In the world of soft-sided motorcycle luggage there is a lot to choose from and, if you choose wrong, your trip may not go so well.  Ortlieb U.S.A. has been making high quality waterproof bicycle luggage since the early ’80s. With the recent growth of the adventure motorcycle segment in North America, Ortieb has taken its thirty plus years of experience and applied it to its line of 100% waterproof motorcycle bags.

ADVMoto had the opportunity to test out the “Zip ’N Go” 45-liter bag on a recent trip to Rhode Island. When we received the bag, the high quality materials and the attention to detail were clearly evident. Ortlieb uses a heavy-duty PU material that is extremely fold and abrasion resistant. Both ends of the bag feature large 3M Scotchlite reflectors and reflective logo. Strapping this bag to the back of your stead is made simple with the four easy to use tie down points located below the carrying handles. Adjustable, extremely well padded strap makes carrying a loaded bag a breeze.

Now here comes the fun part. When they say their bags are “100% waterproof, they mean it. Ortlieb uses an ultra-heavy duty Tizip zipper that is air tight. You can actually, zip the bag up with air in it, sit on it, and not even the slightest bit of air escapes. This had me fairly convinced that it was 100% waterproof, so to satisfy my curiosity. I filled up my bath tub, stuffed the bag full of fluffy towels and dropped the bag in the tub. After my morning coffee, I retrieved the bag from the tub to find the towels were completely dry. I couldn’t believe it. ADVMoto will continue to try and get this bag to leak but, in the meantime, if you’re in the market for a 100%  waterproof easy to use bag, check out the full line of Ortlieb products at their website. MSRP: $150 OrtliebUSA.com