While making plans for our upcoming dualsport rides I started thinking
about things that I should be sure to bring along. One of the first things that
popped into my mind was to bring along besides the general tools
was a spare tube in case of a flat. To secure a tube and the tools required to
make the change we needed a spare tube carrier. Since our rear fender bag has
proven functional and extremely durable we decided upon Dirt-Bike-Gear.coms new
front fender bag.
This bag is made of the
same ballistic nylon as our rear bag and is designed to hold a normal tube along
with short tire
irons and a patch kit. Inside the bag there are two pockets, one main pocket for
the tube and a smaller pocket for tools and patches. A  zipper
secures both pockets along with a compression strap to help relieve the tension.
The bag fastens to the front fender by two straps that wrap around the front
forks and then snap back into the bag. Unlike many bags on the market this one
uses no hooks that attach to the front fender, which results is much better
chance the bag will still be around at the end of a nasty ride. Upon packing the bag we
were actually able to squeeze in a heavy-duty front tube along with two short
tire irons and a small patch kit. This did make the bag a little bulky but once
the bag is strapped to the bike
and tightened down it isn't going anywhere. If your going to put in a Co2 tire
inflation kit or other tools you might want to just stick with the normal tube
as recommended in the instructions. We carried a hand pump in our hydration pack so the extra room
wasn't an issue for us. Our initial ride turned
out only to be around 70 miles but in that time we had no problems with the bag
shifting or coming loose. The only concern is that we added some flexible
plastic tubing around the brake
and odo cable that rubs on the strap on that side of the bag. This tubing helps
to keep the aftermarket odo cable in place better and out of the front tire. For
future rides we will probably add some electrical tape to the tubing to reduce
the edges from rubbing on the strap. If you're looking for a durable spare tube
front fender bag that offers room for a tube and tools then consider the
Dirt-Bike-Gear.com bag. The bag costs $25; further information and ordering can
be found at http://www.dirt-bike-gear.com/front_bags.html
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