Eclipse Sportpack Tankbag

I've used this tank bag for 8 or so years and have racked up almost 100,000 miles on a single example of this bag. Let me start right off by saying that if it had a better map pocket it would be damn near the perfect tankbag.

Ah, the faults of the map pocket, they are so many. First, Eclipse choose to use a frosted plastic for the pocket. I can only guess they thought the rider would somehow be blinded by sun reflecting off a clear pocket. Then they silk screened a little ruler along the bottom of the bag. I've never used it but I guess someone could use it to determine mileage in conjunction with a map scale. In my opinion all this ruler does is suck up vital real estate that could be used by my maps.

Finally, and here's the real Achilles heel of this bag, they used a ziplock type closure to seal the pocket up. I defy anyone to get this bag sealed up while still wearing motorcycle gloves. So, lets say you've taken the time to remove your gloves and have the pocket tightly sealed - now you're in for a real treat. As you ride along and the pleasant sunshine warms you and your bag, you'll find that the minor amount of air you've trapped in the map pocket has now expanded and blown the pocket up like a balloon. This combined with the frosted plastic of the bag has now made reading your map impossible. You're forced to ride one handed while your free hand presses down on the bag so that you may actually see the map inside.

One gets the feeling that the designer of the Eclipse map pocket has never gone on an extended ride that makes a map indispensable.

Like I said, if it wasn't for the map pocket this would be a great bag. Just some of the features this bag has going for it:

• Nicely constructed. After 100k miles mine is still usable.
• Easy to use pockets on the left and right exterior sides.
• Easy access to top compartment via zipper and Velcro fastened flap. Very handy to use while in transit.
• Small zippered pocket under the above flap that can hold sunglasses or the indispensable NJ Toll change
• Mesh pocket under the same flap to hold your maps.
• Easily replaceable tankbag pad.
• Use of the nearly universal Fastec buckles. Some bag mfgs insist on using their own variations which makes getting last minute replacements impossible.
• Expandable upper compartment.

The Sportpack bag has a streetprice around $95. If you don't use a map it's a great bag and well worth the money. If you do use a map on a regular basis you'll probably be trying some Rube Goldberg inspired contraption to use instead of the OEM map pocket.