Tank Bags - Love em or hate em?

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As the title suggests - what are your thoughts on Tank bags? Does anyone use them? What type/style/brand do you prefer? Any good/bad experiences with certain types?

one thing I have done to stop the bag scuffing the paint is pretty simple. I have an Oxford magnetic bag and from Woolworths got some non slip matting. White stuff about 3mm thick and quite spongy. Cut mine to fit the shape of the bag and folds up with the flaps when putting it away. Never had a scratch from it and only $10 or so to do.

O.K enough of this how great tank bags are .

Your going for a day ride ,lets say 400 kls in totall .What do you take. I'll start .

A wallet. That it ,no more is needed . What on earth are you lot on .

2/ You should take your mobile, for emergencies.

ooh ooh I know / a clean hanky

I got mine so I'd have somewhere to put my camera, on short trips, I'm more inclined to take photos as it's easy to get at. Also the map window on top comes in handy too.

I even use these on longer trip so I don't have to access the rack-bag.

"Your going for a day ride ,lets say 400 kls in totall .What do you take."

Thongs and a joint? Anything more and I'd put my tank bag on.

"Your going for a day ride ,lets say 400 kls in totall .What do you take."

Wallet, camera, phone, rain gear in winter.

I use my tank bag daily. So during the week its got my lunch, wallet, phone, work clothes, milk (BYO milk for coffee), tinted visor, wet weathers, and sometimes a bike/car mag. For a 400+km weekend ride I'll take food n water, hat, sunnies, camera, maps, spare tools, zippy ties, ocky straps, first aid kit, headache tablets. Im used to travelling with owners of Guzzis and Beemers that sometimes break down - hence the extra tools n stuff!!
Its just easy to chuck stuff into the tank bag...............!

The more room you have the more UNNECESSARY stuff you put in .Those Dririder type jackets have a lot of pockets dont they . What , you need MORE.

gus wrote:The more room you have the more UNNECESSARY stuff you put in .Those Dririder type jackets have a lot of pockets dont they . What , you need MORE.

Please Sir, may I have some more. MOOOOORRRRE.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

In summer on longer rides (400-600km) I need more room than a dririder style jacket has. I use a hydrapack type water bladder, but usually it's empty just after lunch, so I carry an extra one (frozen the night before) in the Ventura rack bag. I've learnt not to carry water and electonic gear in the same bag.

In winter I carry a thermos of coffee. The amount I drink it's too expensive to buy coffee at cafe's, and there's not always a cafe around when I decide I need a break.

I think some of you need a CARAVAN !