetic tank bag here. But on the upside my KLX has EFI, so I'm not a complete ludite.

 

[MHY]

I have the GIVI Tanklocked bag. It also has the ring system, it is not magnetic like the SW-Motech, but it is really easy to put on and take off, don't think a magnet to line it up would make much of a difference. I considered the a SW- Motech bag and went with Givi, much less costly, from what I recall. I think both are good options.

Givi is also "water resistant" what I did was sprayed it with the silicon tent seal spray that campers use. That helped somewhat, zipper is still an entry point for water. It also comes with a rain cap.

 

[ReSTored]

I have the GIVI Tanklocked bag. It also has the ring system, it is not magnetic like the SW-Motech, but it is really easy to put on and take off, don't think a magnet to line it up would make much of a difference. I considered the a SW- Motech bag and went with Givi, much less costly, from what I recall. I think both are good options.

Givi is also "water resistant" what I did was sprayed it with the silicon tent seal spray that campers use. That helped somewhat, zipper is still an entry point for water. It also comes with a rain cap.

I have the GIVI system as well on my Tracer, 15, expandable to 18L size. Purchased it vs. SW-Motech as above, similar design, but much less expensive.

I did use a magnetic tank bag for a few months, but I noticed that in rainy weather every time I removed the bag to fill up with gas or at the end of the day I had to clean the tank and the bag pads as there was a buildup of abrasive road grit everywhere. As the GIVI bag doesn't touch the tank this is not an issue.

 

[shanekingsley]

The tankbag arrived today from GP bikes. It's a nice bag and is the Daypack model, which ranges between 5-8L.
I know that my old Givi bag sat a bit too far forward and so I couldn't do a full lock turn without the bars hitting the bag, and even worse was doing a tight left u-turn meant the horn would hit the bag. With this bag I could quickly adjust exactly where I want it to be on this bike so I can do the turns no problem. There are 6 thick elastic straps on the inside of the bag, so I slipped the rain liner in there to keep it from getting lost. The one advantage that the Givi had was that it had a smoother and harder exterior shell, so it wouldn't leak during heavy rain.

Overall it's a nice bag. It's not that much more $ than a comparable Givi either. I was a little nervous that it would be too big, but the size is nice too and doesn't look too out of place on the bike.

 

[danp]

I just bought the Pro City, very nice bag and fits the shape of my tank perfectly. My concern is, if the mechanism fails to operate, there is no way to open the tank, so how would you fuel up? You'd be stranded. There is no way to access the screws to remove it from the top.

 

[Gary]

I just bought the Pro City, very nice bag and fits the shape of my tank perfectly. My concern is, if the mechanism fails to operate, there is no way to open the tank, so how would you fuel up? You'd be stranded. There is no way to access the screws to remove it from the top.

Bust out the Swiss Army knife that you keep in the tank bag, and start cutting.

 

[EX500R2001]

I just bought the Pro City, very nice bag and fits the shape of my tank perfectly. My concern is, if the mechanism fails to operate, there is no way to open the tank, so how would you fuel up? You'd be stranded. There is no way to access the screws to remove it from the top.

Valid point, but I've been using SW-MOTECH tank bags for over a decade (first gen, EVO, Pro) on all my bikes and this never happened to me. That would be the last thing to break on the bike I'd worry about.

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