As previously mentioned I was fortunate to receive a new tank bag to try out courtesy of Viking Bags. Well - finally, after months of waiting and 2 false springs I got to it!
Hydration Pack & Tank Bag for ADV Riders
First, what it is. The “Viking Apex ADV Touring Tank Bag With Hydration Pack” is a new jaunt into adventure accessories for the company traditionally focused on leather bags and the Harley crowd. This tank bag is made from 1680D nylon and includes a 2L removable water bladder/hydration pack. I was please to find I was able to use my existing ‘other brand’ hydration pack no problem. Clips hold the cord in place and within easy reach. The water wasn;t any cooler than sitting on my back, but I sure was. 👍️
Oh yeah, and it’s also a backpack!
As a Backpack
The bag’s design is intended to be easily unclipped from the bike and two lightweight shoulder straps can be affixed.
The shoulder straps are thin and tuck away in their own special place. It’s not a bad design, but unfortunately it does seem a bit small for a pack.
With the bag off we can also talk about storage a bit. The depth is about 3 inches in main area, and i’d say 8×10 inches inside space.
I thought it was a well made pack, and impressed enough with the design and stowing of straps. 👍️
As a Tank Bag
Initial Mounting
Now I went to mount it on the bike and was, too be honest, immediately dumb-founded with how I was to mount the bottom side. Some youtube videos showed others using nylon straps, which I guess are secure enough but felt temporary. Since I was only evaluating i cheated and left my previous bags in place.
The headstock mounting provided similar frustrations as the harness is fixed with 2 buckles on either side that cant be removed and must be passed under and around. The problem is that ideally the go under the headstock, but behind any cables, etc.
Given their bulk this was impossible on my personal bike, but may not be an issue for others. I also cheated here and used my old straps (which allow just the thin nylon to be passed under and routed as needed). 👎️
Practical Use
Once through the mounting frustrations I was really pleased with the layout. The front pouch is more shallow, but includes a whole variety of pockets and clips. This was something that stood out for this bag, and I think really ideal for those traveling with cameras or electronics with lots of little cords and chargers and batteries and memory cards. Could be a vloggers dream. 👍️
The top has nice molly panel and includes a waterproof cover with clear view panel, but unfortunately nothing on the bag itself for a map.
A note on shape
In making a bag suitable for both sloped tanks and straight backs Viking compromised on a shape somewhere between. That means on my BMW ADV there was a noticeable gap as the bag tried to hug a steeply curved tank. Granted, had it fit my tank like I wanted I don’t see it fitting anyone’s back 😆 .
Final Takeaway
The Viking Apex ADV is a good entry level bag, but I think tried to be a bit too many things to get them all right. Overall I will be returning to my previous bag which is larger storage and waterproof, though I will miss the extra organization.
If you’re interested to learn more checkout the Apex ADV Touring Tank Bag and other bags from Viking at https://vikingbags.com
