Compac 1500 Tank Bag
Compac 1500 Tank Bag
CYCLE WORLD EVALUATION
A tank bag is a tank bag is a tank bag. Right?
Only partly.
True, they’re all based on the same idea: packing a few things in an easily removable container affixed to the top of a motorcycle gas tank.
But all tank bags are not created equal. Some are easier to mount. Some attach more securely. Some carry bigger cargos. Some are more attractive.
Some are better than others.
Here, to our mind, is one of the better ones around—the Chase Harper Compac 1500.
The 1500 has two storage compartments: lower and upper. There’s a removable foam insert in the bottom compartment that can be tailor-cut to protect cameras, flashlights, tools and other items you might not want rattling around. That bottom compartment is about 4-in. thick. The top compartment is where the bulk of the storage space is; it’s about 8 in. thick. There’s an abundance of room. Each compartment closes with zippers that run the circumference of the bag.
Packed or empty, the Compac 1500 is very attractive. It comes with strips of Velcro on the sides so the top can be snugged down if the bag isn’t packed to capacity. That ends the flapping common with other tank bags. Empty, it closes into a tidy, thin package.
The best thing about the Compac 1500 is the unique mounting system. There are four adjustable straps, each with a little U-clip at the end. The bag is placed atop the tank, the clips are fitted over the bottom tank seams, the straps are tightened. That’s all there is to it. Neat and simple. And it comes off just as easily.
We found the Compac a breeze to mount; it took all of a minute. The mounting system might not work with every bike (we’re thinking of those with extensive bodywork and panels below the tank) but it’ll certainly fit the majority. We put the bag on a Honda VF750F Interceptor, which has something of an unusually shaped tank and body panels, without a hitch.
Once mounted, it stays mounted. Some bags, those that strap under the tank or around frame tubes, tend to slide around. Not so the Compac. Clipped tightly to the tank, there were no shifting loads that could affect riding stability. Still, it was a snap to remove when we wanted, for gas-ups and transfer to other bikes.
The Compac 1500 is made of heavy, black Cordura nylon. It’s very water-resistant and should be extremely durable.
More good news. There’s a line of accessories available for the 1500. You can add a Velcro-mounted map pouch, strap-on side pouches and front and rear snap-on weenie bags.
Suggested retail price for the Compac 1500 is $87.95. The map pouch costs $5.50; the side pouches, $52.50; and the weenie bags, $28.95. You can find them at your local dealer, or through Chase Harper Co., P.O. Box 4098, Santa Barbara, Calif. 93103. (805) 965-7977.
