The Fastbag by Ken Condon

The Fastbag has been popular in Europe as a solution to carrying cargo on sport bikes and is now available in the States. Robb Zimdars, the U.S. distributor asked if Sportriders.com would write a product review and we agreed.

The Fastbag is a unique combination of protective hard luggage and expandable soft luggage. It offers the flexibility (literally) of soft bags, some of the security and weather protection of hard bags and keeps the sporting profile intact. The bag has two storage compartments: the bottom compartment expandable from 20 liters to a whomping 60 liters! The bag is a quality item that holds a lot of stuff and compliments the sleek lines of most sportbikes. But it is not without problems, so read on.

First Impressions

The Fastbag arrived and I opened the outer box to reveal a very professional looking package. The level of quality carried through to the inside packing and finally to the product itself.

The box contained the hard shell, a top and bottom frame made of a sturdy honeycomb plastic, a plastic base, various pieces of top-notch quality hardware, 2 fitted drawstring bags, nylon straps, the expandable rubberized Cordura-like “walls”, 4 protective pads, and a first aid kit. In total there are about 16 different parts.

The bag requires about an hour of assembly before it can be mounted on the bike. With the assembly complete, I admired the overall character of the piece. The shell is nicely sculpted to compliment the aerodynamic lines of sport bikes and is coated in bright red paint (it also comes in black, blue, green, yellow and faux-carbon). However, the finish could be better. It has a bit of orange peel and one or two “nubs” under the paint. Not a big deal, but noticeable.

Weight

When I picked up the bag, I was surprised at its heft. It weighs nearly 11 pounds. My first thought was that a strapped on bag shouldn’t weigh more than the cargo. But when I considered how much hard bags weigh, including the mounting hardware, the bag’s weight seemed comparable. To its credit, the bag is heavy because of the high quality materials and heavy duty hardware.

The literature suggests that the bag can be used as a backpack, but I beg to differ. The bag can be comfortably carried to your king size hotel bed, but not much further. Also, the shell is vulnerable to damage when carried.

Packing the Bottom Compartment

The first thing that needs to be done when mounting and packing the bag is to unlock the shell and find some place to put it down. In my opinion, the shell could--and should-- be hinged at the front. Packing the bottom compartment takes practice. At first, I became frustrated, then I figured out a system to ease packing (see photo series). First, put the soft gear into the large drawstring bag and put the bag into the expandable compartment. Pull up on the Velcro flap to expand the bellows. As you pull up, you stuff the cargo down into the compartment. Gravity works against you here, so you must continue to pull up on the bag to keep it extended while folding down the Velcro flaps. The Velcro flaps rest on the top of the cargo, keeping the bag extended.

The advantage of this system is that the bag never needs to be expanded further than is necessary. The company suggests that only soft gear be put into the expandable section, so as not to puncture the "accordion" material. The bottom compartment is quite deep, the front wider than the rear to make up the sporty shape. This could make certain objects rather difficult to pack, but there should be no problem packing clothes and the like. Up until now, the bag is either on the floor/ground or balancing on the seat because the straps cannot be pulled tight until the sides are expanded and the Velcro flaps secured. It gets a bit frustrating when you have to hold the bottom with one hand so the whole bag doesn't lift off the seat while lifting and stuffing the contents into the expanding part. It is helpful to contain the contents in the drawstring bag. This process can be a pain, causing you to wish for a second pair of hands. But once the bottom compartment is stuffed, the sides remain extended and the process does get easier with practice.

Because the bottom compartment is difficult to pack, you must plan ahead. I accidentally left my sunglasses in the bottom section after spending 5 minutes wrestling to get the bag packed. Needless to say, I chose to squint into the sun. The bottom section is a great place for things that you don't need until you are done riding for the day.

Mounting

Once the bottom section is packed, the bag can be secured onto the bike. The bag is mounted on the passenger’s seat and strapped down using nylon straps. The straps loop around or through bungee hooks, footpeg carriers, or some other sturdy brackets. Make sure the straps won’t fray against sharp edges. Once the straps are in place, they are pulled tight.

The Velcro flaps hold well allowing for a secure pull on the straps. The rubberized bottom that rests on the seat is grippy and helps keep the bag from sliding, so the straps don't need a lot of yanking. The buckles are miniature versions of those found on tie-downs and hold the straps quite securely. It takes some care to ensure the bag sits level and symmetrically on the bike. Because the straps need to be long enough to accommodate full extension (about 18 inches), there is a lot of excess strap length when the bag isn't fully extended. Cut as much as possible, then roll up the excess length and secure with the spring clips that are provided. Its a bit of a clunky solution: the straps take up some room under the shell and its tough to get all four straps to stay out of the way so the shell can be put on. If you have a bike with a separate, lockable passenger pad, you can dispense with the straps by doing a little cutting (explained in the directions). This allows you to put the passenger seat inside the bag with the locking hooks protruding out the bottom. The bag then locks onto the bike.

Packing the Top Section

The flaps that cover the bottom compartment are the base of the top section, which is topped by the plastic shell. This section is easily accessible; much more so than the bottom section, but the area beneath the streamlined shell is limited by its tapered shape. I found that I could fit a pair of hiking boots under the shell if I placed them side by side and facing rearward. When I tried to fit my daughter's size 4 sneaks along with boots, the hassles began. I could get the shell to close and lock, but it wasn't worth the effort. The packing goes much easier if you resist trying to cram too much stuff under the shell.

The shell is installed by slipping two holes over two knobs located at the front of the frame. The shell is then "hinged" rearward and down over the frame once the cargo is positioned and locked with a key.

Security

The shell locks securely to the top of the frame, providing a safe place for valuables-- as long as the thieves don't decide to cut the straps and take the whole bag. Security is increased if you have a bike with a separate, lockable passenger pad (see Mounting). You can maximize security somewhat by selecting mounting points where the straps cannot be slipped off easily, but if someone wants your stuff bad enough, they'll get it by cutting the straps or prying the shell.

Final Thoughts

I started seeing how it can fit into my luggage needs after I realized that the Fastbag is not a substitute for my tank bag-- or even a bungee net. The Fastbag is best used as a weekend bag, and it will accompany me on the solo trip I have planned next weekend to New Hampshire. The bottom expandable compartment will house my clothes; the top section will hold my rain gear and cold-weather gloves.

Overall, the Fastbag concept works—if you work within its limitations. Getting in and out of the bottom section is not easy and the shape limits what can be packed. But if you are looking for a well made piece of luggage to compliment the sleek lines on your sportbike, then you may want to check out the Fastbag at www.usfastbag.com

Other points to consider:

• The Fastbag could be a tight fit for some rider’s, shoving their family jewels (if applicable) into the tank.

• The shell color is not matched to specific models.

• The bag draws a lot of attention—some good, some bad. I heard many differing opinions as to its visual appeal. I’ve grown to like it.

• At $359.00, it’s a bit pricey, but considering the quality, it seems worth it. (SRNE discounts do apply, contact kenart@crocker.com for info.)

05/06/01