Eclipse Tank Bag
Eclipse Tank Bag
EVALUATIONS
Sport touring riders make good arguments for their form of travel; less bulk, as the architect said about something else, equals more fun.
The full dress traveler, though, can always counter with the fact that living out of, say, a tank bag limits the sports fan to what he can cram inside the bag. which in most cases isn’t all that much.
What we have here is the counter argument. the Eclipse tank bag. Because it rides atop the fuel tank and thus doesn’t appreciably change weight balance, the Eclipse is fine for the sportsman. Because it’s large you can pack it with the usual spares and equipment, and your riding gear, and enough clothes for a weekend.
The bag itself is the best part. Eclipse uses a form of Cordura, a nylon-based fabric strong enough to have made into shoes and road-racing suits. It’s coated to resist abrasion and water. The first works better than the second, in that we’ve seen several Eclipse bags that have been in service for years and we’ve never seen one that was worn out. The bags are semiwaterproof; they will resist rain for hours. The seams are sealed and the zippers are shielded by flaps, but a couple hours in a downpour will allow some water to sneak in.
The bag’s main compartment is a rectangle with rounded corners and measures approximately 14 x 11 x 6 in. The walls are braced with thin boards of some sort, stiff enough to retain the bag’s shape and flexible when you’re stuffing in an odd-sized object.
Each side has an added compartment, 10x5x2 in., just right for gloves, chain lube, notebook, etc. There’s an auxiliary bag that fastens to the rear of the main bag. At 5 x 6 x 2 in. it’s perfect for holding wallet, cigarettes and such at the ready while on the road, and for carrying along in your jacket while at lunch. The top flap of the main compartment has a map holder with plastic window.
In total, the Eclipse bag is a weekend system. It will hold rain suit, shaving kit and at least one change of clothes in the main compartment, spare parts and so forth in the side pockets and valuables in the demountable bag. When packed it doesn’t weigh enough to affect the bike’s handling, it isn't large enough to interfere with the controls and at full extension the rider can use the bag as a cushion.
The mounting system isn’t as perfect. There’s a system of two straps that wrap> around the fuel tank. Between them is a foam pad, to protect the fuel tank. The bag mounts against the pad with Velcro-ended straps. It’s a universal system and can be used atop just about any flat fuel tank.
However. The idea is, you figure where you want the pad and trim it so the fuel cap is accessible, then strap the pad on the tank and the bag to the straps. But many modern motorcycles use flush-mount caps or doors above the caps and you can’t fill the tank without removing either the complete Eclipse system or changing the bike.
In our case, we did the latter. The bag usually travels on our longterm Suzuki GS550. which has a door above the cap. By removing the door we can use the pad with a normal-size cutout. Works well but looks makeshift with the bag removed.
Next, the mounting straps must be wrapped around something besides the tank or they will slide fore and aft. In our case, we route the forward strap around the front down tube just below the steering head. That keeps the pad in place. With the belts wrapped directly around the tank, the pad can (and does) skid back and forth with a fully packed bag on it. No big thing, but annoying.
We’re told Eclipse is working or revisions for the mounting system, to allow easier adaptation for the increased variety of fuel fillers.
Meanwhile, the bag itself is terrific, just right for the one or two-day trip, while not being so big that it needs to hide behind a fairing. The mounting system at least works and at $44.95 plus tax, the Eclipse bag is good value.
At local bike stores, or you can find a dealer by writing to Eclipse, Inc., P.O. Box 372, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48107. S
