So here’s the deal.
Three amigos on a mission to prove you don’t need big adventure motorcycles — or good decisions — to have a great day. We grabbed a Triumph Scrambler 400X, a Royal Enfield Himalayan, and a CFMoto 450MT Ibex.
Then we slapped on some Turkana MadMule™ rackless soft saddlebags, fitted a Bullfrog™ 5L tank bag on a GeckoGrip™ harness, and strapped a PelliPouch™ handlebar bag to each bike. After that, we hit the streets and the ridiculously scenic mountain passes around Cape Town for the day, ghosting work like total delinquents.
The idea? The TurkanaGear soft luggage motorcycle pannier systems aren’t just for big 1200cc monsters. Turkana pannier rackless bags fit pretty much anything; no racks, no drama.
And to prove the new generation of small-capacity motorcycles are fun, good-looking and great for more than just commuting.
Turkana Motorcycle Soft panniers: Rugged, Rackless, waterproof, and Ready for Any Bike
They’re tough, modular, waterproof, adjustable for any size motorbike, simple to strap on, and just as happy on the morning commute as they are bombing down a gravel pass.
The bikes? All surprisingly capable. The Triumph is the flash retro one, lightweight and agile; it can do dirt but is happier on asphalt. The Himalayan? The Himalayan is laid-back, built like a tractor, and will get you anywhere. The CFMoto? Total wildcard. Punchy and fun, it shows up with no pedigree but still walks out like it owns the place.
They’re all beginner-friendly, but don’t let that fool you; these bikes aren’t just for first-timers figuring out which end of the clutch to pull. Whether you’re new to riding or have years of dirt under your nails and sand in your helmet, these machines deliver.
From City Streets to Gravel Passes: One Setup for Every type of motorbike Ride
They’re light, easy to handle, forgiving when you stuff up, and simple to fix when you eventually do. Cheap on fuel, low on maintenance drama, and built to take a beating, they’re the kind of bikes that let you focus on the ride, not the stress.
From weekday commutes and coffee shop runs to weekend camping trips and long-haul gravel adventures, they’ll get the job done and still make you grin while doing it.
Triumph Scrambler 400X
- Engine: 398cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 29 hp, 37.5 Nm torque.
- Weight: Around 179 kg wet.
- Ground clearance: ~195 mm.
- Why it rocks: Classic scrambler looks with solid build quality. Light, flickable, comfy on tarmac, and capable on light gravel.
- Good to know: It’s not a hardcore dirt machine, more of a retro street bike that can handle mild trails. Ideal for mixed rides with a bit of show-off style at the café, just unadulterated fun!
- Tank Size: 13 litres Decent for mixed use, roughly 300+ km range if you’re not riding like a hooligan.
Plans are overrated. A Triumph 400X, Turkana rackless bags, and reckless optimism get you way further anyway
Royal Enfield Himalayan
- Engine: 411cc air-cooled single-cylinder, ~24.5 hp, 40 Nm torque.
- Weight: About 196 kg wet.
- Ground clearance: 230 mm.
- Why it rocks: Simple, rugged, dead easy to fix. Built like a tractor. Loves slow, technical stuff and chewing up rough roads.
- Good to know: Not powerful, but that’s the point; you can plod over rocks and through rivers all day without drama. Super forgiving for newer riders or chilled adventurers.
- Tank Size: 17 litres A bigger tank suits longer stints. Can push 400+ km on calm rides thanks to low fuel use.
Proof that you don’t need speed, just a Royal Enfield Himalayan, some Turkana soft luggage, and a questionable sense of direction and a healthy dose of adventure spirit
CFMoto 450MT Ibex
- Engine: 449cc parallel-twin, ~31 kw, 42 Nm torque.
- Weight: About 185 kg wet.
- Ground clearance: 220 mm.
- Why it rocks: Total dark horse. Peppy engine, light clutch, surprisingly refined. Cheap, cheerful, and punches above its price.
- Good to know: Not a prestige brand, but they’re getting serious; parts support is improving, and these bikes are proving themselves under rough use.
- Tank Size: 17.5 litres On the 450MT Ibex ADV spec. That’s seriously big for this class; you’ll get a very solid range, easily over 400 km. Making for a great continent-crossing machine.
Budget bike (CFMoto450), top-notch Turkana motorcycle modular kit, million-dollar views. Who says you need to be rich (or smart) to have the best adventures?
Proof you don’t need sense, MAD skills, or a giant bike to have a damn good day
What makes the Turkana MadMules so damn versatile?
The MadMules are a rackless, modular, waterproof, soft luggage system, which means they strap directly onto just about any bike; no expensive, heavy metal pannier racks are needed. And the system only weighs around 2,5-3kg
That’s a huge deal, because it cuts weight, cost, and faff.
They’re built from custom-developed adventure-grade fabrics, tougher than your average Cordura or nylon, and designed to handle excessive UV, mud, grit, rocks, and whatever else Africa, Patagonia, or the Rockies can throw at them.
Why they work on anything:
- The fully adjustable harness system plus clever tension straps means you can mount them on a skinny dual-sport, a chubby ADV bike, or even a small street scrambler.
- The side pockets and top roll help distribute weight properly so you’re not messing up your bike’s balance; they don’t flap around like cheap one-season bags.
- Modular design: you can strap on or remove extra bags (like your TrekBag, Bullfrog tank bags, or PelliPouches) depending on whether you’re popping out for a weekend or disappearing into the sticks for two months.
- Lightweight setup = keeps your bike nimble, doesn’t overstress subframes (especially critical on small bikes).
- Fully waterproof inner liners keep your kit dry without needing ugly rain covers.
GeckoGrip™, Bullfrog™ & PelliPouch™: small bags, big damn difference
The GeckoGrip™ tank bag harness is basically your universal problem solver. It wraps around just about any bike’s tank or seat and lets you secure a Bullfrog™ 5L motorcycle tank bag without scratching paint or worrying about weird shapes. No magnets, no flappy straps, just a clever hold-fast system that hugs your bike like a persistent piece of mud between the front wheel and fender.
The Bullfrog 5L™ itself is a bombproof little waterproof rolltop. Big enough for snacks, cameras, gloves, chargers, bribes, or whatever you carry. And because it mounts on the GeckoGrip™, you can swap it to another bike in minutes.
Then there’s the PelliPouch™ handlebar bag a small, tough stash spot that bolts straight onto your bars. Perfect for your phone, documents, or anything you’d rather not dig around for in the main bags. It’s all built with the same overkill-level adventure fabrics and waterproof liners, so rain, dust, or that surprise water crossing won’t kill your day (or your phone).
Together, these bits turn your bike into a modular adventure rig. Want to ride light? Just run the PelliPouch. Longer days? Slap on the Bullfrog. Weekend trips? Fill up the MadMules. Easy, fast, and zero drama.
What makes Turkana gear such a no-brainer? It’s dead simple. This kit doesn’t care if you ride a skinny little street scrambler, a chunky dual-sport, or a dirt-chomping beast. Modular, rackless, and fully adjustable, it straps on with zero fuss, with no fancy racks or four-hour garage sessions needed. It’s waterproof, dustproof, and built from fabrics that laugh at rocks, thorns, or your worst packing decisions.
Commute to work, blast off for a quick overnighter, or vanish into nowhere for a month. Add a bag, drop a bag, switch it to another bike, all done in minutes. Stop overthinking it; just ride.
Why we’ve got it so damn good right now
The truth is, we’re living in a golden age for two wheels. Not that long ago, your choices were either a rattly, shitty-looking delivery bike or something so pricey you’d have to sell a kidney just to insure it.
Now? You’ve got sharp-looking, mid-sized machines like the Triumph 400X, Royal Enfield Himalayan, BMW 310/450, KTM 390 Adventure, and CFMoto 450 that are easy on the wallet, easy on the eyes, and dead simple to ride. Whether it’s your first bike or your tenth. Or part of your 5 must-have-in-the-garage collection.
They sip fuel, laugh at rough roads, and pull double duty as weekday commuters and weekend wanderers. Paired with Turkana’s modular, bloody tough soft luggage that fits anything and goes anywhere, it means adventure isn’t locked behind a fat bank account or a giant ADV rig.
Basically, there’s never been a better time to grab a bike, strap on some bags, and go see what’s around the next corner. No excuses, just ride.
Thanks to Royal Enfield South Africa, Triumph South Africa, CFMoto, Mira ActiveWear, Claude Deyzel and Mike aka LekkaRides for all the help ghosting work, and have a blast of a day