Welcome to the Drifter’s Deets. Here I am proud to give you no-nonsense reviews on gear to make your ride more comfortable while looking awesome cruising down the road.
Today I’m here to give you the rundown on the Trident XL Sissy Bar Bag from Viking Bags. Overall, I would say this piece of luggage is ideal for the daily commuter or weekend warrior, with the potential to be suitable for more frequently longer rides. The greatest features I’ve come across when I use this bag are its top and bottom pockets, aside from the main compartment. Viking Bags advertises the bottom pocket to be great for storing your boots and while I haven’t used it for that purpose, I can say with confidence, this space is also perfect for storing your tools. The bottom pocket is roomy enough for your Allan keys, wrenches, screwdrivers, and any other basic tools. A socket set may end up a bit snug, but that’s up to what kind of set you want to use. The main compartment is capable of storing about two days’ worth of clothes with room to spare for other supplies. The top pocket is useful for storing your everyday essentials like your wallet and charging cords for your phone, and keys. The side pockets are suitable to keep your travel mug or a small toiletry set in either side. What I like best about the three front pockets is that their design features large Velcro patches, instead of strips that tend to wear out after a handful of uses along with elastic straps, further acting to keep your items secure. The backpack straps are very comfortable, but a heavy enough bag will make anything lose its’ comfort. That’s where the straps to attach your bag to your sissy bar comes into play. Depending on what kind of sissy bar you’re working with, attachment can range to being on the road in a matter of seconds to taking up to five minutes at the most. After some travel the straps can start to loosen a bit, but for the most part, they stay tight throughout your ride.
With all of the good things to bet said, there are a couple areas that could do with a little help. The Viking Bags logo starts to peel after about a month. The left buckle for the backpack strap was backwards when I opened the package, but after a bit of work I managed to put it on straight. The biggest area for improvement is the handle to carry the sissy bar bag freehanded. I would like to see a beefier grip. While the skeletal design of the grip looks nice it starts to break apart after only a few weeks of use.
Having considered all of these points I rate the Trident XL Sissy Bar Bag a nine on the Drifter’s Scale of Do-ability