‘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 S’ is a tankbag which can also be used as a tailbag and a backpack. The ‘S’ stands for its suction base, which differentiates it from its sibling, the ‘Optimus M’, which consists of a magnetic base. Apart from the functionally different base both these tank/tail bags are the same.
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 S is currently available only in the black option, but it definitely looks the part.
Safety
The Optimus S 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 suction base consists of 4 suction cups that hold the tall bag onto a non-metallic 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 provided are for added safety, these can go under the tank and fasten the tank bag more firmly on the tank, these are also helpful when using the bag as a tail bag and can either go under the seat or the entire tail section. We found that the fully loaded bag is quite tall and could become a bit wobbly on certain bikes at higher speeds. The suction cups are not very powerful but yes they do hold the bag in place, and never gave up under strong or sudden movement, but we do recommend that you use the straps provided as an added safety. 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 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 added 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.
Price is 2999 and not 3149