The best ring mounted tank bags - carry more with MCN's used and reviewed favourites

When it comes to riding motorbikes, there is often a need to carry more with us than we can fit into our pockets, especially if you are a sportsbike rider in full leathers. This where motorcycle luggage comes in with various options available such as rucksacks, leg bags, tail bags, panniers or waist bags. Which you choose, will probably depend on your choice of bike, personal taste and preference. A popular option is to use a tank bag.

What is a tank bag and what to consider?

A tank bag is exactly what it sounds like, it’s a bag that fits onto the bike’s fuel tank. The appeal with this type of luggage is that it is right in front of you, providing a couple of benefits; all of your items are easily accessed while on the bike, ideal for things like wallets or passes; and secondly, especially relevant to sportsbike riders, they provide a pad to rest against to help to keep the weight off of your wrists when leant over on longer journeys.

They tend to be fitted either using magnetic panels on the bottom of the bag or by a fuel cap ring. Magnetic attachment is quick and easy but may not be as secure if you want to carry a larger load and may result in scratching the finish and pant on the fuel tank. Also bear in mind that a magnetic variant won’t work if you don’t have a metal tank, some later motorcycle models have a plastic exterior to save on cost and weight, therefore a magnetic tank bag will not be able to stick on to this type of fuel tank.

The ring attachment systems are more secure but can be a little more fiddly and leave behind a rigid plastic ring when the bag is removed. It also requires some fitting, so you will need to be handy with a screwdriver or socket set. The attachment ring is often not included with the bag so this will mean an additional cost is involved.

Which is better? That really depends on your personal use; a magnetic option could be perfect if you rarely require luggage and perhaps ride a sportsbike, this way you don’t ruin the look of your bike with a plastic ring mount when its not in use. However if you regularly require the ability to carry additional luggage when you ride and want to carry heavier items for long distances, then a ring mounted bag could be ideal for you. Especially if you aren’t too worried about the ring being left there when you remove your luggage from the bike.

The best tank ting bags we’ve tested

FAQ

How does a tank ring attachment work?

The tank attachment ring will screw into the fuel filler cap ring. This allows the tank bag to be locked onto this ring keeping it secure.

What is the benefit of a ring attachment over magnetic?

The ring style attachment does not come into contact with the paintwork of the tank. A magnetic attachment could scratch paintwork on the fuel tank.

What size tank bag should I buy?

The main thing to bear in mind is that if you fit a large tank bag this could get in the way of your reach to the bars and restrict your steering movement.

How MCN tests tank bags

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles in order to provide you with opinions and evaluations you can trust, alongside news of the most significant developments in motorcycling safety gear. We want you to stay safe, enjoy your riding and hopefully look great while doing so! 

We don’t test our kit to destruction; we use it exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions.

That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on. To make it onto this list, tank ring bags must have been used for thousands of miles by our team of experienced testers, show no major flaws as well as offering decent value for money. 

Each of our expert reviewers tests their tank bags for a variety of things, both subjective and objective. Factors assessed include the tank ring bags fitment, how secure they are with weight in, what pockets and compartments they have, how heavy duty they are and if they include details such as a waterproofing or expandable capacity.

We cover thousands of miles with these tank bags and regularly compare them with one another in the office, so collectively we’ve built the sort of knowledge base you can trust.

If you can’t see a review against a tank ring bags on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested it yet. These tank bags will only be included if we think they’re important and relevant in the market, and rest assured, we will be working on bringing you a review as soon as we’ve done the miles.

Here’s a brief run-down of the star rating system we use, and what each score means:

• 1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A tank bag with a single star rating has fallen below the expected standard and should be avoided.
• 2 stars – Basic performance in this area or overall. A tank bag with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level and there is room for improvement. It might be lacking safety features, be poorly built or far too expensive to recommend.
• 3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A tank bag with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.
• 4 stars – A tank bag has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A helmet with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.
• 5 stars – A tank bag has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A product with a five-star rating has delivered to the highest possible level, impressing the tester with its performance. We would happily spend our own money on it.

To find out more about our kit testing, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.

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