Princess Scooterpie - A Motorcycle Diva who likes to moto wander & write about it.

Monday, February 16, 2015

Motorcycle House's Viking Select Magnetic Tank Bag Review

Motorcycle House's Viking Select Magnetic Tank Bag first glimpse - I squeed with delight upon opening the box. Most motorcyclists know this sound when you get a new bike farkle.

A few months back I was approached by Motorcycle House and asked if I would like to do a review of a product. I thought about it for awhile and decided to give it a go. I was very impressed with email exchanges I had with Motorcycle House rep Kiara, she answered all of my questions and concerns I had about doing a blog review post. She alleviated my concerns about giving my opinion, be it good or bad, and that I had editorial control and I would provide an unbiased opinion based strictly on my findings with the bag.

Motorcycle House (*Link), has a wide variety of gear, apparel, for both men and women and accessories for every motorcycle enthusiast.

They sent me a product of my choosing which was the Viking Select Magnetic Tank Bag (Link to product details). This review was not done for any monetary payment, I did receive the bag to keep in exchange for my review. I actually like that they ask for motorcyclist's opinions, as we are the people who put gear and luggage through real world testing.

People who know me, know that I am pretty fussy and particular when it comes to motorcycle gear and bike farkles. Lets get to the nitty gritty stuff that motorcyclists want to know.

I was pretty happy when pulling the Tank Bag out of the box. I gave it a quick once over and was thinking how much this was going to add to my hauling convenience on my daily commute and rides. My love of a good tank bag comes from it being functional with lots of storage, organizing compartments, and easy access is a must.

Product features and specs

*Capacity: 14 liters Dimensions: 9.5"L X 13"W X 6"H *I found this to be of ample size and it easily carried a good amount of items with room to spare.

*Outer Shell is 600 denier Carbolex(R) material *manufacturers brand

*Phoslite(R) reflective material side panels ***LOVED THIS! It adds extra visibility at night, it lights up when headlight beams shine on it. I have experience with products with this reflective material and found this to be one of the best features of their products.

*Removable clear window map pocket (replaceable if required)

*2 External zipper side pockets (The pockets easily accommodate a large eyeglass case)

*Available in magnetic and strap mount versions

*Integrated carrying handle

*Rain cover

*Headphone jack port
*Soft foam backing that will not scratch the tank and has good grip
*Safety strap secures the bag to the motorcycle steering yoke

Saturday and Sunday were beautiful here and it gave me the perfect opportunity to test out the bag. I took it out to Scarlett and it easily & securely attached to the tank. **Be sure your tank is clean before attaching anything or scratching will result. The magnets are substantial and hold on really well and at higher speed I had no concerns. There is nothing worse than having a piece of luggage detach from your bike when zipping down the highway at high speed.

Magnet in the flap.

Underside of bag is a soft and won't scratch the tank, it has good grip and stayed securely in place.

Today I made a quick trip to the grocery store and I had quite a bit of stuff in the bag and still had room to spare. Storage capacity galore!!!!

As you can see there is ample storage and 3 good organizational pockets in the top flap. There is an attachment to hook your keys securely in place and pen pockets(the nerd in me loves this).

The bag has two outer zippered storage pockets which are perfect for carrying eyeglass cases. I used one of them for this purpose, but left the other empty and found it perfect for those instances where you need to remove your glasses in a hurry and quickly stash them.

Zippered map pocket attaches with 2 snaps at the top and is secured with velcro at the bottom. (Here it's attached with only one snap just for picture purposes)

Side view of the large zippered pocket and map pocket.

Above the carrying handle is a zippered pouch where the rain cover is stored. ( Notice the heavy duty attachment snaps for the removable map pocket)

The rain cover is compact and fits easily in the storage compartment.

The rain cover slipped easily over the tank bag and has a waterproof lining and is secured by an elastic drawstring cord & fastener, I liked the ease of use of this cover. A previous bag I had relied on a bulky elasticized plastic cover and it reminded me of a shower cap, it was always hard to get on the bag and was a pain to store due to it's bulk. There is nothing worse than being caught in the rain & no rain cover for your tank bag because it's sitting at home. This is not the case with this bag and the rain cover is efficient and easy to use.

Motorcycle House has their own tank bag line made by VIKING BAGS (*link) including the bag style in this review, as well as other great tank bag styles to choose from & luggage for your two wheeled love.

Visibility factor is epic, this is the reflective panel on the side of the bag, my camera flash triggered it and it's bright!

This picture was taken in a dark room and the picture is not enhanced in any way. When not activated the side panel looks charcoal grey.

Things I liked and LOVED about the Motorcycle House Viking Select Magnetic Tank Bag:

I really liked the bag and am happy with the storage capacity it gives without having a big hulking profile on the bike. It gave me ample room to carry multiple objects with room to spare. I really liked the little organizational pockets in the flap so the little things don't end up jumbled in with the contents of the bag.

I love the 2 outer zippered pockets and ended up throwing my sunglasses in one of them when the light conditions changed. I liked how quick and easy it was to unzip the pocket with gloved hands and slid the glasses in.

The finish quality around the edge is excellent and there are no exposed edges. The velcro closures are secure and not skimpy, so you know it is securely closed. I was very impressed with the little details such as the zippers and how easy they were to manipulate with gloves on.

The map pocket is large, so it will accommodate a good sized map. I was a little concerned about the snaps on the map pocket, but once I pressed them in hard the map pocket wasn't going anywhere.

I absolutely love the reflective side panels, it adds to the visibility factor to the side profile of the bike. This feature gives it 5 stars alone in my book.

The carrying handle is sturdy and easy to carry, I hate nothing more than a cheesy skimpy handle that digs into your hand. Your gloved hand fits nicely into the handle.

The rain cover design and storage was well thought out and is compact, this is great because the cover is always with the bag in the storage pocket. *I have not tested the waterproof function as of yet, as I had gloriously sunny days, but I am sure that living on the We(s)t Coast I will have plenty of opportunities to try it out.

Things I didn't like: I'm not too fussy about the headphone entry port, I never use it, to me it's a potential entry point for dust, dirt, and water. The map pocket becomes unusable once you put the rain cover on. These two things are very minor and the bag functioned well and met my expectations in every other aspect I was looking for in a tank bag.

All in all there wasn't much I didn't like about this bag, it worked well for my needs and fit my bike well. I am actually looking forward to it being a staple in my motorcycle luggage and I know that I will have many uses for it in my daily travels as well as extended riding adventures. (My hubs has been eyeing it up too and thinks it might look nicer on his bike)

The cost of the bag is approximately $69.59 USD which is very reasonable (from Motorcycle House website)

THE BIG QUESTION - WOULD I RECOMMEND THE BAG TO OTHER MOTORCYCLISTS? ANSWER: A RESOUNDING YES!

Check out VIKING BAGS to browse their other great bags and luggage, they offer everything from tank to tail to saddlebags

While you are browsing through Motorcycle House's website take look at the other great motorcycle products jackets (Link) and vests, from leather to textile there's lots of variety for every motorcycle enthusiast! Thank you Motorcycle House for sending me this great bag!

I will post a short video review in the next few days.

Saturday, February 14, 2015

First ride of 2015, it was glorious!

Notice the new specs? Loving them!

We have been experiencing a Pineapple Express winter here on the We(s)t Coast, with mild temperatures in most cases well above normal, and accompanied by a fair amount of rain. Today it was brilliantly sunny and about 12C which is absolutely tropical when you look at the rest of Canada. We may not be wearing bathing suits & flip flops like other tropical destinations, but Victoria compared to the rest Canada is amazing! Right now most of Eastern Canada is buried in snow and ice with the average temperature being in the -20C and colder, with more snow being dumped on them as I write this. A nephew in Ontario was not too happy and a friend in Oromocto NB was expecting 25 to 35cm of the white stuff today. Brrrr thank goodness I live in the tropical part of the Great White frozen North.

I insured Scarlett today while Motorcycle Man was fixing an errant sagging saddlebag. It was a good day to try out my new AVG Aura Kevlar jeans, FirstGear Kilimanjaro jacket, and TourMaster tank bag. Yup it was a winter of farkle expansion.

I decided I would layer up with winter woollies under the Kevlar jeans and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable they were and that I was actually quite warm. This was my second outting for the Kilimanjaro and it performed flawlessly on both occasions. The first was during my instructor test in a torrential downpour and today in the nippy sunny weather. Pretty happy on both counts. Loving the new tank bag too, but I will post more about that in a few days, I need to ride a few more times with it.

It was a gorgeous day for a ride and everyone in Victoria had the same idea I did, the scenic beach drive. There were lots of bikers out today and it felt good to give and receive the wave. I was out for about 90 minutes, but decided to zip home as the daylight waned as it was getting a little more chilly and I could feel it settling into my core. Next priority is a heated jacket.

A nice chap offered to take my pic as I was struggling with trying to do a selfie. I'm at Cattle a Point off of Beach Drive.

In the background is Mount Baker a dormant volcano in the US. It looks spectacular on a clear sunny day and my little iPhone just doesn't do it justice, but I can tell you it was beautiful!

So it was off to home and treating my hub and daughter to a surprise sushi dinner to celebrate 'Colour Day' as Martha calls Valentine's Day, when everyone gives flowers and chocolates as tokens of affection. Yup it's a greeting card day, but I really don't mind because it brings a little cheers to winter.

The card I gave to the hubs.

The French Chocolates he gave to me, which of course I shared with him & my wee girl. Even the pooch got heart shaped treats.

PS we ordered the sushi to go and I picked it up and transported it in my now non-sagging saddlebag - boy do I ever love my moto man.

PSS I didn't take any pics of the cherry trees that are blossoming, I didn't want to rub it in too hard, because karma can be vengeful if she so desires, but they are blooming.

Happy Valentine's Day or Colour Day if you prefer!

Making a spectacle of myself

Ta da!!!! My specs are in and I love them! They are definitely eclectic and blingy, they suit my diva-ish personality. They are divine! I love the retro design.

My frames are called Cynthia and are from Spectacle EyeWorks Pussy Galore collection which is based on the 60's retro vibe of James Bond movies. They are girly and fashion forward. A cool little extra is the funky saying on the arm of the frame, "Love is the irresistible desire to be desired irresistably" how cool is that and of course a blingy little pussycat. There is nothing boring about the frames and designs and I find this refreshing.

The case certainly says Diva!

I have come to discover one thing about me through this process, I don't like generic & boring, I want to feel pretty and I want to express my personality (which I think I do most of the time) but these glasses sung to my soul and I smile when I put them on.

Spectacle Eyeworks created these beautiful frames, they are a Canadian company based out of Vancouver. It really makes me happy to support a Canadian brand.

Mehran Beghaie is the designer and creator of this Vancouver based brand. His frames are stylish, retro, funky and timeless. They are well made and not flimsy and extremely comfortable. Check out their website www.Spec-Eyeworks.com and if you are a Facebooker they are on there as well or call 1-888-722-3322.

My experience has been great with Spectacle EyeWorks. When I found these frames at a local optical store, I wanted to see a few more frame options of the different styles they offer. I called Spectacle directly and discussed which other frames I was interested in looking at and they sent several over the very next day and I tried on the Lola and the Gita frames. They were a little more sedate but still had the retro vibe I love. The blingy Cynthia's won out. **I have never received such great service in past when searching for frames!

I have my eye on a second set for use when I am on the motorcycle or who knows or just for the whimsy in me, a girl can never have too many choices.

This is the Gita frame which may be mine sometime soon ;) I definitely am a diva.

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Bespeckled doesn't mean boring.

The quest for glasses begins again, and it's tortuous. I lost my much loved glasses last weekend. I back tracked and couldn't locate them - boo.

Choice number 1 - these glasses are from a Vancouver designer from Spectacle Eyeworks. They are from his 'Pussy Galore' line which is based on the 60's James Bond Movies. These sung to my retro diva vibe.

I have to wear specs now as it's a requirement on my license for driving. I have never tried contacts because of astigmatism, and I am a little worried about putting things in my eye. But I actually may try them and keep an open mind.

I like my glasses to be funky and make a statement. Why be boring? It means being a little brave and definitely out of my comfort zone. I have found not everyone is complimentary about eccentric, eclectic, funky frames, but in the end I have to live with the choice and it has to make me happy.

Choice number 2 - more sedate but still funky.

Choice 3 - they are metal frames and maybe a little big, but I did like them.

I am leaning towards the Pussy Galore frames by Spectacle. They make me smile every time I try them on, they are comfortable and best yet, they fit really well in my helmet!

Friday, January 16, 2015

Just a little bit of where I live - beautiful BC

Malahat Summet look-out view of Vancouver Island.

Today was an especially early start for me, I headed up Island to meet a friend and spend some time with her. Sunrise was about 8:22am today, and as I drove over the Trans Canada #1 Highway the sun was just peeking it's lazy head up over the horizon. I decided to stop at the Malahat Summit lookout to capture a few pics, and I was very glad I did. I was rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise, warm and golden, promising of the spring to come. The pics may be a little grainy because they were taken on my iPhone. This is looking over to the Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island.

It's been pretty grey and drizzly for the last week. I was extremely happy to see my friend the sun, but he sure likes to wake up late during the winter and go to bed early. Given a choice, I think I would have liked to get up late too! But I'm a busy girl with places to go & things to do, so I was up with the chickens and beat the sun out of bed.

The sun is still a little sleepy, but starting to stretch upwards into the sky. Good morning Mr. Sun! Would love it if you got up a little earlier & stayed a little longer, I am craving spring of a long rainy winter. We have the mildest climate in Canada, but winter tends to be never ending grey with fog and rain. We are starting to see signs of spring here and there, a few misguided trees are starting to blossom, but the forecasters are calling for cold next week, so it may stall out an early spring. February and March can be quite unpredictable here and we have gotten snow & freezing tempuratures. We aren't as warm as California or as sunny, our winter is more like their winter with mild temps, but with a case of ugly mood syndrome.

The little blip in the water in front of the island is the Mill Bay ferry that cuts out at least an hour of driving.

This pic is looking towards Vancouver on the mainland. On a beautiful clear day you see mountains in the distance. It was soon time to get on my way and skiddadle up to Ladysmith.

I was almost to my friends, when I spotted this view of this beautiful little island. I had to stop and take this picture, to me it was simply magical.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Status update - a few steps closer! Chasing the motorcycle dream.

This is me about 7 months post motorcycle novice course, spring 2012, I was running a cone course on Scarlett at an alumni event.

The bulk of my course is finished and I've written my school's exam & our local government exam and passed those.

I want to do nothing less than my very best at teaching and give my future students the tools to be safe, competent, confident, and well trained motorcyclists who are committed to excellent road craft when out on their bikes.

I owe a big thanks to a few people along my instructor path, my 3 instructor trainers who have been rock solid and imparted their moto knowledge.

The biggest thanks though really goes to my family, because they have ridden along with me on this journey when it started in January 2011 on a little 50cc scooter, through motorcycle courses, exams, licensing and finally being moto orphans since September 2014 when I was busy learning to teach. It has been quite a ride and I still can't believe I have really only been riding for 3 years and am now embarking on a new phase of my motorcycle adventure. Stay tuned! Wish me luck, my practicum is at the end of March.