When considering a pack and go luggage system for your adventure bike, the system from Turkana, the MadMules Rackless Luggage, is quite the unassuming workhorse of soft luggage gear. Designed for those who don’t want racks, brackets or bulky hardware dragging them down, this setup is aiming squarely at adventure riders who’d rather keep things light, nimble and adaptable.
The MadMules system is built around a base harness that mounts without the traditional side-pannier rack. That means less weight, less width, fewer excuses when the single spoor tightens up or when you’re weaving past other bikes in camp. The base weighs in at approx. 2.6 kg combined with two bags, impressively light given its mission.
What you get is a modular platform, the top “sandwich” panel of the base can be used alone for minimal carry, and the legs and straps expand or adjust to handle bigger loads. The bag options, via the “Trek-Bags” series, run in various volumes, namely 3 Lt, 5 Lt, 10 Lt, 15 Lt, 20 Lt, so you can tailor the size of your setup to the ride ahead.
The fabrics and hardware are trail ready and tough, RhinoCote™ outer shell, reinforced stitching, dry-bag inners for waterproofing, MOLLE/PALS webbing for add ons and modulation. Field repairable design is flagged by the maker, the idea being that when the bike goes down or the wilderness bites back, you shouldn’t have to bin your bags.
The objective behind MadMules seems to boil down to three core aims, minimise weight/complexity, maximise flexibility, and ensure real world durability. For riders of dualsport and adventure bikes who want to carry gear across mixed terrain, road, gravel, track, remote sections, this luggage system presents an alternative to classic rigid racks. By removing the rack, you open up benefits such as less mass high and wide, fewer mounting points to worry about, better clearance on off camber sections, and easier adaptation between machines.
And modularity is key, you don’t load up full on for every ride. Want a weekend overnighter? Choose a modest bag size. Going full overland? Slap on larger volumes and attach pouches. Adapt the width and angle to fit from narrower enduro frames right through to larger adventure machines.
Durability is also part of the objective, the system is built to take a few knocks. When you’re locking into remote tracks or dragging through sand and scrub, you don’t want your luggage to be the weak link. The MadMules design looks like they acknowledge that hunting for “pretty” isn’t the goal, rugged practicality is.
From a rider’s perspective, the appeal lies in the simplicity. Strap it in, pack what you need… ride. It removes one variable, the need to engineer or customise racks for each bike. On machines where rack fitting is a pain, this offers a sensible alternative. On narrow tracks or urban dash and dash with luggage still required, you’ll appreciate lower bulk.
That said, every solution brings trade offs, carrying on the seat or over the back may shift load geometry compared with classic panniers, straps and tie downs still need proper layout, proper fitment remains essential. But for someone who hops between machines, mixes terrain, or gets uncomfortable with a wide footprint, the MadMules set a clear path.
So, for the rider, thinking of gearing up for the next wild ride or trimming down the setup for tight offgrid loops, this is a luggage option worth considering, not because it promises magic, but because it simply takes a different tack.
