An Incomplete Guide To Gear Bags
AN INCOMPLETE GUIDE TO GEAR BAGS
Gotta have something to tote that load here's what you can get and what it'll hold
One thing you'll need to do after you've chosen your dirt bike and all of the equipment that goes along with dirt riding is to buy a bag to haul all of that gear around Then you'll discover just how many brands, sizes and kinds of gear bags there are and may wonder which is best for you.
For a recent tri~p. to the desert we rounded up as many gear bags as we could, doled them out to the people going on the trip and asked them to comment on what they put in their bag and how it worked for them. The information and opinions here are based on first-hand experiences.
We've included the manufacturer's ad dress in case you have difficulty finding the bag you want in your local motorcycle accessories shop.
CASLER
12×28×17 in. Black and yellow laminated vinyl,plastic handles $29.95 The man using this bag packed boots. helmet, leathers, goggles, gloves, jersey and an enduro jacket. There was still room left. Someone we know made a hard board floor for his Casler bag which helps the bag retain its shape when loaded. Seems to us a good idea.
SCOTT
24×12 in. Yellow, orange and blue vinyl plastic $24.95 In this bag we stuffed a helmet, two pair of gloves, two goggles. two jerseys. MX pants with foam knee cups, socks. enduro jacket. kidney belt, street shoes, pants. T-shirts, flashlight and various and sundry items-including eight harmonicas. The user of the bag appreciated the adjustable shoulder strap and liked the separate zippered compartment that kept small items conveniently close at hand. Scott, USA Box 1418 Sun Valley. Idaho 83353 (208) 726-4541
SCOTT
10×15×14½ in. Yellow, orange and blue vinyl plastic $24.95 This is the larger of the two bags from Scott. The man who used it packed socks, T-shirts, street clothes, medicine kit, MX pants and jacket, boots, helmet, and goggles in it. He thought the zipper would have been difficult to close if any more was added. Scott, USA Box 1418 Sun Valley, Idaho 83353 (208) 726-4541
DG PERFORMANCE SPECIALTIES
11¼×18×8 in. Yellow and blue wet-look vinyl $12.95 A full-face helmet, hiking boots, Street shoes, jersey, paperback book and bathing suit were packed into this tote. The bag was able to accommodate all that only because the jersey. book and bathing suit were packed inside the helmet before it was put in the bag. DG Performance Specialties. Inc. 5552 E. La Palma Ave. Anaheim, Calif. 92807 (714) 996-4430
BELL
10×22×14 in. Black vinyl $29.95 This bag is fine for the trail rider. It's a fairly small bag, but will hold helmet, laceup boots, socks, jersey and leather or denim pants, gloves and goggles. If you pack the socks in the boots, the jersey and goggles in the helmet and can wrap the pants into a small bundle. But if you want to pack MX boots or take a jacket or anything except the basics, the Bell bag would be too small. It's certainly sturdy. One of our staff members has one and has carried gear in it for five years now, from Sicily to Suzuka and it shows no sign of wear. Bell Helmets, Inc. 15301 Shoemaker Ave. Norwalk, Calif. 90650 (213) 921-9451
JT RACING IMPORTS
11×22×14 in. Red canvas with black handles and trim $39.95 The user of this bag packed his helmet, camera case, riding jacket, boots, change of clothes, medicine kit, 30 sample copies of CYCLE WORLD and still had eight inches left at the top. Something special about this bag is that it has two zippers-one at each end that zip toward the center-minimizing wear from zipping full length and pulling at the seam. The bag's double handles are thick enough to be comfortable even when the bag has a heavier-than-normal load and has a ¼-in. thick piece of wood at the bottom that works to hold the bag's shape when it is heavily loaded. The man who used this bag said, "The bag's tall shape is different from the squatty. rollo-type shape of most bags, so I found it easy to spot in a large pile. This would be a definite plus if you were traveling with an all-girl basketball team. Don't want to get lost in the crowd, do we?" JT Racing Imports 303 W. 35th St., Suite D National City. Calif. 92050 (714) 479-9696
KRW
12½×24½×16 in. Black vinyl with cardboard bottom $29.95 This bag carried riding gear, leathers, sweatshirt, T-shirts, socks and underwear, shaving kit, boots, and helmet. The user thought it "worked beautifully. It was large enough and easily accommodated all my gear." KRW Racing Helmets 3710 Airway Ave. Costa Mesa, Calif. 92626 (714) 556-6965
SUZUKI
10×23×13 in. Gold and blue nylon reinforced with vinyl $15.99 Into this bag went a helmet, jacket, leathers and overnight things. (The user could not fit his MX boots in.) The molded handles are convenient, but the aluminum zipper is hard to open or close. U.S. Suzuki Motor Corporation 13767 Freeway Dr. Santa Fe Springs, Calif. 90670 (213)921-4461
MALCOLM SMITH RACING PRODUCTS
16×32×12 in. Yellow, red and blue nylon $29.95 The man who used this gear bag still had room left after packing MX boots, socks, helmet, gloves, goggles, enduro jacket, jersey, leathers, shaving kit, and a lightweight suit bag filled with extra slacks, a shirt, and underwear! He said, "Maybe the bag is easy to pack because of its flexible shape. I liked the velcro flap which covers the double zipper and the velcro flap which connects the two halves of the handle. Good bag. Almost too big, though, as it was awkward when not fully packed." Malcolm Smith Racing Products 888 Marlborough Riverside, Calif. 92507 (714) 686-1006
