Product review: Shad Pin System tank bags

Tank bags for motorcycles come in all shapes and sizes. Some are strapped on, others are magnetic, some are big enough for epic journeys and some are compact little numbers for only the essentials. And now there are even options that levitate or so it seemed when I fitted up the new Shad tank bag, featuring Shad’s nifty Pin System. If you haven’t come across Shad before, it’s a Spanish brand that’s been decking out motorcycles with luggage for decades.

Employing the Pin System involves removing three or four (depending on your bike) of the fuel filler screws and replacing them with screws supplied in the Shad fitting kit. The idea of a bag that didn’t make contact with the tank appealed, but the thought of pulling screws out of the fuel cap on my Yamaha FZ-1N freaked me out. I pictured damaged seals, leaking fuel and a tonne of regret.

Like most things I worry about, installing the pins for the Shad tank bag was a stress-free affair. With a 4mm Allen Key, the original screws were removed and replaced with the Shad screw-in pins in a matter of moments. You’ll also need a 2.5mm Allen Key to install the Shad pins.

Next up was fitting the metal plate to the base of the Shad bag. This created a bit of a problem as the screws provided have Torx heads. I’ve got a garage full of Allen keys and a couple of Torx tools for my mountain bike, but not the T20 Torx tool I needed for the Shad plate. A quick blast to Bunnings had me sorted with a 10-piece Torx tool for just $9.95.

With the pins screwed into the fuel cap and the plate attached to the bag it’s simply a matter of lowering the bag over the three pins and pulling the bag towards the back of the bike to lock it in place. The bag sits a few millimetres above the tank, making it look like it’s floating and eliminating the possibility of a scratched tank.

Getting the bag off is even easier with a short, spring-loaded strap at the front of the bag that once pulled allows the bag to be pulled forward off the pins and off the bike.

I had a couple of Shad bags to play with and started with the teeny tiny E-04P, which, unlike the name suggests, has a three-litre storage capacity. It’s super low-profile and shaped like a diamond. It’s the cutest tank bag I’ve ever seen. In fact, it’s the only cute tank bag I’ve ever seen…

The Yamaha’s fuel filler is positioned towards the back of the tank, so unfortunately the Shad bag hangs off the back of the tank slightly. It would have looked so much better had the fuel filler been halfway along the tank or even towards the front. Apart from aesthetics I also wondered how obtrusive it would be while riding.

Once again my concerns were unjustified as I barely knew it was there while riding through traffic or through the twisties. With a bigger belly it might be an issue but its position didn’t hamper me at all.

As for capacity, the Shad E-04P tank bag is far from spacious. It’s great for carrying everyday necessities like your wallet, phone, house keys and sunnies but it’s not built for much more than that.

I managed to also squeeze in a small bottle of water and a cap. There’s a dedicated phone space in the lid of the bag and thankfully Shad has made the phone pocket big enough to fit some of the biggest mobile monsters.

The clear film on the top of the phone pocket is touch screen compatible so you can easily punch out an SMS without taking the phone out. Clever. The little Shad isn’t rated as waterproof but it does have waterproof zips to stop water gushing in should you get caught in a downpour.

The E-16P is the biggest of the Pin System tank bags and at a 15-litre capacity, it carries five times the cargo of the E-04P. While that sounds like it’d be a behemoth in comparison, the E-16P is still a sleek, compact tank bag.

Unlike the E-04P, the mounting plate on the bigger bag can be positioned to suit your bike. Further forward to shift the bag back on the bike or towards the back of the bag for bikes like mine so there’s less overhang. I positioned the mounting plate as far back on the bag as possible to push the bag forward.

The E-16P Shad bag is a far more practical option than the cute three-litre and comes with a sturdy waterproof rain cover. The E-16P is expandable for more storage and the waterproof cover can expand with it. Nice touch.

I was able to easily fit standard items like phone, keys and wallet, plus a pair of shoes, a bottle of water, hat, sunnies, a hamburger-sized camera bag and that was just the bottom half. The lid, which has a zippered mesh layer to stop everything falling out when you open it, was left empty and would easily fit a change of clothes.

Refuelling with a tank bag is an unavoidable annoyance and while it’s not a deal breaker, the Shad Pin System doesn’t make it any easier to fill up than a more commonly used magnetic tank bag. In fact, I find it easier to refuel with my old magnetic tank bag due to the headstock strap and the softer material.

With my old bag I can simply flip it over and let it sag onto the instrument cluster without any concern for it falling off. The Shad bag is a semi-rigid design so it’s about as stable upside down as a turtle that’s been flipped onto its back.

While Shad isn’t the only brand offering quick release tank bags I do like how the Shad bag leaves so little behind when the bag is removed. Rather than a fitting ring that sits proud of the tank, the Shad Pin System just has the screw heads protruding from the fuel filler. It’d take a keen eye to notice the screws that sit proud of the fuel filler when there’s no bag on the bike.

Both Shad bags I used have a quality feel to them and while I’m a fan of the way the smaller version looks, it’s not practical enough for me, which is why I’d go for the E-16P with enough space for an overnight stay and a waterproof cover to keep my gear dry.

The high points of the Shad Pin System, in my opinion, are the aesthetics and the zero contact with your fuel tank. The semi-rigid Shad bags certainly look sharper than the more traditional magnetic and strap-on bags, however I still appreciate the practicality of my trusty old magnetic tank bag with outer compartments that conveniently stow keys and wallets for instant access.

Shad claims the Pin System is compatible with over 180 different models of motorcycles so if you like the idea of a levitating tank bag there’s a good chance Shad has a scratch-free option to suit you.

For more info on Shad luggage and to find your closest stockist visit www.motonational.com.au.