Story by James Parchman
[This Wolfman Luggage Moto-Briefcase Motorcycle Luggage Review was originally published in the March 2010 issue of Rider magazine]
An important aspect of motorcycle travel is the ability to get away, relax and forget about workplace-related issues for a few days. Oops, that was an opening line we might have written a decade or two ago; life is much different in the 21st century! Today, if you’re lucky enough to get a few days vacation, you are still apt to maintain regular contact with the office or clients.
Faced with the need for carrying office essentials along, too many times we have managed to stuff our necessities (a laptop computer, a camera, notepads, files, etc.) wherever they might fit without complaint within our traveling luggage. We then find it a real pain in the kickstand to extricate what we need, when we need it, and still in proper working order.
Just another duffle bag isn’t the best solution for hauling our mobile office…the product should be designed for motorcycle use. Well, Eric Hougen and his team at Wolfman Luggage sensed the need, and developed the Moto-Briefcase.
Hougen’s product is sized (17 1/2 L x 12 1/2 W x 4 1/2 D inches) about the same as the hard-shell briefcase carried by the Corporation Man of yesteryear. But the Moto-Briefcase is soft sided, offered in motorcycle luggage black, and made of 1,680-denier ballistic nylon. It’s not a square duffle disguised as a briefcase, either. It’s loaded with features, first of which is its expandability. Pull the external zipper and you gain an additional 4 inches of carrying depth. Need organization? We counted 14 internal pockets, including a full-length zippered compartment, plus three on the outside. There are also two internal key holders (always carry a spare motorcycle and house key).
For your laptop, a removable padded computer case is included. The interior of the Moto-Briefcase is also padded on all sides for further shock resistance. During testing we packed a laptop, a camera bag and writing supplies in the Moto-Briefcase and had plenty of room leftover for a sack lunch!
But it’s the exterior of the product that proves its value to the motorcycle rider. Eight external D-rings allow lots of securing options. No bungees? No problem. The Moto-Briefcase has four adjustable bungees with large plastic hooks, accessed behind zippers that quickly secured it to the luggage rack of our Triumph Tiger. The bottom of the briefcase has a nonslip coating for extra stability. Alternatively, it can fit inside most motorcycle top boxes and luggage cases.
If you prefer the over-the-shoulder look or your machine is short on space, Wolfman still has you covered. Included are straps that allow you to carry the Moto-Briefcase backpack or courier style.
For those who need to carry the workplace along, on a vacation or the commute, the Moto-Briefcase is a nifty product. Our million-mile laptop bag gave up the ghost after extended travel in the Middle East. The Moto-Briefcase has become an admirable replacement, with the added capability of going straight from airplane to motorcycle luggage rack. Ballistic nylon isn’t waterproof, but we’ve been in several showers with it and experienced no leaks.
Wolfman has manufactured motorcycle luggage since 1993. All Wolfman products are made in the USA and a carry a lifetime quality and 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee. The Moto-Briefcase sells for $174.99 and is available at motorcycle products retailers, and from the company website.
Wolfman Motorcycle Luggage, 1840 Skyway Drive, Unit E, Longmont, Colorado 80504; (800) 535-8131; www.wolfmanluggage.com
