The Motofizz Camping Seat Bag is what the name implies: a seat bag designed for camping. It’s the synthesis of a backpack and a motorcycle seat bag—so most of the features will be familiar.
Four quick-release buckles (QRBs) with four large web-nylon loops are the primary method for securing this bag to the rear pillion or rack. Stuffed with heavy gear this four-point strap system kept the bag from shifting on the pillion even after negotiating a succession of hard corners. Four additional loops on the bag allow bungee cords, web belts or rope to be used as alternate tie-downs.
The construction of this bag is of high quality. Piping on the outside edges, metal YKK zipper pulls, draw-cord locks on all elastic cords, high-impact nylon D rings and Kifco quick-release buckles are used throughout the Motofizz bag. The stress points for the carrying handle and the QRBs for the mounting straps are riveted to an interior plastic plate and the stitches are doubled. A number of different materials are used and each was appropriately chosen for its function. For example, the outside base is made of a non-slip material, but the interior base is a smooth nylon with foam padding between the two. The rest of the interior is PVC-coated nylon for water resistance while the outside shell is a combination of ballistic nylon and synthetic leather.
There are three zippered access points to the interior of the bag—each end and top center. Each of these has a zipper on three sides with a pair of zipper pulls, thus providing full-size openings or just enough to get your hand through. On each end is an interior retaining web strap to prevent the unzipped flap from landing on hot exhaust pipes. Each end—on the medium and large bags, but not the small—has a 4″ zippered gusset that allows for bag expansion. That’s an extra 576 each or 1,152 square inches total of space!
There’s a mesh interior pocket on each end and the outside features a fixed cargo pocket and water bottle holster on one side and a larger, removable belt pack/cargo pocket on the other. Another well thought-out feature is the adjustable web strap with a QRB that goes over each end and each cargo pocket has a loop with metal snaps to retain the strap. There is another pair of straps, again with QRBs, on the interior to secure gear.
The top center opening is also the base of a nylon duffle bag with a draw cord. Designed to hold food it also works well for dirty laundry or anything you don’t want messing up the gear packed in the bag’s interior. This is a quirky, but surprisingly convenient, feature.
The entire top of the bag is covered by another flap, one side fixed and the other secured by three 1″ adjustable nylon straps with QRBs. There are six D-rings, a laced elastic cord with adjustable cord lock that’s suitable for securing rain gear or a light jacket, and a pair of removable 3/4″ nylon adjustable straps with a QRB designed for holding a foam sleeping pad. This seemingly complex cover actually allows for considerable flexibility for what—and how—you chose to pack. It also provides quick and easy securing of riding gear as the temperature or climatic conditions change during the day.
The rain cover is the only thing that can be criticized about the Motofizz Camping Seat Bag. It’s large enough, but only has a cinch cord that secures it to the bag. Almost every other aspect is designed to exacting detail; so not having the rain cover attached and with its own outside pocket is a bit disappointing. Sooner or later I’m going to lose the rain cover to high winds or negligence.
I’ve managed to fit all of my camping gear—including a cot, a moderate amount of cooking gear, two-man tent, sleeping bag and a complete change of clothes—inside the bag. Placing the tent and cot on the outside provided me with ample room for a two-week jaunt with a one-week supply of food (but just one bottle of water). Without the camping gear I was able to pack all the clothes needed for a week on the road without having to do laundry. I especially like how easily I can access and remove a single piece of gear without having to rearrange the entire contents of my bag.
Don’t be greedy. The medium size is actually quite large with the gussets unzipped and the large size is probably more suitable for trikes that don’t have a top case.
The Motofizz Camping Seat Bag is made in Japan—not China—and sold in the U.S. only through Aerostich.
