I do reviews, from time to time, on some of the gear I use on The Planet Tour but this is going to be a different kind of review. Mainly due to the fact that this product is no longer available for you to buy.
Say what?
Its a tank bag whose only marking is "KG" stamped into the leather flap on the front. I've searched and searched but the KG Tank Bag company, or anything about a KG tank bag no longer exists. I'm not even sure what model it is or where it was made. I did find one on ebay though so they sold a few.
It's the history behind this particular bag as to why I decided to do a product review on it. Call it a posthumous product review
The bag was sponsored in a way.
I had been using a magnetic bag on my old bike, but my new bike's tank is all plastic so I was in search of a replacement. My good friend and riding buddy, James Moore, (creator of Comedy Monday Night ) loaned me his old tank bag while I was without.
This bag had some history.
It was used by James on his solo trip down the west coast over a quarter century ago when he strapped it to his trusty Yamaha 650 Seca along with a small duffle on the back. He used it from Calgary to San Diego plus many other trips.
This same bag was used again on the 25th anniversary of that same epic trip in 2009, a trip I was lucky enough to go on. James found it fitting to use the same, old, reliable, tank bag and he strapped it to his shiny new BMW K1300S. It had been stored in his garage for many years. The map pocket window had started to discolor but other than that, everything was functional. Despite the age gap this 80's vintage bag did not look out of place on this sleek new touring missile.
For 27 days we played down the coast on the famed Pacific Coast Highway. The bag worked wonderfully. He could now say that he rode down the coast of California and back twice with the same tank bag on trips separated by a mere 25 years. After all these years it was still serviceable so, when James offered it up for my use I thought, "Why not?".
It strapped on easily, to my BMW K1200RS I bought in 2010, with an anchor strap that went around the steering head plus two more that came up from under the seat. It was very easy to attach. I then loaded it up and went across Canada. This well traveled bag was about to get another workout. It faced heavy rain, hot sun, humidity, salt air and a lot of over-stuffing by me.
The map pouch was easy to access, even with gloves and the main compartment had plenty of storage. In addition there were side compartments for those odds and ends you need to keep at the ready.
It was home for my cameras so I was happy the rain cover was still usable. I used this vintage tank bag for over 20,000 kilometers and it worked wonderfully. Maybe that is why KJ is no longer in business, no repeat customers?
The bag worked well but only had one design shortcoming; the rain cover, but that goes for all tank bags that use rain covers. Is it that difficult to make a bag that can survive the elements without having to put a heavy duty shower cap on it? While the covers do make the bag waterproof they can come loose at highway speed plus they also require you to stop the bike to put them on. This is not always possible with surprise showers. I then searched for a waterproof tank bag that would suit my needs and came up empty.
Since I couldn't get a KG and was unable to find a fully waterproof tank bag I went one better and made my own tank case.
I purchased a small, used Pelican brand case for my cameras and an aftermarket locking ring system to attach it to my gas cap ring.
Now I have a waterproof, shockproof case that mounts up off the tank with no contact to the paint surface. I am sure its the kind of system KG would have come up with eventually.
Its not quite as roomy as the KG but I believe it will suffice.
Thanks again to James Moore of Comedy Monday Night for the use of his classic KG tank bag.
Now, I look forward to testing my new one.
Say what?
Its a tank bag whose only marking is "KG" stamped into the leather flap on the front. I've searched and searched but the KG Tank Bag company, or anything about a KG tank bag no longer exists. I'm not even sure what model it is or where it was made. I did find one on ebay though so they sold a few.
It's the history behind this particular bag as to why I decided to do a product review on it. Call it a posthumous product review
The bag was sponsored in a way.
 |
| No longer available KG Tank Bag |
I had been using a magnetic bag on my old bike, but my new bike's tank is all plastic so I was in search of a replacement. My good friend and riding buddy, James Moore, (creator of Comedy Monday Night ) loaned me his old tank bag while I was without.
This bag had some history.
It was used by James on his solo trip down the west coast over a quarter century ago when he strapped it to his trusty Yamaha 650 Seca along with a small duffle on the back. He used it from Calgary to San Diego plus many other trips.
 |
| The KG on the new K1300S 25 years later |
For 27 days we played down the coast on the famed Pacific Coast Highway. The bag worked wonderfully. He could now say that he rode down the coast of California and back twice with the same tank bag on trips separated by a mere 25 years. After all these years it was still serviceable so, when James offered it up for my use I thought, "Why not?".
 |
| At Mile Zero - Alaska Highway |
It strapped on easily, to my BMW K1200RS I bought in 2010, with an anchor strap that went around the steering head plus two more that came up from under the seat. It was very easy to attach. I then loaded it up and went across Canada. This well traveled bag was about to get another workout. It faced heavy rain, hot sun, humidity, salt air and a lot of over-stuffing by me.
The map pouch was easy to access, even with gloves and the main compartment had plenty of storage. In addition there were side compartments for those odds and ends you need to keep at the ready.
It was home for my cameras so I was happy the rain cover was still usable. I used this vintage tank bag for over 20,000 kilometers and it worked wonderfully. Maybe that is why KJ is no longer in business, no repeat customers?
 |
| Loaded with lots of gear |
The bag worked well but only had one design shortcoming; the rain cover, but that goes for all tank bags that use rain covers. Is it that difficult to make a bag that can survive the elements without having to put a heavy duty shower cap on it? While the covers do make the bag waterproof they can come loose at highway speed plus they also require you to stop the bike to put them on. This is not always possible with surprise showers. I then searched for a waterproof tank bag that would suit my needs and came up empty.
Since I couldn't get a KG and was unable to find a fully waterproof tank bag I went one better and made my own tank case.
 |
| Waterproof |
Now I have a waterproof, shockproof case that mounts up off the tank with no contact to the paint surface. I am sure its the kind of system KG would have come up with eventually.
Its not quite as roomy as the KG but I believe it will suffice.
 |
| The new tank "case" |
Thanks again to James Moore of Comedy Monday Night for the use of his classic KG tank bag.
 |
| Loaded up |
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