Roadgear Jumbo Sport Tail Bag

Roadgear Jumbo Sport Tail Bag

CW EVALUATIONS

Super-size carry-all

TAILPACKS ARE HANDY ITEMS, WHAT with their user-friendly mounting systems and ability to swallow most anything. Of course, not all strap-on soft luggage deserves five-star status.

JUMBO SPORT TAIL BAG

Roadgear, Inc.

$100

For the record, Roadgear’s Jumbo Sport Tail Bag does.

It’s a simple setup, with a cavernous, top-loading main compartment that’s supplemented by five external stowalls. Heavy-duty hardware, such as YKK zippers with macho plastic pulls and oversize bungee hooks, abounds.

Those huge hooks will gain a foothold on most anything, from cutouts in bodywork to passenger footpegs to subframes. And unlike more common metal gear, they’re not so likely to deface costly paint. Other pluses? Closed-cell foam stiffeners laminated to the 1000-denier cordura shell assure that the pack always keeps its shape. The accordion-style pockets expand to nearly twice their original capacity (one more pair of socks!), then collapse when emptied. There’s even a trio of color schemes: Black, Red/Black or Gray/Black. Off the bike, the quartet of foot-long bungee cords retracts, and a beefy endhandle makes for easy toting. For an extra $6, Roadgear will toss in an adjustable shoulder strap, while an elasticized raincover runs another $15. All said, the Jumbo Sport is a champ. Call it a briefcase for bikers.