Naturally, we all try to transport all sorts of things on a motorcycle. In our efforts to turn our motorcycles into hauling machines, we often end up on the wrong side of disaster.
While you might get away with hauling the odd two by four for a few miles, it is critical to understand your limitations. This is why suitable luggage is of paramount importance. While some need more capacity than others, for many, a small tail bag is actually perfect. Some riders are a little apprehensive with tail bags and the way they get secured to the rear seat, but as long as you choose a bag that is of respectable quality, this needn’t be a concern. Kappa has built up a reputation for making high quality luggage, and their Alpha Range series is ideal for those that are after something more compact.
With a maximum capacity of only 7 liters, the AH203 is not a touring accessory, but somewhere to stash small items on short to medium range day trips. It can also easily be used for commuting, as long as you don’t need to take your laptop everywhere. Again, understanding your limitations is important here.
The Good
One of the limiting factors of a backpack is the weight it puts on your back. Even if a bag only has a couple of things in it, you will feel it over time, and you will feel it the next day after the ride too.
This is where a tail or tank bag shines. It can hold everything you need for the ride and takes all the weight off your back. Tail bags are generally more affordable than tank bags, especially those that lock to your tank which will require you to purchase a separate flange adapter. There are also some that claim to double up as both, but in most cases that is just a tail bag being marketed as something it actually isn't! The Kappa Alpha Range AH203 makes no such pretense, it is very much a dedicated tail bag. We still went ahead and experimented with it as a tank bag anyway, and that went about as well as you might expect.
Tail bags are designed to be secured to the rear seat, and as long as you use the straps as instructed, it won’t go anywhere. With the Kappa there is no confusion either, there are only three straps: one that goes across and two that go along the length of the rear seat. All you need to do is cinch them down, then tuck away the excess, and you are good to go. It has proven to be a genuinely hard wearing little bag over the years, the zippers still work fine and if it rains it has a little rain cover that is still waterproof even after several years of use.
The Bad
As we said, you need to understand the limitations. 7 liters is not a lot of space, and that figure is with it expanded to its maximum size. Realistically, it only offers 5 liters in its normal, more rigid state.
The most obvious limitation of any tail bag is the fact that it takes away your passenger seat, which is fine for me because I usually ride alone, but if you do a lot of two-up touring you will need a rear rack. If you have a rear rack, a top box is also probably the more practical option anyway. Top boxes are not pretty, but they are undeniably functional.
The little Kappa bag is also more suited to motorcycles with separate passenger seats. If you have a bike with a single seat construction it might not work quite as well, because the two straps that go along the seat (two out of three) will need to go around the seat and won’t cinch down quite as well. Security is also non-existent, and you will always wonder if it is going to be the last time you see the little bag when you leave it on the bike. It won’t take much to cut the straps and take off with – a now useless – bag and its contents. Although it comes with a shoulder strap, it is a bit uncomfortable and the straps that are used to fasten it to the bike also have nowhere to go. They just sort of dangle there unless you are willing to painstakingly remove all of them every time you take it off the bike.
Who It’s For
This is the ideal bag for somebody who wants to take weight off their back on a daily commute, or on short day trips. It is not very big and can only realistically stow your valuables safely away from the harmful vibrations of a motorcycle. It is a great alternative to (rather ugly) top boxes and more pricey tank bags. It looks great and is solidly built, as long as you do your part in properly securing it to the bike, it is about as secure as motorcycle luggage can be.