I’ve a love-hate relationship with tank luggage. Having space for storing proper in entrance of you on a protracted journey is undeniably helpful—but when a tank bag is simply too massive, or stuffed too full, it may shortly turn out to be ungainly. After which there are the myriad methods by which tank luggage connect to bikes; some simple and a few painfully complicated.
For my wants, a small tank bag that retains my pockets uncluttered and doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb on the tank of my Triumph Bonneville suits the invoice. So when our buddies at Biltwell Inc. supplied to ship slightly care package deal my method, I politely requested certainly one of their Exfil-2 mini tank luggage.
Biltwell’s Exfil sequence is a variety of moto baggage that features saddlebags, sissy bar luggage, and smaller pouches aimed toward organizing equipment. Frequent traits embrace heavy-duty nylon supplies, good packing ideas, molle webbing on many of the luggage, and subdued colours with refined orange highlights.
The vary additionally has the perfect naming conference in your complete motorcycling trade. ‘Exfil’ refers back to the navy observe of getting outta Dodge shortly, whereas the quantity in every bag’s identify references what number of 12-ounce beer cans you may slot in it.
That makes the Biltwell Exfil-2 tank bag good for 2 cans. Or, in observe, a smartphone, thick woolen beanie, sun shades, energy financial institution, charging cable, pockets, and snacks, with house to cram in a couple of extra odds and ends. That is likely to be too small for some riders—however for me, it’s every thing I would like and nothing I don’t.
Full disclosure: I’m an enormous fan of Biltwell’s bike gear. I habitually use their grips on my bikes, and I normally have a Biltwell helmet or two in circulation at any given time. They make no-nonsense stuff that’s easy, handsome, and, on the danger of being corny, constructed properly.
The Exfil-2 tank bag sports activities a fundamental structure with only a few frills. Its UV-treated 1680D denier ballistic nylon shell is 8 inches lengthy, measuring 5.5 inches vast and 4 inches tall on the entrance, and tapering to 4.5 inches vast and a couple of inches tall on the again. It’s properly put collectively and appears prefer it’ll maintain years of abuse.
Popping the Exfil-2 onto the bike is a cinch—supplied your gas tank is made out of metallic. The tank bag makes use of three potent magnets which are stitched into its backside panel to carry it in place. They work, too; even at freeway speeds, there’s no noticeable motion.
Biltwell does warn that the heavyweight nylon on the bag’s underside can depart mild scuffs in your gas tank over time, in order that’s one thing to be careful for. A softer material would mitigate this concern—however it could even be far much less sturdy. A beneficiant deal with on the entrance of the bag makes it simple to seize it and go, notably in case your bike is parked and also you don’t need to depart your valuables unattended.
There’s one foremost compartment, accessed by way of a two-way, U-shaped zipper, with lengthy zipper pulls which are simple to grip with gloves on. The within is lined with a hi-viz orange nylon material, designed to make it simple to identify no matter you’re in search of. And the lid features a fleece-lined sleeve with a transparent panel up prime, designed to carry a smartphone.
It’s a helpful characteristic should you don’t have a devoted telephone mount in your bike, and wish to make use of your telephone for navigation. (It’s additionally a spot to stay a map or handwritten instructions, if that’s extra your vibe.)
There are caveats although. The clear plastic tends to choose up reflections in harsh mild, so a high-contrast telephone show works greatest. And though touch-enabled cowl works for essentially the most half, it does typically battle to register faucets (notably on my older iPhone SE’s residence button).
Arguably the Exfil-2’s cleverest characteristic is the best way it accommodates system charging. There’s a approach to cross a cable by means of a seam on the entrance of the bag, and there are small elasticated loops contained in the lid to assist direct a cable to the place your telephone is saved.
These small particulars facilitate a number of use-case situations. They allow you to direct a cable from a charging level on the bike to a tool contained in the bag, however additionally they allow you to run energy from an influence financial institution contained in the bag to a tool mounted in your bike.
The one draw back is that the Exfil-2 isn’t waterproof (nor does it include a water-proof cowl). Some weather-proofing would make it an ideal product—however at $39.95, it’s laborious to complain.
It’s additionally value noting that many merchandise that declare a measure of waterproofing, or boast ‘waterproof zippers,’ seldom maintain up in a downpour. Biltwell makes zero claims of climate resistance; as per the Californian firm’s customary working process, what you see is what you get.
Like every thing else I’ve used from Biltwell, the Exfil-2 is an sincere (and helpful) product that does precisely what it says on the tin—nothing extra, nothing much less.
Biltwell Inc. Exfil-2 | Photographs by Wes Reyneke
