Motorcycle Cruise Control: Sportech Cranker Tank Bag Review

Average Reviews:
2.0 out of 5 stars

(More customer reviews)Qualifications.
I've had this bag for a while now, and I paid full price which was about twenty buck more than amazon.I used this on a Yamaha XT225 with a Clarke high capacity plastic tank.I've had it on my bike for several months, commuting to work every day.I think my review has some merit.

Aesthetics.
This bag is rather rugged looking, it certainly doesn't belong on a cruiser, and I think it would be questionable to put it on a street bike.Really this bag probably belongs on a dual-sport or a touring bike. Of course this is relative to ones personal tastes. There are some who might say this bag is ugly, I thought it was cool.

Sound.
This bag has the ability to play music.It's about a 3.5"-4" speaker, loosely set into a rubber tray built under the top of the tank bag. The speaker is connected via a 3.5mm cable to an amplifying that can be power by 12v from a bike, or by 4 AA batteries.Using battery power reduced speaker output.At low speeds it works well, sound is clear and loud pretty good.I've read other reviews and they said they could hear it at 70mph; I, however, couldn't hear anything past 55mph, I don't know if it was the angle it was installed, or what, but my XT225 is quieter than most bikes out there, so... whatever.I well say that the higher you increase the volume, the worse it sounds, it's a single one-way midrange, no tweeter or anything, at max volume it sounds terrible. You have to open the bag to turn on the amp, you can not control it from the same area your music player sits in, that is annnoying.

Quality.
I do not think this bag is meant to be on your bike all the time. On my bike it was obnoxious to install the straps, so it would be irritating to remove it every day. It cant handle the wear and tear of everyday life.The integrated weather cover is worthless, rain seems to penetrate right through it, soaking your stuff.Worse the glue they use to secure the decorated fabric coating over the foam rubber the bag is made of seems to be water soluble or something; the first time my bag got moist, it started to peel off.Also this bag seems to be mean for the magnets to be used only despite the straps, because one of the mounts for my straps tore and started to separate from the bag after the first week, which caused the bag to sag to one side on my bike, despite attempts to adjust.I emphasize I didn't abuse this product,I barely used it! It was mostly a place to hold my keys. The sound sucks at high volumes, paper speaker.

Value.
There no way around it: this bag is expensive.It seems like anytime you call something a motorcycle accessory, it's the same as calling an item 'marine-grade', it costs triple what it's worth.Do I think a paper cone speaker with the a 3 dollar amp inside a foam rubber bag is worth a hundred plus dollars?Maybe. But only if it was the last one I had to buy for a bike.This is a good idea, but I feel this is a poor implementation.

Cargo Area.
The bag has little pockets inside it which are great, but the wires and the amp kind of get in the way. It would have been nice if the electronics were separated from the cargo area. Unfortunately, that would have made turning on the amp even more grating. Don't get me wrong, the management of the wires and amp are great inside, and the fact you can replace the speaker is awesome, but it still interferes with quick access.

Other thoughts.
I do not frown upon this manufacturer, I was able to pick this up locally and it was exactly what I wanted at the time. At the same time, I do not recommend this product, if you can find an alternative online, I suggest you do so.Thank you.

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Product Description:
*Features an integrated amplifier speaker and MP3 capability so you can take your music with you.*Superior sound quality at highway speeds.*Sleek semi-rigid design maintains shape even when empty.*Includes integrated rain cover.*Powered from your bike or from 4M batteries.*Mounts to bike with three high-powered magnets.*Optional mounting straps are included for plastic tanks and added versatility.*Nonabrasive rubberized backing protects your bikes finish.