Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127131
PRODUCT EVALUATION BMW Touring Backpack BMW has a n excellent repu tat ion for m anufa ctu rin g q ua l i ty accessor ies for th e m o to rc ycl e ri de r. A goo d example of the company's design talents is its Touri ng Backpack. Alth ou g h ca lled a ba ckpa c k, BMW 's grey , red a nd blue pack is rea lly much more than the name sugges ts. T he ba ck p ack prp p er , which co nsists of a main com partment with two large Poc kets on the outside, is attached by zippers to a fann ypack, which can be used in conj unctio n wi th the backpack or unzipped a nd used separately for carr ying smaller loads. BMW also provides two detachable pocke ts on the fannypack 's bel t, which p uts giim, wa llets , a nd other on-the-ro ad necessiti es close at hand. The backpack's shoulder stra ps are made of a webbed ma terial and have rubber pads sim ilar to , but larger, than those found o n a ca mera stra p . Along wi th th e backpack 's sn appy lo oks and u nique desi gn , go a th ousand a nd o ne uses. The system has been used almos t every weekend for six months to carry camera s, asso rted len ses, a nd everyth ing else .needed for a day covering a motorcycle race. T he pack is roomy a nd its compartmental design has protected camera gear from the scra tches and scrapes su ffered in a previously used one-big-sack-type backpack. The backpack system ha s proven to be com forta ble as well. It saw me through last year's two-day Barsto wto-Ve~s dual sport ride , stu ffed to th e gills with ca meras, film , spare parts a n d food, a nd wa s h ardly noticed whil e riding. Quality is typical BMW as well . The backpack system has survi ved some rough handling in its six months of ra ce coverage, n ever ending dust a nd dirt, and even a n endo or two. It shows Iittl e signs of wear or tear a nd a quick wipe with a sponge has it looking brand new again. I onl y wish I co uld say the same for th e rid er that was carrying it. On th e m inus side, th e sh oulder straps are some what narrow a nd tend to cu t into th e rider's sho ulders if th e pa ck is heavil y loaded. The straps are attach ed to th e pack with hooks, though, so perhaps a wider shoulder strap with some ex tra 'padd ing cou ld be used in stead . . The BMW T ouring' Backpack system has becom e an indisp en sibl e part of my ridi ng eq uip ment and is proving to be a solid, reli abl e rid in g partner. It ca n be p ur chased for $120 at your BMW motorcycle dealer. Tom V an Beveren A Mans GonaDo WhatA Mans Goua Do Allyoung men have one responsibility in common. They have to register with Selective Service within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Allit takes is five minutes at any post office to fill out a simple form . So if you know a young man about to turn 18, remind him to register. It's one of those things he's got to do. Register witb SelectiveService It's quick. It's easy. And it's tbe law. Apublic service message of thispubiicationandSelective ServiceSystem. 19