The Mosko Moto Gnome five-liter tank bag is a compact bag that fits sideways across the top of the motorcycle gas tank. The Gnome is perfect for hydration while riding, carrying small essentials you want quick access to, and staying out of the way when you’re standing fully forward.
I love the large Mosko Moto Nomax tank bag for extended travel. All the compartments, storage space, and hydration convenience have made it my go-to tank bag. However, my body stature (5-foot-10, 30-inch inseam) puts it directly blocking me from a full forward standing position. On the Ultimate Motorcycling Yamaha Ténéré 700 Project Bike, the Gnome is far enough away that I am not bumping into it when standing in an aggressive riding position.
The Mosko Moto Gnome tank bag has an MSRP of $225 and connects to the same mounting pigtails as the Nomax, so my installation was just a few seconds. I attached the straps that wrap around the steering head and clipped the leg straps into my already-there, zip-tied, short pigtail buckles. If the Gnome is your first Mosko tank bag, you will use the included outdoor, super-duty zip-ties to secure the short Hypalon pigtails to your frame tubes. Total installation time is about 10 minutes from unpackaging.
The Gnome tank bag has six zippered pocket areas, including the main pocket (four accessible from the outside and two inside), one internal hook-and-loop closure pocket inside the main compartment, and one pass-through pocket under the base for holding the straps to using the Gnome as a convenient hip pack for short hikes. The Gnome weighs about 1.5 pounds with the 1.5-liter water bladder empty. The 630D water-repellent nylon shell protects your contents from a quick rain shower or splash, but the zippers are not waterproof.
To separate the Mosko Moto Gnome from the bike, you unlatch the two gated-clip quick-disconnects that release the Gnome from each leg strap. You only need to release one side to flop the Gnome away from the gas cap for fueling. If you take the bag off your bike when the exhaust is hot, be careful that the leg straps don’t fall onto the pipes—they will melt. If hot exhaust is an issue, you can disconnect the leg straps at the pigtails.
The Gnome has a hook-and-loop-attached, removable, secondary foam riser on its base, with a cutout to lift it so it doesn’t teeter over the gas cap. The water bladder takes up a lot of room by pushing up the base of the central compartment. This is a small bag, so there are tradeoffs—more water means less storage in the main compartment. The zippered and fleece-lined glasses pocket in the rear is not affected by the bladder, and neither is the front zippered pocket located behind the carry handle in the front. If you need extra space, the outer lid is a Hypalon MOLLE and Mosko Moto has a secure MOLLE cell phone pocket ($40) that attaches to it.
I carry my driver’s license, credit card, and lip balm in the outer front zipper pocket of the Mosko Moto Gnome tank bag—there isn’t room for more. I keep my earplugs’ case in the main compartment and attach my keys to the key clip when I am off the bike.
A zippered inside pocket under the main compartment secures a passport, travel documents, and motorcycle-related paperwork; it is a good place for documents that aren’t pulled out very often, if at all.
The inner lid has a zipper pocket with a SIM card eject tool attached, and elastic loops to secure a pen and a tire pressure gauge. If the bladder is full and you want to overstuff the interior, the tire pressure gauge prevents the lid from becoming rigid, and it cannot be zipped shut. The bottom of the main compartment has two elastic straps to keep things like a battery pack and cables from moving around.
The 1.5-liter hydration bag has an easy-fill leakproof slide closure and quick-disconnect hose connection. It took several flushes to get rid of the plastic taste of the water, so don’t grab it and go the first time. The bite valve has an on/off thumb slide and a slip-on cover to keep dust off. The hose runs around the outside of the Gnome and is insulated. The insulation has kept the water in the hose from getting hot if I only take sips infrequently. The hydration pack is an essential feature for me, as I have experienced dehydration, having been too focused on keeping airflow going on a scorching desert ride.
The Mosko Moto Gnome tank bag will hold small essentials in a compact package. It gives you one-handed access to water while riding, and doesn’t block a forward stance when you stand. Whether your carry essentials are a multitool, bear spray, snacks, a cell phone, or a trail saw, the Gnome will pack it. The Gnome does require planning, though, as it is not a stuff sack. Instead, it is a well-designed, rugged storage unit.
