Tested: Givi Tanklock EA118 motorcycle tank bag review

Date reviewed: August 2017 | Tested by: BikeSocial Test Team | Price: £88 (plus £14.40 for tank fitting) | www.givi.co.uk

The EA118 Givi Tanklock bag is designed for enduro bikes; thanks to its sloping shape, it’s well suited to the fuel tanks of motorcycles like the BMW GS and the Triumph Tiger… We sent BikeSocial Test Team member Roger Carlisle on his Tiger 1050 for a long weekend tour of Scotland to find out how well it works…

Construction

The bag’s solidly made with 600D polyester, and reinforced tabs at all the zip points. There’s also a clear top panel for maps or smartphones / tablets (it’s touchscreen-compatible).

Storage capacity

Givi says you can carry up to 2kg in the bag’s 25litre capacity – we weren’t camping, so I figured I’d just take my Givi top box and this tank bag. It’s a Tardis! I managed to pack a pair of jeans, two shirts, three T-shirts, a jumper, a magazine, phone battery pack, boat shoes, spare gloves, map book and a spare neck tube in the main compartment. And that was with the tank bag’s rain cover in there too! I did have to use the expanding zip to cram everything in, but it’s very impressive, and even in this larger form, the clocks weren’t obscured at all on my bike.

In one of the side pockets I stuffed ear plugs, visor spray and cloth, and a visor rain blade. In the other I had snacks and a toothbrush.

Ease of fitting

While the bag itself retails at £88 (you’ll usually find it discounted a little), you also need an adaptor ring for your bike. This costs an additional £14.40 – just check the Givi website to find the right one for your bike.

Once the ring is bolted onto your tank filler, the bag very easily and securely clips on, keeping it from moving around on your paintwork like strap-on bags used to.

There’s a safety strap that goes around the bike’s headstock, but it’s still a very quick and easy job to release the lever and free the bag to fill up with fuel or nip off into the services.

Features

Along with the expanding main pocket and two side pockets, a rain cover is included, and there’s reflective piping around the sides and front. The EA118 also has a carry handle and a clip-on shoulder strap.

The waterproof cover keeps everything totally dry inside

Waterproofing

Surprisingly, it didn’t rain while I was in Scotland, but further testing has shown that with the cover on, not a drop of water can get in. If you’re caught in a very brief shower without the cover, your kit should be okay, but water does soon get through without it – if you’re not sure of the weather, make sure you pack it, and use it if the rain hits.

Security

The main compartment’s zips have little lanyards that could be used for a small padlock, but really the risk is that someone could whip the bag itself away. There’s no way of locking the tank ring, so if you’re leaving your bike, just pop the bag off and take it with you.

Conclusion

On any ride of more than a few hours, I need to carry at least something; the Givi Tanklock EA118 is proving invaluable. For items you need to hand, or even if packing for a weekend, the bag is brilliant. And it didn’t cause me grief even over multiple tank fills.

The large capacity, great quick-release mechanism and sturdy construction all add up to make this a highly recommended piece of kit.