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Kuryakyn GranTraveler Bag
April 3, 2009
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| Editor Ratings * | |||
| Quality |
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10 | |
| Style |
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10 | |
| Portability |
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9 | |
| Convenience |
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10 | |
| Price |
|
9 | |
| Value |
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10 | |
| Overall | 9.7 | ||
| Spectacular | |||
| A product that receives a rating in this range scores high on all of its rating criteria. It succeeds at meeting all of its intended users' needs and has no meaningful drawbacks. | |||
| *Out of a possible 10 points | |||
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If you are like us, there is never enough room on an extended trip to carry everything you need; even on a larger model motorcycle. We consider ourselves pretty bare-bone travelers, but the fact is, rain gear, leathers, and cold weather clothing take up a lot of room. Add to that, an extra pair of jeans, shirts, undies, socks, and toiletries, and even the largest motorcycle bags and trunk begin to look inadequate. Complicate things further by riding two up and space becomes even more critical.
Our solution, and that of other bikers we’ve seen, is to bungee some type of bag to the luggage rack on top of the trunk. There are several downsides to this method though, which include blocking rear vision, high weight distribution, loading, unloading, and carrying another bag, and difficulty accessing items in the trunk with a bag on top. Enter a better solution; the Kuryakyn GranTraveler Bag.
First Impression
It is obvious upon removing the GranTraveler Bag from the box that this is a quality, well-constructed bag. The semi-rigid construction is durable weather-resistant 1200 denier material with stylish leather accents. The GranTraveler Bag features an expandable top to allow extra room when needed; great for accommodating souvenirs and t-shirts accumulated on trips.
Another great feature is the pullout handle and wheels that make transporting gear, to and from your bike or hotel room, a breeze. A full rain cover is included for inclement weather, as well as two removable end pouches, waist/shoulder straps for the end pouches, and adjustable universal straps for securing the bag to the bike. Additional internal and external compartments offer a variety of options for packing.
Features
Made of durable weather-resistant 1200 denier construction with leather accents, the dimensions of the GranTraveler Bag are 17” long, 22” wide, 11” deep, expanding to 12.5” deep. Multiple D-rings are located on the bag for flexible mounting configurations. Adjustable straps are included to secure the bag to your motorcycle. The bag has a zippered top expansion gusset and removable liner bottom pad allowing for versatile packing. The top gusset zippers down to reduce the size of the bag when not in use. A rain cover, which stores in its own pocket, is included to protect the bag and contents during wet weather.
The interior of the main bag includes three zippered mesh storage compartments; one large compartment in the lid and two smaller compartments on the ends. The GranTraveler Bag has four external storage compartments located on the sides as well. Exterior compartments are a variety of sizes and constructed of the same weather-resistant 1200 denier material and leather as the main bag.
The GranTraveler Bag has two removable side pouches so you can take small, essential items with you when leaving the bag behind. Side pouches attach securely to the main bag with quick release clips and Velcro. The lower pouch should be removed from the bag when rolling to avoid damage to the pouch. The side pouches each feature an adjustable strap and belt loop. The pouches can be slipped over a belt, or worn as a fanny pack or shoulder purse by adding the adjustable strap.
The pull-out handle and wheels make moving this bag easy and convenient. The handle collapses down and out of the way when not in use. The GranTraveler Bag can also be used when traveling by air. The bag is sized to stow under the seat or in the overhead compartment of most commercial airliners.
Operation
The GranTraveler Bag compartment zippers, pull-out handle, wheels, and straps are of quality materials that operate easily and smoothly. The main bag is large allowing extra storage room and packing flexibility. Smaller exterior compartments allow storage and convenient access to frequently used smaller items. The removable side pouches fasten securely to the main bag, but require a few minutes to attach and unattach the quick release clips and velcro. This could be viewed as a nuisance by some. For those who appreciate the convenience of a shoulder bag or fanny pack, the benefit could outweigh the nuisance. Also, removing the lower pouch to use the pull-out handle and wheels, which if not removed interferes with the wheels and may damage the bag, is a little inconvenient and requires some management of the bag after removal.
The GranTraveler Bag fits on a luggage rack or on top of the passenger seat and is compatible with most types of backrests and sissy bars. The versatile 4-point mounting system allows you to secure the bag to your motorcycle in a variety of ways. For this review, we used a Harley Davidson Ultra Classic with a luggage rack for mounting the bag with four 8” Velcro straps. The bag attaches securely with minimal effort to the luggage rack using the D-rings and four straps.
Quality and Value
The GranTraveler Bag is a well-designed, quality bag constructed of heavy duty materials with excellent workmanship. Zippers work smoothly. Heavy duty D-rings, stitching, trim, and fasteners are of high quality. This versatile bag will hold up over time considering the harsh conditions present on the back of a motorcycle. This bag will allow easy access and protect necessary items as you travel. Kuryakyn guarantees their products to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for one year from the date of purchase with receipt and proper care of the product. The GranTraveler Bag sells for $189.88 and can be purchased at www.kuryakyn.com.
Final Thoughts
Sweet bag. The GranTraveler Bag has it all; quality, versatility, and style. It is easy to mount, rides securely on the luggage rack, and the pull-down handle and wheels make moving the bag quick and convenient. I have to say, we are very impressed with this bag. Kuryakyn is known throughout the industry for quality motorcycle products. This bag is an example of how Kuryakyn earned that reputation.
Our only suggestion for this bag would be the addition of a handle. When not using the pull-out handle and wheels, the bag is a little awkward to carry.
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Product Review Comments
9/23/2008 4:46 PM
This bag has traveled with us over 15,000 miles this summer and still looks like new. One thing to note though is the cover that comes with the bag is not waterproof. We discovered that the hard way on a trip in the rain. A trash bag under the cover remedied the situation.
We use our bag to carry items we need along the road such as maps, sunblock, and rain gear. Access to items is quick and easy.
Overall, the ability to pull this bag to and from a hotel room has simplied my life.
This bag has traveled with us over 15,000 miles this summer and still looks like new. One thing to note though is the cover that comes with the bag is not waterproof. We discovered that the hard way on a trip in the rain. A trash bag under the cover remedied the situation.
We use our bag to carry items we need along the road such as maps, sunblock, and rain gear. Access to items is quick and easy.
Overall, the ability to pull this bag to and from a hotel room has simplied my life.
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