There are some products that just resonate with us — a combination of engineering, features, and aesthetics that results in decades of loyal adoption. This has been true of Enduristan for me; luggage I have ridden with on four continents and come to know and trust. They were brought into the U.S. for years and then had a hiatus while redesigning new products. Now, they are back in North America through a partnership with Mark Kincart, one of the legends in adventure motorcycling in the USA.
Enduristan is not just a well-designed piece of luggage; it is a company born out of the owner’s passion for adventure motorcycling. The founders, David and Isabel from Switzerland, wanted to see the world, so they loaded up their well-worn Kawasaki and Honda dual-sport motorcycles for a trip into the Sahara via Tunisia. They learned a lot from that trip and secured a few KTM 640s, along with better gear. Ultimately, they crossed the Sahara and Australia, using those experiences to inform the creation of their first tank bag. The company officially launched in 2008, and I had my first test units installed on my KTM 950 by late 2010. Now, with their new product lines and new partners in the USA, we are putting them to the test again, starting with their 6-liter Sandstorm 5.06 and their 9-liter tail pack.
Sandstorm Tank Bag
As an adventure motorcyclist, the one bag that sees the most use is the tank bag. It stores documents, a camera, basic sundries, snacks, and even a quality hydration bladder. It is the first bag we grab when leaving the bike to have a coffee, and it has the equally important job of displaying a paper map while keeping all of the contents dry. Weatherproofing is one of Enduristan’s most notable features, and they have proven to be both waterproof and dustproof. The extreme-duty seam welding and waterproof zippers can keep the contents dry in constant rain or even temporarily during a submersion event (like dropping the bike during a water crossing). Like most bags, it is tempting to go as large as possible, but I have scaled back my tank bag size in recent years because, if I have the space, I just keep filling it up.
I spent a half day along Highway 666 during a monsoon storm without any water ingress into the tank or tail bag
The lid opens with a single zipper pull and hinges open to the left side of the bike with one gloved hand. Inside the lid is an A5 document pouch (basically a standard 8.5×11 sheet folded in half). The pouch removes easily by peeling it off the Velcro backing strips. There is an additional small sundry pouch for earplugs, cords, a tire pressure gauge, etc. For organizing gear, there is a drawstring that helps pull weightier items to the side. The interior is bright red, so items contrast against the color for easy spotting, particularly in low light.
Attaching the tank bag to the bike is a unique combination of a front fastening strap (which loops around the head tube) and two plastic buckle clips that zip-tie to the frame. It is clever and works for most bikes, while also making it easy to move the tank bag from bike to bike by only buying an extra head tube strap. The underside of the bag is padded to limit damage to the tank paint during long-term or off-highway use. One more feature I like is the Velcro strap on the side of the tank bag that allows me to easily secure my gloves. I do feel the clear-window map pocket should come as standard equipment. This is a tank bag ready for riding around the world.
Tail Pack
While I love the convenience of a top case, they are a poor choice for riding on dirt, as they limit the rearward movement of the rider on steep descents and raise the center of gravity. For my 1150 GSA project, I still wanted some semi-permanent storage on the rear rack for times when I remove the Touratech boxes. The Enduristan large Tail Pack is perfect for the job, providing nine liters of storage for all of my tools, tire repair equipment, spares, emergency straps, and even a compact air compressor. The bag is low and wide, taking up all of the space on the Touratech rear rack, strapping easily to the slots at the sides using the supplied metal hooks.
The pack is waterproof, protecting the contents from rain, mud, and dust. It has a padded base with additional grip to help keep the bag from sliding while off-highway. The lid opens with one zipper and includes elastic netting for stashing wet rain gear or a hat, while under the netting is a mesh pocket for quick access (I use it for temporary trash storage). Once the lid is opened, a large compartment is revealed, which can be divided using the supplied Velcro padded divider. The inside of the lid has additional mesh pockets and a zippered sleeve. Even at only nine liters, I was impressed by how much support equipment I could fit inside, and it is nice to know that my tools and tire repair items are always with me.
The tail pack provides important rider clearance while leaning back over the tail of the bike during descents.
Conclusions
For the past 15 years, I have used Enduristan bags in the field and am grateful to see their return to the North American market. They are also launching several new products, including the recent addition of their Blizzard saddle bags for dual-sport motorcycles and smaller adventure bikes. On a recent ride along Hwy 666 in Arizona, I spent half the day in steady rain without a single drop into the Enduristan Adventure Motorcycle bags. Their redesigned Monsoon EVO panniers are also appealing and will likely be my next purchase for when I want soft luggage in the backcountry. We will be sure to report back on how they perform.
Enduristan.com and Enduristan-usa.com
