Review: The Viking AXE Magnetic Tank Bag
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I know this is going to date me, but I bought my first tank bag in 1979. That bag covered almost the entire length of the gas tank on my BMW R100RT. It was held on by four cumbersome straps with cinch buckles - the same type used on motorcycle helmets. You had to loosen all the straps to be able to slide the bag down far enough to get to the gas cap. If you were in a hurry, good luck. On the plus side, the bag had a three-story expanding compartment that folded out. In this formation, it was as tall as it was long, and big enough to carry a medium schnauzer or a week’s worth of groceries. I ended up using that bag very infrequently even though it was expensive.
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It's convenient, roomy, well-made and affordable. What's not to like?
The Viking AXE medium, magnetic tank bag on my 1972 R75/5 BMW
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Over the years, I've owned a bunch of other tank bags. A couple were barely big enough to fit glasses, gloves and a wallet inside. Most leaked like a sieve when it rained or fell apart after a couple of years. With the exception of one, all required the use of some form of strapping system woven though a foam pad under the bag. None were what I would call convenient, especially when pulling up to the gas pumps.
Finding a tank bag for an antique bike is difficult. The Viking bag doesn't need buckles or straps which can damage paint. This bag fits nicely on my 72' Triumph Tiger.
There's plenty of room in this bag for the necessities. The webbed pocket is great for things you need to spot right away - like keys. Behind the webbed pocket is a flat pocket with stiff backing. It's a great place to keep your registration, driver's license or photos.
This bag is made with excellent materials - Cordura water repellent fabric and nylon zippers. It should last a while.
The front pocket beneath the carrying handle is a great place to stow a cell phone or sun glasses.
Under the top flap, there’s a Velcro pocket that's great for keeping important paperwork (like a vehicle registration) flat and undamaged. There’s also a webbed pocket. That's a smart place for storing things you need to see right away - like your keys. There is a clear vinyl, zippered pouch on the top of the bag for written directions, maps or a cell phone.
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Earlier this week, FedEx dropped off an AXE Medium Black Magnetic Motorcycle Tank Bag (https://www.vikingbags.com/vikingbags-axe-medium-black-magnetic-motorcycle-tank-bag). My current tank bag was ready for retirement and I needed something that better met my needs. I found this bag on the Viking Bags website. This is just one of many really nice products offered by Viking Bags (https://www.vikingcycle.com/). From what I’ve seen, the common component with Viking products is they are created by motorcycle enthusiasts and are very well made, utilizing high-quality materials.
A medium-sized tank bag is ideal for most of my riding. That’s especially true on my motorcycles that don’t have saddle bags. For riding around town, I’d like to stow my cell phone, wallet, registration, riding gloves, house keys, maybe some chewing gum and a hair brush in the bag. Also, being that I live in Florida where it can rain just about anytime, I need room for my rain suit too. If a longer ride is on the agenda, or if I have a passenger, I need enough room for two rain suits, a couple of GoPros and maybe some snacks. The AXE medium tank bag can accommodate all this and more. For me, this bag is the perfect size - but that’s not what makes it a perfect bag. What makes this bag so special is the convenience factor. It’s a grab-and-go tank bag that mounts in seconds. How? There are nine, strong magnets sewn into the base and the side flaps of the bag. These magnets are strong enough to safely secure the bag to almost any steel tank. With few exceptions, almost all of my vintage or antique street bikes have metal tanks, so this is really nice for me. When you pull up to the pump, that’s when you’ll realize just how convenient the magnetic mounting system is. Simply lift the bag off the tank and the gas cap is exposed. You can’t get any easier than that. No clips, no straps, no bungees - just lift it off. Of course, there’s more to like about this bag than the unique mounting system. Quality and value are also very important to me. I think you’d have a really tough time finding a better made bag anywhere, especially when you consider the price of the Viking AXE bag. It’s currently listed for just under $100. These days it’s hard to find any top-notch motorcycle accessory for less than a C-note. The folks at Viking have obviously given some thought to using really good materials. This bag is constructed using Cordura fabric. In my opinion it's an excellent choice and a good selling point. Cordura is really tough and water-resistant. It’s used on tents, luggage, outdoor and work clothing, as well as boots, backpacks and other military gear. One look at the bag and you can tell it’s well made. A friend of mine, who builds award-winning custom bikes, stopped by the shop and saw the bag on my bike. His first word were, "This is a really well made bag." I agreed. It's also been well designed. Things are where they should be. The carrying handle is ideally sized and tucked out of the way. The positioning makes it easy to lift the bag off the tank. Beneath the handle is a zippered pocket. This pocket is convenient for stowing those small but important items you may want to have quick access too, like keys or glasses. The inside of the bag is lined with a very soft material that won’t scratch a cell phone or tablet screen. 
The inside of this cavernous bag is lined with soft material that will not scratch cell phones, tablets or cameras.
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I haven’t been caught in a heavy rain yet with this bag, so I don’t know how water resistant it is, but hey, that’s why Viking also included a rain cover. The rubber coated, nylon rain cover should keep any moisture out. Also included is a three-point safety strap in case you’re not comfortable with using just the magnets to hold the bag to the tank. If you’re buzzing around at speeds over 100mph and sitting upright (rather than laying down on the bag), you might want to explore using the safety straps.
So, did I find any downside to this bag? No, not really. That is, as long as you have a steel fuel tank. If you have an aluminum, stainless steel, plastic or fiberglass fuel tank, the magnets won't stick and you'll have to use the straps, which makes it much less convenient. One other thing, if you buy this bag and one day you find your keys are missing, you may want to take a look under the bag. There's a good chance your keys will be there, stuck to the magnets. All in all, I’m really happy with the Viking AXE, Medium Tank Bag. It’s perfectly sized for most riders and the magnet mounting system makes it wildly easy to use. It’s nicely designed, really well made and you just can’t beat the price. What’s not to like? I’m giving this new tank bag a five-out-of-five review! I highly recommend it. I also plan to revisit this review in about a year to see how this bag holds up. Here’s an interesting side note: Viking Cycle, a company associated with Viking Bags, will soon be relaunching its motorcycle clothing and gear line. You can’t buy anything from the website as of this writing, but I’ve been assured they will be opening up real soon. Here’s a link to Viking Cycle: https://www.vikingcycle.com/ The Vintage Bike Builder Be sure to check out our YouTube review of this bag.
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The handle is well-made and firmly sewn in place.
A rubberized rain cover is included with the bag. Mounting straps are also provided.
Nine, strong magnets are sewn into soft vinyl that won't scratch or mar paint. If you ever find your keys missing, you may want to check to make your they aren't stuck to the magnets!
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