Date reviewed: September 2022 | Tested by: John Milbank | RRP: From £20 | www.nippynormans.com
Designed by Andy White, an Emergency Room nurse in response to the number of injuries he saw caused by bungee cords, the Flat Strapz by Andy Strapz are designed to secure your kit to a bike, quad, boat or your car’s roof rack.
I’ve tested them on a Niu NQI GTS electric scooter, a 1999 Kawasaki ZX-6R, a 2001 Honda VFR800 and a 2019 BMW R1250GS to find out if they’re any good…
Pros & Cons
- Pass under most seats
- Versatile
- Secure
- Getting the right length matters
Construction
Made in Australia, the Andy Strapz Flat Strapz are made of 5cm-wide tough elasticated webbing, and are sold in pairs measuring 0.75m (£20), 1.0m (£25), 1.25m (£30) and 1.5m (£32). I’ve been using the 1.0 and 1.5m version, which have 19cm of Velcro hooks at one end, and 39cm of Velcro loops on the other end of the 1.5m straps, or 28cm on the 1.0m.
A well-secured webbing loop at each end also gives you something to hang onto when pulling the straps tight.
The flat, wide design of the straps is intended to help prevent them slipping off luggage, and to ease their passage through narrow gaps.
Ease of fitting
The Andy Strapz Flat Strapz can pass under your bike’s seat, or through parts like grab rails, then each strap simply wraps around the item you’re securing, then fastens with Velcro. You need to hold both ends as you pull the straps tight, but once done up they’re very secure.
I first used them to hold the charger and cable on the back of the Niu NQI GTS. Here the 1m straps proved too long, so I had to wrap them around the grab rails before I could marry up the Velcro with the elastic pulled tight.
My mate Steve used the straps to bring the kit back on the Niu, but hadn’t got them quite tight enough, and managed to dislodge the charger with his bum, sending it bouncing down the road. Let’s put that down to user-error.
As part of the testing, I also tried strapping a 70 litre Oxford dry bag to the ZX-6R, VFR800 and R1250GS. In each case I was able to strap the bag down solidly.
It is important though to have the correct length of strap, which might be a problem for some. I was lucky to have both the 1.5m pair and the 1.0m pair, but most people will probably just buy one length, so choose carefully. If you’re strapping around grab rails, you can of course wrap them a couple of times, but if you’re passing the strap under the bike’s seat (somewhere the Andy Strapz are ideal) if the strap’s too long you might find the Velcro patches don’t meet when pulled tight.
Andy Strapz vs Rokstraps
The first thing one of the BikeSocial Test Team asked me when I posted a pic of the Andy Strapz in use was how they compare to the Rokstraps, which are quite a different design in that they have a thinner strap with a quick-release buckle separating a long length of webbing and a shorter, very tough elasticated section.
Each end of a Rokstrap has a strong loop, which allows the strap to be hooked onto something, or wrapped around it with the strap passed back through the loop. Either way, it’s an extremely secure and versatile strap that has the very real benefit of being quick-release. They’re sold in packs of two, each 1.5m long, for £18.
Rokstraps have a quick-release buckle
On the ZX-6R, VFR800 and R1250GS, I must admit that I found the RokStraps quicker and easier to set up, and to remove and refit the luggage. I’ve since tucked the RokStraps under the pillion seat on the GS, in case I ever need them.
The Andy Strapz thin form was helpful when securing the bag to the ZX-6R’s pillion seat, though it was possible to join the two ends of the Rokstraps together and use them as a loop.
Realistically, for every situation I’ve come across with my bikes at least, the Rokstraps have had the edge, however this thread gives a useful insight into how others have used them.
Security
The Andy Strapz Flat Straps are surprisingly secure, despite ‘only’ using Velcro. It’s very tough, and as long as you get all of it properly married up, there should be no way it’s coming off.
However, over time the Velcro can collect dirt, so be sure to keep the hooks and loops clean, as it will start to reduce its grip to some extent.
Be careful where you drop the Andy Strapz, as the Velcro can pick up dirt
Three alternatives to the Andy Strapz Flat Strapz
If you don’t have hard luggage fitted to your bike (or you’re carrying something too big to go in), you’re going to need to strap it to the back. Here are three alternatives…
- Rokstraps have the advantage that they include a strong plastic buckle, which means you can set them to suit your kit then unclip them to remove it before clipping them back together again when re-loading. They’re quick and easy to use, and the design means they shouldn’t cause anydamage to your bike’s paint. I’ve used them for a good few years, and am impressed.
- 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.
- Cam-buckle tie-down straps can work, and they’re not expensive, but the lack of elastication in their construction limits their usefulness.
These are just three of many alternatives – you can find all the luggage we’ve tested here and be sure to regularly check for the discounts available through Bikesocial membership.
Andy Strapz Flat Strapz review: Verdict
The advantage of the Andy Strapz Flat Strapz is that they’re wider than most other options, which helps spread the load across what you’re carrying.
I did find myself having to wrap the Andy Strapz around grab rails several times to get the length correct, but their width and elastication helped them secure my kit.
Whether the Andy Strapz are the best solution for you will depend on what you’re carrying and how, but they can be a useful way of lugging extra gear on the bike.
