Consumer Editor of Bennetts BikeSocial, John's owned over 20 bikes, has been testing motorcycle kit for more than 25 years and is a member of the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators, and part of the Motorcycle Crime Reduction Group.
Date reviewed: April 2023 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: From £17 | realroads.co.uk
Progress in motorcycle technology has been incredible over the last few years, except in one place… storage space. Besides quirks in design like the Honda NC750 and its ‘frunk’, it seems that the opportunity to carrying anything much more than a credit card without extra luggage is disappearing thanks to ABS pumps and multiple ECUs taking up the space that makes my old ZX-6R seem like an estate car in comparison to my GS. Which makes the early Fireblades Transit van-like in their unassisted carrying capacity.
Originally developed in Australia in 2007 by Paul McNeil to hold his pushbike securely against a post while putting his young daughter into the child seat, the Wraptie went on to exceed its Indiegogo crowdfunding target by 300% and has now become a successful brand in itself… I’ve been testing the Wraptie on my BMW R1250GS and 1999 Honda VFR800 to see how it compares to the AndyStrapz and the Rokstraps…
Pros & Cons
Securely holds almost anything
Extremely versatile
Compact and tidy when stowed
Hook-and-loop fasteners will wear and can get grubby
One end of the Wraptie Classic (or both ends on the Sport) has a closed loop. Both have lengths of hook-and-loop sewn securely all long the length of the tough elastic material
Construction
Made of recycled plastic (Wraptie says they’ve already saved 50,000 plastic bottles from landfill, incinerators and the ocean), the orange or black Classic versions are available in 130 (the size I have) for £25, 180 (£32) and 240cm (£38) lengths. The black-only ‘Sport’ straps are sold as pairs in 90cm lengths for £17, or 130cm for £21, but these don’t have the ‘fast grab band’, which I’ll explain in a mo. Of course, any of them can be joined together to make them even longer.
Both versions are rated to 50kg (110lb), though they’re not designed for lifting.
Part of the genius of the Wraptie is the fact that the length of elasticated strap has multiple hook and loop fastener patches, each 7.5cm long, making for an extremely versatile design. All those patches mean there’s no wrapping the straps around something to get them to the ideal length to engage – just pull the strap tight (this one stretches by up to about 40cm) and press it down on itself.
Ease of fitting
Wraptie recommends that you have at least three of the hook-and-loop (I’m going to call them Velcro) panels engaged for optimal security. You can use one to wrap luggage to something else, or tie the strap onto something solid and loop from there.
How to use the Wraptie
Two ways of securing luggage
There’s a loop at both ends, but one of them can be fully opened up on the ‘Classic’ version thanks to the doubled-up Velcro; Wraptie calls it the ‘fast grab band’. This makes it easy to secure to a rail, or one of the luggage loops fitted to my Givi Trekker top-box. From there, the other end can be passed around or through another fixing point, before looping back to stick to itself. If you buy the slightly cheaper ‘Sport’ version, it just has a closed loop at either end, so pass it through itself to secure it to objects.
Of course, with two you can link then together for more length, or use two separately for extra security.
Depending on how you’re using it, you might need to twist the strap to have hooks meet loops, but it works well and is surprisingly versatile. It can take some time to think about the best way to use them, but they can really get you out of trouble… when the front of the fairing fell off my old VFR800, it was the Wrapties that secured it to my topbox. When I had a large box to lug home, it was the Wrapties that solved it again.
The ‘fast grab band’ on the Classic Wrapties makes it mush essier to secure them to narrow luggage loops, like on this Givi Trekker top box
Wrapties vs Andy Strapz vs Rokstraps
While the Andy Strapz I reviewed earlier – available in 75cm, 100cm, 125cm and 150cm lengths – have a large surface area of Velcro, it’s only at one end of the elasticated strap. That can – in some scenarios – mean that they’re too long, so I’ve found myself having to wrap them several times around the bike’s grab-rail for a tight fit. While narrower, the Wrapties have proven much more versatile for the circumstances I’ve found myself in, and they also roll up more compact and neater.
The fact that the Wrapties hold themselves in a neat roll is very helpful, especially as they spend most of their lives slung in my bike’s top-box, ready for action. The Rokstraps I reviewed will tuck into small places like the Wrapties, but they don’t stay together unless you add an elastic band. A minor point, and not an issue if they’re in the tiny gap under my GS seat, but the Wrapties remain more tidy without assistance.
Rokstraps are available in sizes of up to 72cm (their stretched size), 106cm or 150cm, and have a quick-release buckle to connect an elasticated strap to the adjustable webbing strap. Both have a closed loop at either end, but as you can separate the straps, it’s easy to pass them through themselves on various parts of the bike in order to secure them.
There’s no problem with dirt fouling the Rokstraps, and having had mine for many years, I can say that they last well. However, there have been situations that the Wrapties have been more suitable, for instance when strapping through the narrow plastic securing loops on the Givi Trekker – the Rokstraps wouldn’t fit through.
The Wrapties cost between £20 and £32/pair, while the RokStraps are £13 to £20/pair.
The Wraptie Classic’s clever ‘fast grab band’ design at one end allows the strap to be secured around many things, and it’s incredibly strong – I was able to pull the bike up over the stand at the rear with this.
Security
Despite the Velcro panels each only being 7.5x2.5cm, engage three or more of them and this is a surprisingly secure system. I did find that if I went too tight, the Velcro didn’t always want to grip as well, and the shape of what you’re binding can affect the direction of the force on the hook-and-loop panels, so always check the security as you go.
It’s also worth noting that the hook-and-loop Velcro will wear over time, and can collect dirt, so make sure you have a good, secure fastening before riding. Still, you could put them through the wash if they’ve got really grubby…
I do find the Rokstraps to be the most confidence-inspiring, especially if I’m strapping something down really tight, but I haven’t had anything shift or come loose while using the Wrapties.
The Wrapties and Rokstraps are a similar size, but the Wrapties are tidier to store
Three alternatives to the Wrapties
Whether you have luggage for your bike or not, there can always be times you need to strap something bulky or awkward to it. And of course, these aren’t limited to your motorcycle – they can work with rucksacks, push-bikes, boats, quads, cars etc. Here are three other options though…
Rokstraps have a tough plastic quick-release buckle that allows you to leave them at the length you set when taking kit off. They’re tough, versatile and good value for money. Read our review of Rokstraps here.
The Andy Strapz are elasticated and use Velcro to secure, but for my purposes at least, they proved less versatile than the Wrapties, and it’s can also be harder to find the right length. Read our review of Andy Strapz here.
Traditional bungee cords are okay, but you need to find the right length, the hooks can easily damage the bike, and lose control of one and it can have your eye out. According to a study in 2001 by the American Academy of Opthalmology, Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia alone treated 67 patients over a five-year period who had suffered moderate to severe eye injuries. Be particularly careful of the metal hooks straightening themselves out, then whipping into you.
In my experience, the Wrapties offer the best hook-and-loop solution as having panels of the Velcro all along the length makes it easier to set the size you need..
The opening ‘fast grab band’ at one end of the ‘Classic’ version I reviewed is an excellent design idea, and does open up more possibility for using these. Plus the fact that they’re reasonably slim means they can tuck through more openings than even my Rokstraps.
You need to be aware that the hooks of the Velcro – while only plastic – can put fine surface scratches into paintwork, so like any luggage strap really, it’s best to put some protection under them if you’re concerned. A bit of rag is all you need, but a pack of four dedicated gripper pads are available for £12.
The Wrapties now live in the top-box that I swap between by GS and VFR. If I’m taking the ZX-6R out, I sling them under the seat or pop them in the tank bag. They haven’t replaced my Rokstraps, but having both gives me the versatility to know I can strap pretty much anything to anything, in any way I want, so on most rides, they’re both with me.
