One of the truisms of riding a motorcycle on a daily basis is having to carry it all with you, literally. Unless you’re riding a Honda Gold Wing, or a bike equipped with panniers, bringing your daily essentials along with you means lugging everything around in a backpack. The big problem with most backpacks is that they are designed for walkers and trekkers, where the body is upright, and body movements are very different from riding a motorcycle.
Velomacchi, based in Oregon, US, believes it has the answer with the Speedway roll-top backpack. From an asphaltandrubber.com report, the Speedway backpack is designed with the requirements of motorcyclists in mind. These include a properly water-proof compartment with a three-point rotating harness system that places the backpack close to the rider’s centre of gravity, and a magnetic clasp to hold everything together.
The pivoting shoulder straps hold the backpack in one position on the rider’s back, as the rider moves around while maneuvering. Water-proof front pockets hold occassional gear, while a dedicated pocket lets the rider carry essential medical information. There is even a leash for keys and accessories, and a hands-free helmet clip.
There is even provision to insert an optional water bladder for those long rides. The Speedway backpack is made from 1000D competition fabric that resists tears and abrasion, while the quilted backpanel is made from ballistic material with tuck-away straps. Capacity for the backpack is 25 litres – 20 litres in the main compartment and five litres in the pockets – and will accommodate a laptop easily.
Available from purchase from the Velomacchi website, the Speedway backpack retails for USD299 (RM1,200). A range of matching laptop and tablet sleeves is also available for purchase, as well as other riding accessories such as gloves.
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I like it but like the Kriega series, I wonder how much would this bag cost, when & where will it be available?
Pricing and availability is mentioned in the article.
Thanks but that is in USD & after direction conversion plus if you order online. For Malaysia, the price might be slightly (or lot) difference especially if available at the local store.
hey more motorcycle news is always great! It would be better if there are more articles catering to local motorcycle scene.
the bag looks very promising. but the magnetic strap does not really instill confidence…also theres not that much 3d foam at the back so your back might get a bit sweaty during hot days.
Also im using a 30l hiking bag for my daily ride and the hip belt does its job great.
Hey So,
Yes this is a premium price point riders pack. We put a lot of detail in our product that removes distraction and improves your ride. Velomacchi is a small startup based in Hood River, Oregon. We are all riders and have worked for many years building technical gloves and luggage for companies like The North Face, Columbia Sportswear and Black Diamond Equipment.
You bring up a valid concern about the magnetic sternum coupler. The magnetic sternum coupler is a special locking mechanism we had made in Germany. The entire mechanism is constructed from a nylon 66 plastic and there is a thin aluminum shell on the outside machined with a knurled pattern to improve grip with gloves. The entire mechanism is backed with an impact foam throughout the chest pieces like a motocross chest protector, and is less bulky than a large sternum strap buckle.
The benefit is it has a strong earth magnet in the mechanism so as soon as you get the two pieces close to each other they align and snap together. This is really helpful if you are wearing a full face helmet.
On the speedway pack we also took the time to address many other riding issues. There are no trailing straps on our bags. The shoulderstraps have a cam buckle system that manages the tail of the webbing so it does not distract the rider at speed. We engineered a structured 1000d fabric with both a TPU lamination and heavy DWR coating to create an abrasion and water resistant fabric that does not cavitate at speed.
The backpack category has traditionally been overlooked compared to apparel and footwear. Many companies have not applied the same level of detail and attention to this category that it deserves.
Our position is that products should not be “adapted” for motorcycle riding from alpine trekking or bicycle. The environment we ride and play in contains a high level of risk and every piece of your gear should be well thought through and designed specifically to reduce distractions and keep the rider safe.
We are focused on building safe and innovative gear to improve your ride. If you have any questions or comments about ways we can improve our products or tackle new product categories please drop me a line at the email below. Your comments make us better.
Kevin Murray
President
[email protected]
May I know what bike is he riding please?