Rynox Optimus-M Tank bag Review: Introduction

Rynox Optimus-M Tank bag Review

Some might refer to them as unnecessary indulgence, but spend enough time with a motorcycle tank bag and they can become irreplaceable. Not only they take the weight off your shoulders (quite literally), but also have a bunch of utilitarian features that make for a hassle-free experience. Rynox is a Mumbai-based company which has been making motorcycle luggage and riding gear since 2012. They have an in-house team of riding enthusiasts who develop and manufacture their products in Mumbai itself. The Optimus tank bag was one of the first products in their portfolio. 

What we have here is the upgraded version of the Optimus-M tank bag, which has been on sale since 2014. While Rynox products are available through their official site and several online portals, we picked up ours from Babloo Motors in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. 

One of the main reasons why I picked up the Optimus is because it can accommodate a full-sized helmet. Due to the kind of job we do, we tend to travel a lot (well, I’m not complaining!). While airlines do not allow helmets inside the aeroplane cabins, checking it in with the luggage gives me a scary premonition. So the Optimus is now a way through which I shall smuggle the helmet along with my carry-on luggage. The Optimus also has an elastic fastener to hold the helmet in place. 

Apart from the main compartment, the Optimus has five outer compartments. The transparent pocket can hold your phone and is a convenient way to use navigation apps. The other three can be used to keep your knick-knacks. And then there is one shallow hidden compartment at the bottom to keep some paperwork or cash. There is also a netted compartment on the inside of the main flap, which can hold the bike’s papers.

I had mistaken the ‘M’ in its name for its size, but the alphabet is in fact an acronym for ‘magnetic’. There are five powerful monopole magnets on the base which allow the tank bag to latch on to a metal fuel tank. You can unzip the base unit and remove the concealed shoulder straps to convert it into a backpack. Remember the part about using it as carry-on luggage? Well, the backpack guise makes the Optimus less conspicuous and a lot more convenient to carry around. 

The Optimus is also available in an ‘S’ trim with suction cups, which can be used on motorcycles with fibre tanks. The good news is that the base units of the Optimus-S and Optimus-M are interchangeable.  So if you have more than one motorcycle with different kind of fuel tanks, you can purchase the base unit with the suction cups and use it on a fibre fuel tank.

Rynox ships the Optimus with one handlebar strap and two frame fastening straps as an additional securing mechanism. These can also be used to mount the Optimus on the rear seat or luggage rack and use it as a tail bag. There is a reflective Rynox logo as a safety measure. There is also a waterproof rain cover which can be shrouded onto the Optimus. In its standard guise, the Optimus can hold 22 litres of luggage. However, there is a zip above the base unit which expands the bag and increases the capacity to 31 litres. This is necessary in case you decide to put your helmet in. 

The Optimus-M retails at Rs 3,450, while the Optimus-S will set you back by Rs 3,250. Over the next few months, the Optimus will be my accomplice for all my motorcycle rides. We will soon bring you a guide on the different ways of using the Optimus on motorcycles and a detailed review. 

Click here to buy it online

Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi