GEAR REVIEW
JOHN Ogden Jr
BILTWELL EXFIL-65 BAG best travel gear works
THE across different bikes . If it works for my ADV bike and a cruiser , then it ’ s versatile enough to go in my kit . Every now and then , you find that piece of gear that becomes the “ go-to ” piece . Last year , I stumbled onto that one well-thought-out piece of gear , the Biltwell EXFIL-65 Bag . At first glance , it ’ s a simple bag , not unlike a roll-top rafting bag , but when you look closer , the details start to appear , and you realize bikers designed this .
In 2021 , I decided to take my Street Bob on a 5,000-mile round trip to Sturgis . A bike was not built for comfort ; with a slim seat and no windshield or saddlebags . This trip put me on the hunt for a bag that fit my home fabbed sissy bar with enough storage to pack my essentials with camping gear . With weeks of research and waffling between a dry bag to just strap on or a motorcycle-specific bag , I finally landed on the Biltwell bag .
It has loops built into it that you can run straps through , so you ’ re not limited to built-in straps . The loops also allow you to run the bag upright like on the sissy bar or lay flat across the seat . When the bag is upright , it has a set of loops on the front lower edges that allow additional tie-down points . I used these loops to secure the bag to the top shock mounts . With the bag straps looped around the bag and sissy bar , and the front tied down to the shock mounts , the bag was rock solid and didn ’ t move around , even though it was overloaded .
Next up is the MOLLE webbing on the front of the bag . This allows extra bags to be strapped on or use carbineers to be clipped on . I tied a camelback , my jacket , and another bag for incidentals to the MOLLE webbing . I used a carbineer as a helmet holder while stopped . They all stayed secured during the trip , and the mounts handled the extra weight without issue .
I had a RotopaX for gas underneath the bag , and the extra mounts on the EXFIL-65 allowed me to keep it secure .
The carry handle makes carrying the bag as easy as a duffle bag . The roll-top closure keeps the content dry and snaps down to the bag sides , so it works like a compression bag for when the bag isn ’ t stuffed to the gills .
The EXFIL-65 proved to be a great companion on the trip and doubled up as a backrest on those long straight roads . I carried everything I needed and then some . It was convenient to be able to quickly tie down items such as a jacket without getting into the bag and gave quick access to items as well .
I ’ ve grown fond of this bag , and it ’ s earned a place in my “ go to ” bags for long-distance travel , as well as a quick trip to town to pick up odds and ends . If you would like to see exactly how all this worked together , scan the QR code in this article for a short video . CMA