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ADV ProductsTested: Giant Loop Tail Rack and Possibles Pouch

Tested: Giant Loop Tail Rack and Possibles Pouch

Securely-mounted, waterproof tail bag setup for carrying the basics off-road.

Published on 09.30.2019
Off-Road riders who live by the mantra “Light is Right” know that every ounce counts. Packing the bare minimum can enhance your off-road performance out on the trail, whether you are going out for a day trip or a multi-day ride. Where you carry your essential gear is key too. When you are bouncing around rocks and roots all day, you don’t want to be carrying an extra 10 pounds of gear in your backpack. 

A much better way to carry those essentials is down on the bike, somewhere securely mounted, in a place that isn’t going to get in the way of your body movements on rough terrain. A small tail bag, mounted on the rear fender, has been an ideal solution for carrying the basics off-road for about as long as dirt bikes have been around. Now Giant Loop has a new take on this time-tested storage solution — the combo of their Tail Rack and Possibles Pouch.

Giant Loop Tail Rack on KTM 500 
EXC

It starts with the low-profile Tail Rack that bolts onto any plastic rear fender to create solid attachment points for a tail bag. Constructed from black anodized aluminum, the Tail Rack features carabiner-style clips for quick strap attachment. It’s rugged in design but weighs just 8 ounces, including hardware and spacers. We tested it in a tail bag configuration, but it can also be used to provide secure rear anchor points (rather than standard fender hooks) for rackless saddlebags.

Giant Loop Tail Rack with rackless panniers installed
The Tail Rack can be used to provide a secure anchor point for a set of rackless saddlebags, tail bags or lighter gear.

The Possibles Pouch is a 3.5-liter 100% waterproof tail bag that comes with its own straps and multiple daisy chain lashing points for securely mounting the bag or attaching other items to the bag. It’s made with highly-durable 500D PVC Tarpaulin material that is R-F welded at the seams and features a low-profile design. It’s just big enough for storing day trip essentials but if you are going on a longer trip, you can strap it directly onto your long-range luggage as an auxiliary bag too.


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We’ve been testing the Giant Loop Tail Rack / Possibles Pouch combo on several different rides now to see if it offers a step forward in function and convenience. Read on for a rundown of what we found:

Getting It Installed

Installing the Tail Rack is a simple process but it does require drilling (we used a 3/16” drill bit). Just line up the rack on the rear fender in the desired position, mark the holes with a sharpie, and start drilling. Next use the supplied stainless-steel hardware to bolt the plate onto the bike. It’s a 15 minute job but may take longer if you are OCD about your alignments like we are.

Installing the Giant Loop Tail Rack.
Align the Tail Rack on the rear fender where you want it installed, then mark your holes and drill.

We installed the tail rack in a vertical position, inline with the bike, for a more streamlined appearance. An inline alignment helps avoid the rack potentially catching on things when the bag is not installed but it’s really a personal preference. If you plan to run the bag sideways or you have a wider rear fender than our KTM 500 EXC test bike, the horizontal installation may be a better choice. But we found we could still mount the bag sideways with the plate installed inline with the bike.

Giant Loop Possibles Pouch and Tail Rack Review

With the Tail Rack in place, you can weave the Possibles Pouch mounting straps through the plate attachment slots, which happen to line up perfectly with the outermost lashing points on the bag. Alternatively, you can just slide the mounting straps through the carabiner-style clips on the plate. 

How They Performed

Riding with the Giant Loop Tail Rack and Possibles Pouch

After getting the Possibles Pouch mounted on our KTM 500 EXC, we were happy to see it didn’t look oversized on the bike. A roll-top opening with thumb-lock buckles make the Possibles Pouch easy to get into from the back of the bike or from the side, without having to remove the bag. The roll-top design also gives you the ability to under or over stuff by adjusting the number of rolls. We stuffed ours with an inner tube, large tool bag, rag, and snacks with room to spare.

Sliding an inner tube into the bag was a little challenging with the rubber catching on the vinyl material of the bag, so we put the tube in its own textile stuff sack to make it easier to load while also giving it some additional protection from puncture. All the daisy chain lashing points on the sides of the pouch also make it possible to strap on equipment externally, like auxiliary gas, air pump, small tripod, or 6-pack.

Seated position Giant Loop Possibles Pouch

Once filled and snugged down with the mounting straps, the Possibles Pouch mounts solidly to the bike and isn’t going anywhere. We also liked the low-profile ‘brick’ shape of the bag that resists bulging in the center when stuffed. This keeps the height of the bag down to a minimum for greater range of body movement.

Getting out on some rocky trails and single track, the bag proved to be rock solid and we didn’t detect any movement or shaking. Often times you need to adjust your riding style when you have a tool bag mounted on your rear fender. But we rarely came in contact with it when hanging off the back of the bike on steep descents or whoops, despite it having more capacity than other tail bags we’ve used in the past.

Gear you can fit in a Giant Loop Possibles Pouch
We stuffed the Possibles Pouch with an inner tube, large tool bag, rag, and snacks with room to spare.

When it’s time to fix a flat, you can easily open up the bag and get the contents out without removing it from the bike. If you happen to be checking into a hotel, you can quickly remove the bag by just undoing and slipping the mounting straps off the Tail Rack. Then once you are ready to remount it, you’ll re-weave the mounting straps through the plate. We tried removing the bag by loosening the straps and sliding them through the carabiner clips, but it was more trouble than it was worth. 

Giant Loop Possibles Pouch installed horizontally.
With the Tail Rack installed inline with the bike, you can install the Possibles Pouch horizontally or vertically.

A better quick-release option is to get a set of Giant Loop’s optional Pronghorn straps. The buckles on these straps are just small enough to slip through the Possibles Pouch webbing, so you can undo the straps and take just the bag, leaving the straps on the Tail Rack. The Pronghorn straps (25” Red straps work best) are made of heavy-duty stretch polyurethane and utilize locking slots to make cinching down the Possibles Pouch even easier and more secure than the standard mounting straps.

Giant Loop Prong Horn Straps on the Possibles Pouch.
Stretchy polyurethane Pronghorn straps offer a secure mount and make it even quicker to remove or replace the Possibles Pouch.

Who Are They For?

The Tail Rack / Possibles Pouch combo is a perfect setup for those who own smaller dual sport bikes that go on day trips or extended weekend rides hotel-to-hotel. It’s just the right size for storing essential tools and nicknacks you need at your fingertips. You can also easily transfer the Possibles Pouch over to your big bike by strapping it onto your long-range luggage. 

Our Verdict

Giant Loop packing light

A rear fender tail bag that is spacious, solidly mounted and low profile is a handy thing to have on your small dual sport. It’s also nice knowing the Possibles Pouch is 100% waterproof. If you carry a base layer or electronics, it’s obvious why having a waterproof bag is of value. But if you ever ride in a downpour and leave your wet tools sitting in your tail bag, you are likely to discover a rusty surprise on your next ride. Being able to easily transfer your tool setup from your small bike to your big bike gives the Possibles Pouch additional versatility. 

What We Liked

  • Completely waterproof bag with adequate storage for essential items.
  • Low-profile design keeps it out of contact with your body.
  • Tail Rack offers a solid mounting platform for a tail bag or rackless panniers.

What Could Be Improved

  • Provide mounting straps with buckles small enough to slide through webbing loops for a true quick-release setup.
  • Use a carabiner clip system that is easier to slide straps off the rack. 

Giant Loop Tail Rack Specs

Materials: Black anodized aluminum plate, stainless steel mounting hardware
Dimensions: 5″ wide x 8″ long x .5″ tall
Weight: 8oz
Price: $49.00

Giant Loop Possibles Pouch Specs

Materials: 500D PVC Tarpaulin with R-F welded seams
Dimensions: 10.5″ x 5.5″ x 3″
Capacity: 3.5 liters (10 pounds max)
Weight: 10oz
Price: $50
.00

Shopping Options

Tail RackPossibles Pouch

Author: Rob Dabney

Rob Dabney started a lifelong obsession with motorcycles at the age of 15 when he purchased his first bike – a 1982 Honda MB5. Through his 20’s and 30’s he competed in off-road desert races, including the Baja 250, 500 and 1000. Eventually, his proclivity for exploration led him to dual sport and adventure riding. Rob’s never-ending quest to discover what’s around the next bend has taken him on Adventures in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and throughout the American West. As a moto journalist, he enjoys inspiring others to seek adventure across horizons both near and far.

Author: Rob Dabney
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Martin Breakwell
Martin Breakwell
October 24, 2019 2:44 pm

I made this one out of a bicycle rear rack bag using P clips to mount it to the rear mini carrier on my Beta Alp 4.0 –

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