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After switching over to waterproof tail bags from conventional saddle bags few years back. I have hardly got back to them, except instances where I had to tour with pillion.
Personally, I am not a big fan of the hard luggage, as most of the bikes that I use are mostly light and of lower capacity. Also I prefer my luggage to be within the perimeter of the bike, more or less.
After an extremely happy ownership of the Aquapac, I wanted something smaller, but 100% Waterproof baggage for smaller weekend or trail rides. Another criteria I was also looking for was the possibility of carrying the laptop (for a good 150-200kms tarmac) without much hassles as work from anywhere is the norm. My Viaterra raptor, though laptop compliant couldn’t accommodate my large size(15.6”) laptop. The 22 ltr pod can completely accommodate an average laptop bag of 15.6”, along with enough space for other stuffs to be accommodated.
(P.S: The company doesn’t recommend laptop to be carried as it doesn’t have any padding. So do it on personal preference, with ample amount of padding. Also avoid carrying a laptop if the terrain is bad, as the shocks can damage it. So if you are doing, its at your own risk)
In the last few years I started to eliminate other electronics from my ride luggage, stuffs like camera, Go Pro and the associated accessories which used to occupy quite a considerable amount of space and required attention whenever you stop for breaks.
So now most of my 2 or a 3 ride would fit in a luggage as small as a backpack, a hydration pack and a tank bag. Also I am not a fan of waterproof covers as most of the times they tend to fly off or expose some portions of the bag to water. The waterproof cover requires a change after 3-4 decent rain rides spanning 6-7 days. The need for a compact waterproof luggage grew day by day.
Motorcycle Tail bags owned in the past:
- Viaterra Claw(Version 1)
- Dirtsack Frogman Tail bag
- Viaterra Raptor (Version 1)
- Held Waterproof tail bag
- Aquapac Duffle bag (Ownership review can be found here : AQUAPAC)
Where to buy?
It can be ordered either directly from the Viaterra website (POD Motorcycle Tailbag) or through their dealer network.
Pricing:
- Rs. 1999/- for the 22 ltrs one
- Rs. 1399/- for the 12 ltrs version.
Initial Impressions:
Since I was used to PVC/Tarpaulin based tail bags I was a bit skeptical about the waterproofing capabilities of the bag. But few rides in the rain convinced me about the fabric.
Construction:
The outer shell which is a 300X3000D Ripstop fabric with Pu Coating
(Find more information on ripstop fabric here )
200DX 200D inner fabric for 5000mm pressure (has been upgraded from 68DX68D from the first iteration)
Size reference, when roller up, against a 1 ltr water bottle
· Mounting base/Harness:
Sizing:
The Pod 12 dimensions are 14X8X6”
Pod 22 Dimensions are 46X26X18”
Ease of loading:
Since this is of a smaller size, it really doesn’t matter if it’s a vertical or horizontal loading. The main compartment is with wide top opening. Make sure to stuff the items properly for proper utilization of space. Compress the bag to remove the excess air from it roll up the open end at least 3 times and make sure that it is rolled towards the bottom of the bag and then secure the clips for maximum waterproofing.
Loading Capacity:
The POD 22 will easily take stuffs sufficient for about 2-4 days, unless you want to carry your house with you while travelling and the PO12 will accommodate luggage sufficient for a single day ride or an overnighter.
How to mount?
This bag is kind of universal on almost all bikes with removable seat. It carries a simple ladder lock SR clamp based mounting system.
Remove the seat
Place the mounting base in a position that it doesn't come in contact with the locking area
If you have grab rails on your bike take one set of straps through the rail, as it provides better support and doesn't allow the bag to come front when mounted.
Replace the seat and ensure that the seat is properly locked.
When the bag is not in use , leave the harness on the bike itself. Ensure that the clips are locked properly and the straps doesn't come in contact with the wheels or the exhaust.
Mount the bag and ensure that the straps are passed through the loops and properly tightened.
Please note: The Pod 22 is not recommended on the Triumph Daytona as the surface area and seat is very narrow. The straps cant be placed wide.
The mounting for the Viaterra pod are relatively easier compared to the Kreiga and Dirtsack Counterparts. It is just one single harness and you are sorted.
Pro Tip: You can leave the base on the bike itself, as it helps to carry some light luggage during those grocery shopping trips or carrying spares. Also it eliminates the possibility of getting misplaced.
Maintenance:
- The bag is a single opening one, so lesser hassles in maintenance.
- As in case of other motorcycle luggage, avoid sharp items towards the inner surface of the bag.
- When not in use, remove the contents and store the bag empty
- When storing avoid folding it into sharp edges, Better to roll it to avoid wrinkles
- Whenever you wash, remove the inner liner separately and wash. use a mild detergent and preferably wash it with hand and not used a brush or scrubber. Hang dry the bag
- The entire set up is collapsible doesn’t occupy much space, when not in use. It comes in very handy if you are a kind of person who picks up stuffs on the ride
- The bag is a universal fit across all motorcycle types i.e off road/adventure tourer, street nakeds, sports bike etc
- Just the luggage is like under 100-150 gms, so you can even carry it along with bigger luggage and use it for those trail rides where you don’t want to take bigger luggage
- The entire construction comes without any zippers or pockets, so the waterproofing capabilities are well laid out
- Since it is a modular luggage variant, you can strap on additional baggage one on top of another, if required
- The Pod is compatible with other Viaterra products, like Leh, Ladakh and Claw as an expander. Even if I am riding out for say a week to 10 days, I generally have the Pod12 inside the aquapac so that if i am heading out for a day ride from a particular place, I just take the Pod.
- The molle straps make sure that the bag doesn’t move around much and also facilitate mounting the Pods one on top of another. You can use whichever groove depending on how much have you loaded the bag.
- The stitch quality is top notch, the ones on the inner layer is heat sealed for better waterproofing.
- Once completely secured, the bag stays still even when you are doing decent speeds on bad roads
- May be a clip for using a strap while carrying it around.
- Though the straps provided are sufficient, may be another strap which goes through the grab rail(If there is a closed grab rail/rack) and pulls the bag back, would have added more strength.
- Extended reflective surface for better visibility. Though the current 3M does its job well, since I prefer to do night rides, reflectiveness is of higher priority
- Double D ring arrangement instead of clip type would have made the entire set up even more simple.
- Anti-skid surface at the base could have been provided.
The bag comes with 1 year standard warranty against any manufacturing defects.
P.S: In case of any wear due to regular wear of the inner liner, you can buy a replacement from Viaterra itself. The same if it happens on the out shell due to an accident or any other reason and if it is in the range of repairability, that too will be carried out by Viaterra at a nominal cost.
Conclusion:
The Pod feels under rated product amongst the most modern competitive gears, but it is one of the most versatile products that I have used in recent times. The Pod 12 is so compact when collapsed that it fits in between the spaces in the rear panels underseat.
Summary:
· Product Quality ✴️✴️✴️✴️
· Fit and Function ✴️✴️✴️✴️
· Ease of loading ✴️✴️✴️✴️
· Waterproofing ✴️✴️✴️✴️✴️
· Value for Money ✴️✴️✴️✴️✴️
? Because in pics, I saw Jackets and Gloves from Viaterra.
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