Anyone ride with a backpack?

I'm not at all offended by those who want to ride with a backpack. If I have to, I prefer not to have to go far. My 100 mile work commute used to be done with the backpack. Now I'm using the Cortech sport tailbag (and whatever tankbag) to haul stuff around. It's a lot more relaxing, and way less strain.

Camelback's are exempt of course. I'll gladly wear that all day long.

 

If you are north of the 49th, you can get great back packs form Mountain Equipment Co-op. I have one that is drier than a popcorn fart. It is Pangea 75 is 74 litres. Has a main pack and a smaller zip off pack about triple the size of a hydro pack. You can get tonnes of stuff in it. The straps if worn correctly places the weight in the correct places for comfort and it wears well in an hour commute. Even fully packed, I found that the aerodynamics were not a concern until you hit speeds you shouldn't be doing anyway (100 MPH). Someone told me this of course:redface:

 

Nice. I like your tailbag.
How is it attached to the seat. Just with the bungee cords or do you have some kind of strap.
How easy is it to remove?

 

4 bungees with plastic hooks. Hooks to frankenbolts and the passenger begs no problem. Takes all of 5 seconds to get on and off. The bungees are cross connected in the bag, so it's VERY stable once mounted and the straps are tightened up.

Sides expand on the bag too so you can load the hell out of it. Comes with a rain cover too. Been through some major downpours and everything stayed dry.

Here's the bag fully loaded.



And a close enough straps to see the rear bungees.

 

I ride with a $25 JanSport pretty much every day I ride to work. It works just fine. I would love to have a better purpose built motorcycle back pack but $160 for a back pack borders on ludicrous.

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2:

 

I used to ride with a camelbak that was meant for mountain biking (HAWG). Wide sholder straps and a chest strap to keep it in place LINK. I now use a cortec tail bag instead.



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I have a Boblbee Meg Aero which is not only a backpack, but also a CE certified back protector. Yes, it's more than $200.00, but it is much cooler to wear in hot weather than a back protector + standard type backpack because of airflow betweeen the jacket and the pack. Holds my laptop, office clothing and BUG just fine

A properly designed motorcycle specific backpack - like the Boblbee or what I had before it, an Ogio No Drag- can be a very good, well-balanced item. The design works well for load distribution, there's nothing to flap around in the slipstream, and the straps are optimized for both security and getting the thing on and off over an armored stiff riding jacket. By way of comparison trying to get out of a standard backpack in my Vansons is a little like trying to escape a straitjacket.

I can certainly understand why some of you don't like "normal" backpacks for riding but a purpose-built one makes an enormous difference. You can get the Ogio for around $120.00 and it is worlds better than a standard backpack for riding.

 

I use a Chase Harper tailbag from Aerostich.
they were out of stock in the Motofizz bags. they look perfect.:bolt:

THe backpack kept riding up on my helmet.
I think that a backpack is better suited for the standard seating of a tourer.

 

I ride with a DROP snowboarding backpack. But a WORD TO THE WISE!!! If you ride with a backpack, when you zip the main bag, let the two zippers meet way down the side. I zipped mine once so that the zippers met at the top. Somewhere on I-95 the zippers (in the wind) came loose, then the bag came open, and then I sprinkled a pair of longjohns, some dress shirts, some socks, and some underoos all over the interstate....without even knowing it. I got home and took it off and said.... hmmm. I liked those longjohns.

I now use a cortech tank bag for most short trips to work etc.

 

I have a Targus Backback for the laptop... for some long rides I take the laptop out to store camera equipment and food and emergency supplies... I also use a tankbag that holds my map, rain gear, tire presure guage...

Unfortunately Targus no longer makes thebackpack I use... I love iit and it's getting a bit worn... It has extra padding on the back so it's super comfortable... When I travel with it it is a dream in the airport... It just happened to be a bonus that it works so well on the bike as well...

 

I've been riding with a simple Targus Notebook backpack for the last four years without a problem and usually ferry my laptop back and forth.

 

I always figured hte laptop would BE the back protector.

 

Does anyone have a pic of a 4th gen with the cortech tail_bag?

 

Thanks for the zipper tip NeverlosT!

 

HI, givi BACK PACK : VERY GOOD TO CARRY RAIN COATS, EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO GO TO WORK...VERY USEFUL IN URBAN CYCLE. TERRIBLE ON HIGHWAY DURING WINDY WEATHER ! IMPOSSIBLE TO GO FAST...
LAMPS, CARMINE.

 

Yes.







Only thing I did was to get rid of the funky plastic hooks, for one they didn't really give me a lot of confidence they'd stay put, so I went and Hog ringed loops then used heat shrinks to tie it all up nice and tidy.

Yep, Cortech tail bag in matching RED FTW here. I do use a back pak for video gear when I use the helmet cam set up. also use a small Joe rocket tank bag for video when I use the bike for mounting.

 

Cortech 18L tank bag. Perfect fit. Can get a change of clothes in bag with some extras. Great positioning, allows me to lay chest on bag on highway, very comfy for those long trips.

 

Derstuka,

Thanks for the tip. I just bought one online from Motorhelmets.com for $60. I put a small scratch in my tank with my tank bag last week, and that was that. I'm not running the risk of it happening again!

 

ventura system

I swear by my ventura system for hauling gear. the aero bag system has 2 bags thar can be zipped together to make one big bag or used individually.
its got quick release clips and carry handles
I also have a back pack for when i need to go walkies during a trip and that gets put on the frame and stretchy corded in place. ive even carried largish boxes by using a cargo net or tape to secure it to the frame. I guess it gives you more options to carry all sorts of stuff.

they also do tail bags and tank bags. worth a look at;

http://www.ventura-bike.com/media/files/brochure_low.pdf

did i mention made in NZ too? oh yes im biased but i have to do my bit to support the pacific Peso! ound: