Product Review: Ventura EVO-22 Jet Stream Luggage

We’ve just recently got our hands on the latest Ventura luggage option, in the form of the EVO-22 Jet Stream kit, which offers a step up and significantly more storage than the EVO-10, while staying sportier and lower profile than their full bag options. 

Ventura’s EVO-22 Jet Stream Kit offers a new mid-capacity luggage option

As the name suggests storage capacity is 22 litres, ensuring a decent amount of gear can be carted around and as a real draw card in my mind – also fitting a full face helmet – although getting it into the bag can be a bit of a snug fit if you’ve got any action camera fittings on your lid.

Ventura EVO-22 Jet Stream Kit

The bag itself is a simple but stylish design, with a single zip for the top of the bag, and two handles ensuring you can easily carry the bag off the bike. One handle is located on the rear of the bag, above the clips/buckles used to secure the bag to the EVO rack, while the opposite end of the bag features two D-clips on opposite ends of the other handle, and to which you can fasten the provided adjustable length shoulder strap/handle.

Ventura EVO-22 Jet Stream Kit – Shoulder strap

The strap clips are also a carabiner style meaning they are very secure, and if you for some reason needed to ride with the bag over your shoulder, you’d feel safe knowing it won’t be coming loose.

The high quality zip ensures you won’t face any dramas with the bag in the long run, while rubber clad zip sliders ensure even gloved hands can easily open and close the bag, while they also won’t scratch any exposed bodywork or paint when the bag is near the bike.

A rear pocket offers easy storage and access to small items on the EVO-22 bag

The inside lining of the bag is also a vibrant red colour, which makes for an eye catching feature, as well as ensuring you’ll always be able to find small items in the bottom of the bag. An external zipper also provides access to a pocket for easy storage of small items.

High visibility piping and badging also ensures good visibility, and ideal reflection of light sources like other vehicle’s headlights, while the top of the bag includes a red rubber strip, which helps lend the whole affair a sportier feeling.

The red stripe across the top of the bike adds a touch of style, while reflective piping helps visibility

The bag itself is a semi-rigid design which is holding its shape well at this stage, but is obviously still very new, while the buckles are what Ventura call ‘quick release’. They require a fair bit of muscling to pop open, even with the ergonomically designed grip areas, which does mean your bag won’t be coming loose any time soon.

These quick release buckles are seriously heavy duty, meaning the bag won’t be coming loose if secured properly, but requires a bit of strength to release.

This move from the smaller buckles previously used is no doubt due to the fact the bag now slides along the horizontal aspect of the Ventura rack system, and buckles onto one of the cross bars. Where old bags slid onto the taller racks vertically, this new system sees the bag slide onto the rack horizontally, and the tall rack design is no longer necessary.

Another benefit is the lower profile rack is a lot more sightly when you’re not riding around with luggage attached, which is an improvement for those using the system on sportier machines. Naturally the Ventura logos are highly visible and overall I’m impressed with the styling and build quality.

The EVO-22 Bike Pack is typical of Ventura’s build quality and attention to detail

It’s typical of Ventura though if I’m honest. Everything I’ve ever used from Ventura has outlasted my wish to replace the item. For those looking at the full installation, including the Ventura rack system, check out one of our tech tips articles, as we’ve fitted various Ventura systems to a number of bikes. On most motorcycles it’s an easy DIY job, and the EVO-22 certainly adds an option that will appeal to those looking for a sporty setup.

For those already running an older style Ventura rack, the new EVO-22 bag will of course fit straight on, and I’ve used it with the full rack that came with my EVO-40, as well as with the Sport-Kit rack. I don’t have the dedicated EVO rack that the whole assembly comes with if you purchase it that way, but that’s an even tidier solution.

Internal red lining is an eye catching feature on the EVO-22.

All up I’m highly impressed with Ventura’s latest addition to the product range. It’s obvious that they’ve got good people working on their product development – real motorcyclists – while older product lines are always evolving and improving.

The Ventura EVO Rack and Kawasaki Seat Cowl are a great sporty combo

The EVO-22 Jet Stream Kit is available for $399.00 RRP at all good motorcycle stores thanks to Kenma Australia, and that includes everything you’ll need from the L-Brackets and EVO flat rack, through to the bag. For those after the EVO-22 bag and EVO rack, grab the UNI EVO-22 Kit for $279.00 RRP, while just the EVO-22 Bike-Pack is available for $169.00 RRP for those with a Ventura setup already fully installed. See the Australian Ventura website, or Kenma Australia website for more info.

Ventura EVO-22 Jet Stream Kit

EVO-22 Jet Stream Kit features

• Engineered and born out of high quality ballistic fabric.
• Super smooth 22 Litres designed and shaped to cheat the wind.
• Two carry handles for easy fitment on and off the bike.
• Internal pockets for keys and odds and ends.
• Double sliders on zips for easy access and quick release buckles.
• Reflective safety piping with highlights.
• Designed to be used with our EVO-Rack System.
• Approx dimensions (H x W x L) 290 x 330 x 375 (11.4 x 13.0 x 14.75in)