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/1335637
VOLUME 58 ISSUE 5 FEBRUARY 2, 2021 P85 Website: https://sw-motech.us/ MSRP: $131.95 (starting price) S TANDOUT FEATURE Simple on and off mechanism that firmly holds the tank bag RIDER AN ALYSIS I purchased an SW-Motech tank bag and lock ring a few years ago, and we never really got along. After install- ing the lock ring on the motorcycle, I had to drill holes in the bottom of the brand-new tank bag to mount the mechanism that attaches the bag to the ring on the bike. After it was installed it actually looked pretty good, and the bag itself was really nice, so I figured it was worth the money. How- ever, after struggling at gas stops to get the thing aligned and securely at- tached to the bike after refueling time and time again, I was fed up with it. I ultimately removed it and went back to my old-style strap-on bag. Recently I was asked to review SW-Motech's new PRO Tank Ring with magnetic assist, and I'll admit that I was skepti- cal based on my previous experience. Don't get me wrong, SW-Motech makes some beautiful stuff, and I own several of their products—I just wasn't thrilled with the older-style tank bag. Once the new bag and ring arrived, I was relieved to see that the PRO bag comes with its locking device pre-installed on the bag. So, no more drilling. We're off to a good start. This factory-installed ring also has a new slid- ing feature that allows you to precisely position the bag exactly where you want it to ride. I proceeded to mount the lock LOWDOWN ring to my motorcycle. These rings are unique to your make and model, and the fit is perfect on my BMW 1250 GSA. Once the ring was installed, it was time to see if SW-Motech's new magnetic assist works or if I'd need to stand on one toe, stick my tongue out, and hold my pinky finger just right in order to get the bag to line up with the locking ring. To my pleasant surprise, the bag snapped into place before I even real- ized it was close to the ring. Beginner's luck, I suspected, so I took it off and tried again with the same result. It finds its way to the locking ring like magic. It is by far the easiest tank bag to attach and remove that I've ever used. In addition to the locking mecha- nism being pre-installed on the bag, the bag itself has some really nice new features like a MOLLE system on top that allows for the addition of a dry- bag case for a cell phone, tablet or old school paper map. The bag is made of ballistic nylon, and the top and bottom are a laminated EVA material that holds the bag's unique shape and con- tour. Inside there's a zippered compart- ment in the top and four elastic webs for small items. There are also two nice size outer compartments on each side of the bag. Overall, the bag is nicely constructed and the fit and finish are top notch. SW-Motech offers a huge variety of tank bags in the PRO line, many of which are model specific and in vary- ing sizes to suit your needs and your style of bike. While the construction is similar on all of the PRO bags, they each have slightly different features, with interior capacity from as small •BAG ISN'T WATERPROOF, BUT IT DOES COME WITH A RAIN COVER •SUPER EASY TO ATTACH AND REMOVE THE BAG AT FUEL STOPS •HIGH QUALITY CONSTRUCTION •LOTS OF SIZES AND SHAPES AVAILABLE RING / PRO TANK BAG as three liters to over twenty liters, and they range in price from $131.95 to over $300 for the larger bags. After a few weeks of riding with the SW-Motech PRO Lock Ring and PRO GS Tank Bag, we're getting along just fine—the mag- netic assist makes fuel stops quick and easy every time. Keith Dowdle The new locking tank bag ring is much easier to attach than the previous version.