Product Review: Yamaha MT-10 Ventura EVO-22 Jet Stream Kit

Last year Taka fitted a Ventura system to his MT-10, in the form of the EVO-22 Jet Stream kit, which is a sports-touring luggage option with an aerodynamic pack and two-way rack system that is easy to fit, durable and pretty stylish too. Over a year it has proved to be fantastic.

Ventura’s EVO-22 Jet Stream Kit offers a new mid-capacity luggage option that suits the mighty Yamaha MT-10.

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 our opinion – 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.

The EVO-22 just fits a full face helmet but if you have a camera fitted you will not be able to fit your lid in.

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. It is highly water resistant but there is a waterproof cover option.

Plenty of Ventura bags here. They must be OK!

Taka has done lots of touring with the EVO-22.

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 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.

The high quality zips 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 zips have not failed so far.

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, which suits the MT-10 as an example.

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, 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.

Rear facing set-up.

Forward facing set-up.

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 Taka is impressed with the styling and build quality.

The EVO-22 Bike Pack is typical of Ventura’s build quality and attention to detail, proving secure on fast trips.

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 including Jeff’s Interceptor and Nick’s CBR500R. 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 set-up. Taka’s was easy to fit to his MT-10, with only basic tools required. For those already running an older style Ventura rack, the new EVO-22 bag will of course fit straight on.

Fitment was easy but required removal of the tail piece.

Basic tools were all that was required and instructions were clear.

All up Taka is 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 rack can quickly be reversed to accomodate a pillion.

Or you can run it this way for better handling.

The EVO-22 Jet Stream MT-10 Kit is available for $439.00 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. See the Australian Ventura website, or Kenma Australia website for more info.

EVO-22 Jet Stream Kit features (40L and 60L also available)

• 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 EVO-Rack System.
• Approx dimensions (H x W x L) 290 x 330 x 375 (11.4 x 13.0 x 14.75in)