Evaluations
EVALUATIONS
AMCO TANK BAG
Under some circumstances. a tank bag can be worth its weight in luggage racks.
Tank bags explain themselves. They ride on the fuel tank, in front of the operator and within his view and control at all times, something that proves its worth about the second time your rain suit falls off the rack or your enduro jacket feeds itself to the sprocket. The bag's weight is squarely on the center of the bike, so there's no imbalance. And the bag doesn’t take up any room that would be used by anything else, so the bag can supplement a rack or saddlebags or whatever.
The drawbacks with all this have in the
tank, past been usually based with on fitting enough the straps bag to and the hooks to baffle a parachute packer.
Not so with the Amco bag shown. The webbing network comes in three parts. The forward strap ends in a plastic-sheathed metal hook, which slides under the front seam of the fuel tank. The other two straps route neatly around the filler cap and back to the tank’s rear edge, where they grip w ith their own sheathed hooks (after one raises the seat, of course). Inboard of each hook on each strap is a lift-a-dot fastener peg. The tank has peg holders, all located so that when the straps are in place, you pop the holders over the pegs and presto, the bag is fastened to the tank. Easy. One of our older hands, embittered by struggling with tank bags of the past, refused to even try this job and then, after mockery forced him into it, was almost disappointed in how easy the Amco system is.
The unit shown is the small model, approximately 8 in. high. 9 in. w ide and 12 in. long. The sides and top are flexible and the bottom is rigid and molded, with a relief so the bag fits atop the filler cap. Makes an odd floor but that can be allowed for; pack the smaller or soft items first, then put the large and square stuft' in on that.
Dimensions don’t mean much in themselves. In the touring world, the Amco bag will hold a shaving kit and rain suit, or a cold weather suit and extra gloves, or foul weather gear and a picnic lunch. Tank bags in general range from the small ones like the test unit up to a 36-liter job from Craig Vetter, so large that he won't sell it unless it w ill ride behind a Windjammer fairing for protection. Buyer’s choice.
The Amco bag has a couple extra touches. The lid fastens with a zipper and seals well enough that the homework being carried in the bag through a storm that penetrated a water-resistant suit, good touring boots and a pair of leather gloves inside leather mittens, came out of the bag dry as toast, that is. drier than the rider.
Plus, there are two extra compartments. One is on top of the bag proper and has a clear plastic window. The end flap is closed with velcro and the top space is for maps or instructions, which stay dry and legible and within sight, no hands. Good idea.
The other compartment is a small one. on the bag's rear wall. Also velcro-sealed, this is where you can stow little items, like change for toll booths, credit cards, registration papers.
Don't want to leave valuable papers behind? Fine. The bag quickly unsnaps, as noted. Also on the rear wall is a handle. You can pop the bag off and carry it along, like a tiny suitcase or, if you’re brave enough, a handbag.
The Amco bag has been riding around on the long-term Kawasaki KZ650 for something like six months, now, every day, in all kinds of weather. The vinyl isn't marred, the zipper and velcro tabs still work, the straps are tight and the plastic window hasn't fogged. Even riders whose idea of touring is 200 miles from home and back the same day will find this tank bag worth the money, S36.95.
From Amco dealers, or write the head office, 7425 Fulton Ave., N. Hollywood, Calif. 91605.
KRYPTONITE K-4 WIDE BODY LOCK
Little problem here. The mailman brought us a box containing the oddest motorcycle lock we'd ever seen. Most locks are cables or chains or your everyday padlock affair.
This was something else. A giant U-bolt with a short bar at one end. both pieces covered in plastic. With a key that looked as if it’d come from the U.S. Mint.
The accompanying letter answ ered most of our questions. The lock w as invented by a man who’d lost faith in normal locks. Chains and cables can get cut. So he designed this oversized padlock, of alloy steel hardened to his specifications. Not even bolt cutters with 42-in. arms will hurt the K-4. It can't be filed, sawed or jacked open. And the 7-pin “Ace” cylinder loeking mechanism is about the best on the market.
Fine. How’ one uses the K-4 depends. The best way is to park next to a lamppost or parking meter. Put a w heel against the post and snap the loek around post and rim. Or link the post and the frame. Failing that, the K-4 can go through the spokes and the swing arm. They can’t even get your wheel off.
Now, the problem. The advantage to chain or cable is that they can be wrapped around the taillight or sissy bar or tool bag.
The K-4 doesn't wrap. You can strap it on the back fender, or sling it around the safety strap—at least, a use for that dumb item—or you can work out something.
What’s happened here is, we’ve not yet found a truly good way to carry this lock. The coating means it won’t actually scratch your bike, but unless you have saddlebags or a full fairing with storage pockets, likely there won't be a place for the lock.
Unless you sincerely want to have a lock with you.
It took about a week for us to come down to that. One man w'orks out a place for the lock that suits him, and finds the next man in line for the bike leaves the lock in the shop because he doesn't like the way it looks and he always puts bikes in his garage.
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We’ve had the K-4 for a month. It’s found a home in the saddlebags of the touring-equipped XS750. When that goes home, the lock will sit here, not because it doesn't work but because it requires some serious doubts as to the good intentions of mankind.
The inventor is not pleased with us. “Our product must seem quite radical to one who does not even use a more conventional security device. However, I still believe there is a place in the motorcycle market for a superb lock.”
The K-4 is an excellent lock. Worth its weight in Dobermans. If you own a highrisk bike and are willing to do some creative planning and come up with a convenient way to carry the lock.
Meanwhile, the K-4 comes from KBL Corp., 95 Freeport St., Boston, Mass. 02122. Price is $39.95, shipping included.
