86 / American Iron / Issue #379 AIMag.com
:
HETHER YOU NEED TO PACK A LITTLE OR A LOT,
Nelson Rigg has you covered with an extensive
line of tailbags, backrest bags, tankbags, trunk
rack bags, and more. I recently tested two of the company’s
new bags on two different motorcycles: the Route 1 Week-
ender backrest rack bag on an Indian Chieftain and the
Commuter Lite tail bag on a Harley-Davidson Sport Glide.
The smaller of the two, the Commuter Lite, measures
11" long x 10" wide, is 6.5" high and expands to 8.5" high.
It holds 15.32 liters when expanded and 11.71 liters when
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the daily commute: sunglasses, gloves, rain suit, and lunch.
The larger bag, the Weekender, measures 14" long x
13.5" wide x 10" high. It, too, is expandable, and grows up
to 13" high. The 40-liter expanded capacity is large enough
for—you guessed it—a weekend’s worth of supplies. Even
when not expanded, the 31-liter capacity will hold plenty
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with room to spare, even without expanding the bag.
The Weekender and Commuter Lite are made of du-
rable ballistic nylon, called UltraMax, and have semi-rigid
construction, maintaining their shape even when empty.
The UltraMax material has been through three years of
testing, and boasts extreme UV protective qualities and
is water- and abrasion-resistant. Because Nelson Rigg
stands proudly by this material, UltraMax products carry
a lifetime warranty.
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ing, lined interiors, and come with
separate waterproof rain covers. The
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straps that run under the seat or
around a secure point on the mo-
torcycle. The Commuter Lite straps
attach to the bag via quick-release
buckles, but the Weekender’s straps
are permanently attached.
The Commuter Lite’s small
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Glide’s passenger pillion, and I’m
certain it will work with many other
American cruisers, even though Nel-
son Rigg markets this bag more for sport-
bikes with small pillions and tail sections.
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passenger pillion or mounted to a luggage
rack and has a solid base so it won’t sag.
Both bags include anti-slip base material,
sturdy zippers with easy-to-use pull tabs,
and small eyelets that you can lock closed.
The Weekender features two outer
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disc lock, eyeglass cleaner, sidestand puck,
and stuff I want easy access to. The lid’sSOURCES
Nelson Rigg
Commuter Lite Tailbag
CL-1060-R, $89.95Route 1 Weekender
NR-215, $149.95
NelsonRigg.cominterior includes a zippered compart-
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leable items nicely.
The Commuter Lite features a
molded lid with carbon-like accents.
The interior portion of this lid includes
a zippered mesh compartment, good for
storing the rain cover and a few other
small sundries. The main compartment
includes two crossed elastic straps
which are helpful for keeping your stuff
from rolling around inside.
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is awkward to carry, though, as it has
no carry handle or shoulder strap—my
only critique of the bag itself.
Nelson Rigg has been making top-
quality motorcycle luggage for more
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right size and shape that works for
your motorcycle at NelsonRigg.com.
Be sure to measure the footprint of
your motorcycle’s passenger pillion or
luggage rack and browse through all
the offerings, even if it’s not marketed
for your type of motorcycle. $,0Pack Your Tail Off
Nelson Rigg Weekender and Commuter Lite
PRODUCT REVIEW•BY TRICIA SZULEWSKIRight: I particularly like how
the Commuter Lite’s straps stay
under the seat so I can remove
the bag with the quick-release
connectors, and the straps stay
on the bike when I carry the
bag into the office.
Below: The Weekender
includes a fixed adjustable
Velcro strap that you can
tighten around a sissybar for
stability.