Viking Explorer Bag Review

My biggest complaint about the Viking Explorer Handlebar Bag is that the logo reminds me of a medical alert bracelet.

Viking Bags reached out to me in April 2024 and asked if I’d be interested in doing a review on one of their products. I’ve done a few reviews on the Throttle Blogger website before, but it was always something I bought with my own money, so there had never been any oversight from anyone about my review. I simply bought something I was interested in using and wrote how it worked for me. I was a bit hesitant about doing a review where I was given a product because I had concerns they’d want a favorable review, regardless of my actual opinion. Viking assured me that I’d be free to give my honest opinion, so I figured I’d give it a shot.

They sent me a list of products to choose from. I chose the Viking Explorer Handlebar Bag for Adventure Touring Motorcycles. I’d never used a handlebar bag before and was interested in putting it on my Suzuki DR-650, mostly because the DR is a bit tall for me and getting my ID out of my pocket to enter my work parking lot is a hassle. Seemed like the handlebar bag would be a convenient solution and could have other uses. As of September 28, 2024, the price is $49.99. Their website showed the price as $42.99 with a coupon. The price seems to change often, so check to be sure.

First Glance

My first impression about the bag was that if felt heavy duty. The zippers seemed sturdy and the Velcro straps felt substantial. It appeared robust and should stand up to a fair amount of abuse. I’ll post a follow-up after an appropriate amount of time has passed.

Installation

Installation was straightforward; simply feed the Velcro straps through the loops on the bag and wrap them around the handlebars. It’s a good thing installation was so simple because there were no instructions included. Their website was no help in this regard. The only information provided on the website was “Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about installation.” With instructions available online for even the most basic tasks, like how to use a spoon, it’s something that could be fixed with minimal effort. It’s an issue that I’m willing to overlook, however, as there are plenty of videos on YouTube about how to mount similar products.

Storage Capacity

The size seemed appropriate. It’s listed online as having a capacity of 61 cubic inches. You’re not going to be able to carry a bunch of stuff in it, but that’s not what it’s designed for. I don’t like carrying things in my pants’ pockets, and it’s a perfect replacement for that. I’ll carry my wallet, ID, keys, and cell phone in the bag to keep my pockets empty. There’s also an opening in the bottom to run a charging cable from the bike and into the bag, so I can charge my phone. The bag is big enough to carry what I want, and not so big that it gets in the way.

There are two pockets, both of which have zippers, ensuring the contents are secure. There is also a Velcro-closed lid, or flap, which covers both pockets. The zippers are good. They feel strong and sturdy, slide smoothly, and don’t get caught or hung up on anything. The lid seems adequate, thought I sometimes don’t seem to fasten it properly and notice it flapping around. This is likely more my fault than anything to do with the design, but it’s something to keep in mind.

Weather Resistance and Accessories

My biggest concern about the Explorer Handlebar Bag is that it’s not listed as waterproof, but as weather resistant. I never know exactly what that means, other than my things might get wet if it’s raining. Though I prefer to ride when it’s sunny and warm, the reality is that I ride in the rain more than I like, and I’m sure you do too. Since installing the Explorer Bag, I have been caught several times in the rain, sometimes heavy, and the contents of the bag have stayed dry. I was surprised how well it did, but I don’t know that I can count on that moving forward. I should probably try using some sort of waterproofing product, but I think I’ll keep it as is and see how far I can push its weather resistance. A rain cover or waterproof pocket would be a great addition, but I don’t see anything like that offered on their website. In fact, it doesn’t look like they sell any accessories. It would be nice if you could buy extra Velcro straps from Viking Bags, but you’d have to look elsewhere for them.

Final Opinion

After spending the whole summer with it, I’ve been happy with the Viking Explorer Handlebar Bag for Adventure Touring Motorcycles and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a handlebar bag. The price seems fair and is on par with other manufacturers offering a similar product with comparable quality.

Do you have experience with handlebar bags from Viking, or Viking Bags in general? If so, what’s your opinion?

Full disclosure in case it was missed at the start of this review, Viking sent me the Viking Explorer Handlebar Bag for Adventure Touring Motorcycles in exchange for my honest review.