Rynox Gears Optimus M tankbag/tailbag review

‘Rynox Gears’ is a new entrant into the motorcycle travel gear segment in India and offers a decent lineup of products primarily consisting of tankbags, tailbags and saddlebags.
The ‘Optimus M’ is a tankbag which can also be used as a tailbag and a backpack. The ‘M’ stands for magnetic base, which differentiates it from its sibling, the ‘Optimus S’, which consists of a suction-cup base.

Looks

This is one area where most Rynox products score high. Overall, the bag has a good shape and feel. The composite leather patches, 3M webbing materials, 1680D polyester PVC coated material, and fit and finish gives a premium upmarket feel to it. All stitching are strong with no loose ends. The Optimus M is currently available only in the black option, but it definitely looks the part.

Safety

The Optimus M is a strongly built bag. Although the YKK zippers felt light and flimsy initially, they turned out to be quite strong and water proof. The magnetic base consists of 5 strong magnets that securely holds the tall bag onto the tank. Add to that the base is made of slip, scratch and heat resistant protective material. There are also extra straps and hoops provided with the bag to secure it in place. The additional straps are primarily for using the bag as a tail bag and can either go under the seat or the entire tail section. The rain cover is waterproof with an elastic base and plastic top panel, but additional straps to tie it down secure would have been a good addition. Another important safety aspect is the 3M reflective patches around the bag.

Functionality

One thing that’s very obvious is the huge amount of space this bag has of 21 liters, and then even some more with the expandable compartment to hold 29 liters in total. The basic material the tank bag is made up is quite thick and tough. There is a transparent top pocket for your maps, side pockets for easy access items and a basic organizer for pens keys and other small stuff in the main compartment. The only problem per say we found was that the fully loaded bag is quite tall and could become a bit wobbly on certain bikes on higher speeds. The shoulder straps are a definite cool feature of the bag which make the tank bag a backpack helping you to carry it around easily. The function of it to be used as a proper tailbag as much as a tankbag also adds up to the bags functionality.

Verdict

Truth be told, the folks at Rynox Gears could not have entered the scene at a better time. We in India were quite saturated for options and the Rynox range comes in as a breather. That said the Optimus M is priced at Rs.3149/- and becomes an expensive option comparatively. But on the flip side, it does have a lot of things that go for it, including capacity, multifunction aspect, shoulder straps and good quality materials. Maybe a better pricing would have made it an easier choice for many, but with its premium look, feel and features, this could be more appealing for enthusiasts.