Clean up a 20-year-old tank bag

[detbmw]

I received a 20-year-old BMW tank bag for my K75S in the mail yesterday. It was used for years on a pair of K100s.

The base looks to be leather, and shows its age. It is in good condition, and should fit the bike perfectly (it has the following stamped into the base: K75,C,S K100,RS,RT,LT).

My question is, should I use a leather cleaner/protector on the leather? I want it to look as good as the bike does.

Thanks,
Rich

[frankenduck]

Light years better than Lexol and the other usual suspects:

Skidmore's Leather Cream Biker Edition

[Lawrence]

The more modern BMW tank bags are synthetic materials.  I'd guess "more modern" would properly include all made in the last three decades.  The last time I saw leather on a BMW tank bag it was on a Harro Elephant Boy bag, which, while popular with BMW folks, technically would not be a BMW bit in and of itself.  Mild soap such as soap of woolens or maybe Murphy's Oil soap should work fine for cleaning any actual BMW bag. 

[frankenduck]

I had a very early tank bag that came with an 85 I bought that actually did have some leather components to it. :eek2:  Can't remember if the base was leather or not though.

[andyinlz]

So, to hijack this a bit, are most early 90's vintage BMW tank bags the same, and the bike-specific item is the mounting plate that the bag zippers onto?

I have a 1990 K-1 that is new to me and I am trying to piece together the correct base and bag--and it will be much easier if all I'm really looking for is the correct base.

Thanks in advance.

[frankenduck]

BMW OEM Multivario Tank Bag Basics

[andyinlz]

Thanks--very helpful.

Should I expect the Multivaro to match the K1 rear luggage in color, or were they all black?

[frankenduck]

They're all black with yellow piping.

Here's what one looks like on a K1:

[detbmw]

Light years better than Lexol and the other usual suspects:

Skidmore's Leather Cream Biker Edition

Thanks, I'm going to pick some up. The base of the tank bag looks like leather. The bag has red piping and the expansion piece, that makes it large enough to carry four bags of groceries, is red, so it matches my Marrakesh Red K75S nicely.    I'll try and post a picture tomorrow.

Rich

[detbmw]

I finally got around to taking a picture of the tank bag. It almost touches the chin of my helmet when it is fully expanded!

[frankenduck]

It almost touches the chin of my helmet when it is fully expanded!

When I went to Tucson to pick up my K1 I took a fully expanded tank bag since the K1 only has enough storage space for a couple of 40oz beer cans.  My chin would hit it almost every time I did a shoulder check if I wasn't careful. 

(And it looked pretty stupid too.)

[Lawrence]

It may be awkward and may not meet the hallmarks of good aesthetics, but there's something to be said for that versatility!  BMW tank bags are pretty well designed.  The only gripe I have is the rain covers can blow off in the slipstream over the fairing.

[detbmw]

I've started riding my K75S with just the tank bag and without the side or top cases. It looks a lot sexier that way. That expandable tank bag can hold a lot!

Rich