As soon as I started looking at luggage options for my bike I knew I wanted a tailbag rather than a tank bag. A personal preference. I also knew I wanted luggage which is easy to attach/detach and is waterproof.
My Yamaha MT-07 does not have a rack and I did not want to add one. I like the look of the tail of the bike, especially with the tail tidy. So the luggage options were limited to a tailbag attached to the pillion seat.
There are many motorcycle tailpacks on the market, varying in size, features and price. During my research I discovered the Kriega Drypack family of tailpacks and was very intrigued.
Kriega Drypack System
The Kriega Drypack is a modular multi-bag system, consisting of packs with capacities of 5, 10, 20 and 30 litres. The bags can be used alone or interconnected to form a larger capacity luggage system.
Kriega claims their Drypack tailpacks are 100% waterproof and can fit any type of motorcycle. The packs can be used on or off the motorcycle, which for me was an essential feature.
Kriega US-20 Drypack
After reading product reviews and comparing features I ordered the Kriega US-20 Drypack. It is a versatile 20 litre tailbag which can be used as a courier bag off the bike.
The bag is 100% waterproof and is attached to the rear of the bike using the included buckle loops and hook straps.
The US-20 can be used in combination with other Kriega US Drypacks to create a modular luggage system.
Package Contents
The box of the Kriega US-20 Drypack was nicely packed and contained the bag, a printed Fitting Guide and a smaller box containing all the straps. There are 4 x Subframe Loops, 4 x Hook Straps, a shoulder strap and a waist strap.
The Fitting Guide is clear and easy to follow. The pictures and illustrations help with ease of installation.
Features
The US-20 is constructed of Cordura 420D fabric with abrasion resistance reinforcement. It is 100% waterproof thanks to a white inner liner, which is removable. The white colour makes it easier to see the contents of the bag.
The bag has two external pockets: a water-resistant zip side pocket and a rear mesh pocket. They provide storage for quick-access items. The rubberised mesh on the rear side is anti-slip, which keeps the bag from sliding around.
A shoulder strap and a waist strap are included, making the US-20 fully functional as a courier bag.
The dimensions of the 20 litre bag are 400(h) x 260(w) x 190(d)mm. It is suitable for day trips, overnight trips or weekend trips. For longer trips and for increased storage capacity additional Drypacks, such as the US-10 and US-5, can be easily interconnected with the US-20.
Kriega offers an optional Tank Converter, for those who prefer the bag to be mounted to the tank.
Build Quality
The main body of the Kriega US-20 Drypack is made of Cordura fabric. The bag is well constructed, with strong stitches and water resistant YKK zips. The removable white waterproof liner is securely attached to the mouth of the bag.
The straps are strong and well made. The rubberised non-skid mesh on the back side of the bag appears to be strong and secure.
The overall impression is of a high quality product.
Installation
Installation of the Kriega US-20 Drypack was very easy and straightforward. Kriega claims their US-20 fits any type of bike.
To install the bag you first need to remove the seat. The provided Subframe Loops attach to the frame of the bike and their position is locked in place by looping the strap through their buckles. Replace the seat, leaving the small loop hanging out for the Hook Straps to connect to.
Bikes with no access to the subframe can still use the hook system by looping the straps under the seat. Instructions are provided in the Fitting Guide.
Attaching the Hook Straps to the loops in the Subframe straps take seconds. You then place the tailbag on the pillion seat, connect the buckles, fasten the strap, and… well… that’s it. The tailbag is secured to the bike.
My own installation of the US-20 was even easier: Yamaha provides built-in loop straps attached to bottom of the MT-07 seat. So no Subframe straps were required.
Using the Bag
My first test of the US-20 Drypack was a two day ride with an overnight stay. I managed to fit some clothes, a small amount of food, 2 water bottles, a toolkit, rain pants, and some other misc items. I was surprised by the amount of stuff I could squeeze in.
After packing the bag the top needs to be rolled and be fastened on both sides by buckles. This keeps the bag waterproof. An additional buckle with a strap helps with compacting the bag, thus reducing its profile on the seat.
Securing the bag to the bike took seconds. The bag felt solid and secure and did not slide on the pillion seat at any time. Getting on and off the bike was easy, with the US-20 not getting in the way at all, even for someone who is not that tall…
We covered 770 km on our two day trip, with lots and lots of twisties. The US-20 did not show any signs of movement during our trip and I did not feel its presence on the pillion seat behind me.
It was easy to detach the bag from the bike during breaks: simply push the 4 quick-release buckles and the bag is free. I used it as a courier bag and it was quite comfortable to carry, although a padded strap would have been even better.
Re-attaching the bag to the bike took a whole minute, including fastening the straps to secure it again.
The weather forecast for our trip was for showers and thunderstorms in some of the areas we travelled through. As it turned out we had two dry days, so the waterproof feature of the bag could not be tested with rain. I did, however, have one of my water bottles break in the bag, soaking everything inside. Not a drop of water leaked out from inside the bag…
Conclusion
The Kriega US-20 Draypack is a versatile tailbag/courier bag. It is well constructed, made of Cordura fabric and has an inner lining which makes it 100% waterproof.
The bag’s 20 litre capacity provides plenty of storage for a day trip or an overnighter. The provided Frame Loops are easy to install on any type of bike. It is very easy to attach and detach the bag to/from the bike. This makes it a very good choice for a courier bag as well.
The Kriega US-20 Drypack is a good product and the potential to expand the capacity of the luggage system by adding Drypacks makes it even better.
RRP of the Kriega US-20 Drypack is AU$219. I bought mine from a local retailer for $160 when it was on special, so make sure you shop around.
THE best bag/s I have bought & used on my Kawasaki Z650, Yamaha MT09 & Yamaha MT03!
I have the 20ltr, 30ltr & the backpack.
I have used them on 8 hour ride days, connected together for overnight & weekend trips, as well as using them to grab some groceries!
They have all proved to be COMPLETELY waterproof, & easy to clean if there is a spill inside them.
ONLY wish I have is that they came with ‘packaway backpack straps’ to make the larger bags easier to carry when they are full.
I highly recommend them!
After a lot of reviewing I purchased 2 X 18 litre and 1 x 30 litre Kriega bags. Setting up the base system which the 18’s attach too was relatively easy turning them in to saddle bags and the 30 strapped to the rear rack I have nothing but high praise on the quality, design and the way they stay in place even when 85 percent of my riding is off road. Very robust and user friendly. If the bags are not full to capacity you can easily tighten the straps reducing the bags to suit the load. They are a bit pricey but there is nothing else on the market that you could compare to them. I wouldn’t hesitate in purchasing them again if needed.