If you want to take a few things with you on the trail, but not too much, a rackless soft bag system is a great choice. It will fit any bike with no need for pannier racks, and different sizes are available to accommodate all cargo needs, from minimalist to glamping. Toward the minimalist side, Mosko Moto has announced their new Trail 16L rackless bag.

At first glance, these new bags look much like one of Mosko Moto’s other offerings, the Reckless 10L. The R10 bags are fully waterproof and highly resistant to abrasion and abuse. Their beefier design is similar to the larger Reckless 40 and 80, with a removable dry bag system included and aimed toward trail use or even ultralight ADV with the addition of an optional top bag. 

The Trail 16L, in contrast, is geared toward weight-conscious riders who also want additional luggage capacity. With its minimalist design, it’s made to be super light and low profile. These bags are intended primarily for trail riding, carrying light items like a jacket, basic tools, first aid kit, snacks, etc. The biggest difference between the R10 bags is the ability of the Trail 16L to expand from 10 to 16 liters of storage. In the standard configuration, each bag holds five liters, which is enough to carry a pair of one-liter fuel bottles, for reference. However, each bag can quickly expand to swallow an additional three liters of cargo, thanks to the DWR-coated YKK zipper expansion panels that feature glove-friendly zipper pulls.

Weighing in at just over three pounds (33% less than the Reckless 10L), the bags are made of a DWR-treated 420D nylon ripstop material. Unlike the Reckless line, the Trail 16L does not use removable bags that fit into a pocket. The pockets themselves are the bags. Mosko does not claim that the bags are waterproof (we respect their honesty), but they are water-resistant and able to handle light rain showers and splashes from stream crossings. If you need full waterproofing, Mosko recommends using dry bags inside the main bags.

The soft bags themselves are mounted to a custom CURV composite harness with four cam straps to attach it to the bike. It has two width settings that enable it to fit small or big bikes. For even more flexibility, the center of the harness comes with pre-cut slots for Voile straps, providing the option to stash a jacket, a small dry bag, or additional fuel bottles. The bottom side of the harness includes a closed-cell EVA foam pad to protect your bike from scratches, which can be easily replaced if it wears out. The Trail 16L also includes a laser-cut anodized aluminum exhaust heat shield with a band clamp attachment to protect the bag from hot exhaust. If your bike has dual exhausts, you can buy an additional heat shield to protect both bags, but only one is included.

Overall, the Trail 16L looks like a lightweight, simple, durable design that will work well for those who ride harder trails and do more day trips than longer tours like the BDR. It appears to be a more streamlined design than the Reckless 10L and hugs the bike more tightly. This would be nice for tight woods trails or rocky extreme-enduro-style trails where you want the bike to be as nimble and easy to manage as possible.

I wonder whether this is the beginning of a new line of Mosko Moto bags, unique from the Reckless line due to their expandability. The lack of an included dry bag makes sense in this case since it would only work with one of the two size options. The Reckless 10L is currently sold out, but a new version is due to come out in spring 2025, confirming that the smallest Reckless bag will live on alongside the Trail 16L. Both bags are priced at $330. If that pricing holds true with the new Reckless 10L, you’ll be able to choose whichever version fits your needs best.

Mosko Moto Trail 16L Specs

• Capacity: 10L Storage in standard mode or 16L maximum bag storage when expanded
• Length: 12in / 30.5cm
• Width: 7in / 18cm
• Height: 5in / 13cm
• Weight: 3.15 lbs / 1.43 kg  (3.5 lbs / 1.59 kg if using heat shield and cleat kit)

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Author: Justin Hughes

Justin has been an automotive and motorcycle journalist for the past 10 years. After learning to ride on a series of Suzuki GSs, he took up touring on a Honda Silverwing and PC800 before turning his attention to off-road adventures. His racing experience is mainly with cars, although he did do a track day once on a KLR650. He has traveled with his cat, Lister, to 44 states in his “moto-glamping” camper van, Smokey Da Van, with his V-Strom 650 in tow.