I wanted a tank bra to protect my new SV650’s tank, but I wasn’t pleased with the leather and synthetic bras I’d seen. Some looked okay, but I didn’t like they way they attached. Others went on nicely, but didn’t provide the ‘look’ I wanted. So, when I saw Mag-Knight’s advertisement for a thin, form fitting, magnetic bra I had to try it out. I’m glad I did.

I placed my order online at Mag-Knight’s website (www.mag-knight.com), and within a few days UPS had at box at my door. I was excited… until I opened the box. The bra was torn in one corner. It was only a 2-inch tear, but after dropping $79.95--almost double what you’d pay for a typical bra--I expected perfection.

Time for a phone call. I got an answering machine. Ugh! But, I had the chance to leave a message. A short time later I received a call back from Mag-Knight. "A new bra is on the way at no charge…keep the old one…and we’re very sorry for the inconvenience," the voice told my answering machine. Now that’s great service!

In the meantime I trimmed the edge of the torn tank bra and decided to try it out. Good thing I had one to practice with. (You’ll understand why in a minute.) I followed the company’s advice to first clean my tank and wax it, and wipe the back of the bra before installation.

I didn’t find it hard to get the bra on the bike. The trick was in getting it on ‘square.’ I had to reposition it a few times, but after five minutes of tinkering I had it set. There were a few small dimples here and there on the bra, but letting the bike sit in the sun a little (as suggested in the installation instructions) removed most of them and allowed the bra to cling a little more tightly to the tank.

I was really pleased with the look right off. Very sleek and high tech. Road testing was also positive. It stayed on the tank as if it were glued there. I had worries that the wind or leg pressure would cause it to come loose or move. Neither happened.

When my new tank bra arrived five days later, I went to replace the damaged one. In my rush, I grabbed the bra by one edge to remove it. Mistake! It tore in the middle. I now know you do have to take some care in how you handle the bra when you move it around on the bike. That’s not to say the bra is fragile. It isn’t. But if you’re not careful you can rip the material. I was far more careful with my replacement bra.

On a scale of one-to-ten, I’d give Mag-Knight an ‘8’ on this product. It fits nicely, provides protection, stays put, and dresses up the look of the bike. Some SV riders may prefer a more traditional bra, but have they seen the company’s ‘carbon-look’ bras yet? Very cool.

The only question now is how the bra will look after a few seasons of riding and whether it will protect the tank’s surface any more or less than a regular bra. We’ll have to wait for the results. For now, though, I’m pleased with the product and with Mag-Knights excellent customer service.

About the author: Mark Timney is a freelance writer and new SV rider. He lives in Keene, NH, and is a professor of journalism at Keene State College. He can be reached at mtimney@cheshire.net.