I'm always on the lookout for a convenient way to carry my daily essentials on a motorcycle. I never leave home without my phone, charger, wallet and a couple of knick-knacks, but I hate the idea of wearing a backpack to carry such a small list of items, especially on a motorcycle.
And when I had just about given up the search for a suitable product, I happened to meet the good folks at Carbonado at the 2020 Auto Expo. They introduced me to the Vector, their new bag that’s designed specifically for people with needs similar to mine.
Straight off the bat, the Vector’s gun holster-style design is quite interesting. It’s compact enough to carry around on a daily basis, while the 900D reverse-fabric construction feels premium and tough. The company also claims some amount of water resistance, but it isn’t waterproof.
Besides looking more expensive than it actually is, it is the fit and the ease of carrying it around that impresses the most. The bag can be fastened around your right or left leg, with an adjustable strap running around your waist and another one circling your thigh. Once the bag is secured to the leg, it sits remarkably well, and despite stuffing in as many items as the two zippered pockets and the single flap style pocket could hold, I barely felt the weight. The other thing I loved is that the bag never impedes your range of motion, no matter the type of two-wheeler you are straddling. Whether I was seated on a scooter, crouching on a sporty motorcycle like the TVS Apache RR 310 or standing on the pegs of the Triumph Tiger 900, the Vector remained incognito.
As far as storage options go, besides the aforementioned pockets, the Vector has two D-rings to hook carabiners and three loops around the waist area to hang sunglasses or what have you. The small Velcro pouch next to these loops are ideal to carry small items like house keys.
In all, I’m happy with the Vector. It has withstood months of daily use and varying weather conditions pretty well. There are no scuff marks, loose threads or broken zips so far and this speaks about the bag’s durability. Special mention must be made of the straps, which are tough, yet gentle on painted surfaces – not once did they scuff the paint on the many motorcycles I’ve tested.
So, if you like the sense of freedom that you get by not having to carry a bulky backpack around, the Vector is quite the ideal option.
Where: www.carbonado.in
Price: Rs 990
Dinshaw Magol
Rishaad Mody
