There’s a lot to be said about a little tank bag.
I’ve been just as guilty as the next ADV rider, packing out a full-size tank bag with all the things I think I needed, only to not use half of it. Worse even is restriction of movement – or worse still – restriction of the handlebars while turning sharp corners (which has happened!) Enter the Mosko Moto Gnome, the 5L bag big enough to accommodate a 1.5L water reservoir, your wallet, phone, a few tools, sunglasses, a snack or two, and maybe even some gas additive. Mosko designed the bag with a landscape mount position, putting the bag high onto the tank, which frees up space for the rocky roads where you really want to stand to maneuver your bike.
Suffice it to say this bag, at 11x8x5 inches, is the perfect size for the tank of my BMW F 750 GS, expandable enough to bring along everything I need and small enough to force me to leave unnecessary things at home.
The bag is super easy to use, with a main compartment and five smaller interior and exterior auxiliary pockets. I tucked an extra pair of glasses into the fleece-lined front pocket, put my motorcycle registration, license, and a few bills into an interior stealth passport pocket, and a small knife and pen in the provided easy-access elastic bands. Ear buds fit nicely into an exterior, easy-reach pocket on the front of the bag. The rubber tubing attached to the reservoir is within easy reach and pulls quickly out of its clip for a quick drink.
The durable 630D high-density nylon bag has a water-repellent finish but isn’t waterproof, so Mosko includes a small, stashable rain cover in its kit for wet days. They also engineered a MOLLE attachment panel on top of the bag, perfect for a Garmin inReach or Mosko’s compatible MOLLE-mounted cell phone case, the Navigator Cell Phone Pocket (which is next on my wish list). As it was, my cell phone fits nicely into the elastic loops provided on the bottom of the bag.
The bag also offers a safety feature in that, by unsnapping a few clips, it easily turns into a waist pack or sling, making it easy to carry your valuables on a hike or into a restaurant. I am always worried on a stop that someone will walk off with the whole tank bag, so this ease of use and flexibility is a big deal for me.
The bag is available in black and Mosko’s new popular golden color, High Desert, but so in demand is High Desert, the color won’t be stocked again until later this year. Be sure to get on Mosko’s notification list here to get in line for one. With 102 five-star reviews, you won’t be disappointed.
Mosko Moto Gnome 丨$225
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