In Part 3 of the series on our modification of the KTM 790 Adventure, we talked about the difficulty of mounting a tank bag with a snap ring given how close the gas cap is to the triple clamp. We were able to make our SW-MOTECH bag fit, nonetheless, with some custom mounting steps.
There is a channel underneath the SW-MOTECH EVO Engage tank bag that accepts the male mount that snaps onto the ring that attaches to the gas tank (see images and links in Part 3). SW-MOTECH actually mounts the tank ring backwards due to the proximity of the triple clamp. Because the EVO Engage is very much a directional bag (you want the sloping end facing the rider), we had to reverse the male piece attached to the bag (see top picture).
In order to move the bag further away from the triple clamp, and tilt the bag to better follow the curvature of the gas tank, we took a small (roughly 1/2″ thick) piece of waterproof cutting board to fill the front end of the channel, allowing us to move the male mounting piece forward. In turn, this put the tank bag further away from the triple clamp.
The pull-cable to release the tank bag is now facing towards the rider, and we made it easier to reach by attaching a small spring puller (you can buy one for a few bucks), as pictured.
I have a s similar bag and mounting ring on a 2011 V-Strom. Over 9 years the only problem has been that the locking nuts holding the spring loaded peg come loose and then you have a problem of getting the bag off. You find out about the problem when you are at the pump for your first fill up on a 3000 mile trip.
Lol.
One day manufacturers will put small, lockable glove boxes in the dash and get away from pointy tails with minimal storage. Until then we have these solutions.
You city boys sure like a fancy tank purse that looks like it could cause trouble. I can see the bag flexing enough that the cable release will jamb/vibrate a damage spot onto the tank. Maybe it’s enough if all you’re carrying is a box of tissue but I tend to use mine for a lot more than that.
Your fancy tank purse?
I’ve owned a couple tank bags; one that was magnetic and another that had leather straps that attach to metal buckles (old BMW stuff). However, when I’m not on a multi-day trip, I can never think of what to put in a tank bag. That said, some of my bikes already have empty luggage on the back. I keep my phone and wallet in my pants/riding suit and I really don’t ever carry much else. What have you found a tank bag being useful for?
Wallet, sunglasses, reading glasses, celphone, charger, work key badge, car keys, garage door opener, clear visor (or dark visor if I’m using the clear at the time), lunch and/or snacks (bag of almonds at least), water, tire pressure gauge, knife, LED flashlight, small pack of tools, scissors, pens and pads of paper, sun hat, lockdown masks, small first aid kit, sunscreen, chewing gum, hand lotion, emergency allergy meds and headache / pain meds, spare earplugs, Q-tips, USB drive, less-often used cards and papers that I don’t store in my wallet, and after I’m off the bike, gloves. Other stuff now and then plus probably something I’m forgetting at the moment.
Packin’ heat, lots of maps, tank bag rain cover, spray polish/windshield cleaner & cloths, toothpicks, coins, kick stand pad on a tether, microwave (ok-not).
Cool tankbag, Dirck! The attachment system is great for bikes that have non-metallic fuel tanks and therefor cannot use a magnetic bag. I use a mag-bag. 🙂
That said, I think few people are commenting on this as so many of us (including at times, yours truly!) have the attention span of a mentally challenged fly. What you are doing with your KTM 790 Adventure is worthy of reading about and commenting on but right now the files have found a new cow pie and that is where their buzz is directed.
So then, thanks for the articles on your 790 ADV and the upgrades you have done so far. The wheels and tankbag are applicable to the newestest, bestestfied and most perfectionalizified adventure tourer ever: The it-looks-almost-exactly-the-same-as-the-790-but-it-be-bigger-so-it-be-better-890!
Well done, Sir Dirck. Well done, indeed.
Thanks.
I’ve been using the same Joe Rocket Manta XL magnetic tankbag for ~13 years I believe. Main thing I want in a tankbag: a) it can hold a secondary helmet visor and b) it’s easy to grab and carry.
Nice adaptations shown here. I don’t like having to kluge together solutions from a product standpoint, yet I appreciate those who can adapt and work within the confines of the engineering problem at hand and reach a solution. Good stuff.