spec me a... backpack to use for work commute

WrathOfAchilles

WrathOfAchilles

WrathOfAchilles

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28 Jan 2005
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Hi guys,

Im going to start using my bike for commuting to work and in the past i have just bungee a bag to the bike but now i have a little walk from bike to office so want a backpack. Come across any good ones? I guess has waist strap? good shoulder pads that fit ok over leathers, has room for chain, clothes then helmet when get off bike so can just have backpack on while i walk to office.

Ta

Marty
 
Please don't put a chain in a backpack and ride with it on, it could bust your spine if you have a mishap :eek::(

Wearing a backpack while riding can undermine the very reason you wear leathers, protection. Personaly, I'd strap the thing to the bike and just put it on only for the walk.
 
Also agree. Chuck your bike down the road and wearing a backpack will quickly seem to be a bad idea. Apart from the risk of heavy objects inside causing you possible damage, a backpack can also catch on objects as you slide down the road ( unlikely, granted ) but the very fact you have a backpack on can influence the way your body twists and turns in the event of an accident.

Really not a good idea despite the fact that you still see some riders doing it.

Get a tankbag instead or a tailpack m8. :cool:

My Oxford Sports Humpback tankbag is expandable so has plenty room plus once you remove it from the bike you have the option of using a one piece strap, a built in carry handle or the integral "rucksack straps" which are located on the underside of it to carry the thing whilst walking around.
 
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I use a Kriega R35 - it's fantastic but if I did it again I would get the R30 or R25. They have a back protector of sorts in them and the R35 comes too far up, on a sportsbike it gets in the way, back of my helmet hits it, and it's very annoying. The front part of is a bit large too, gets in the way. It's a fantastic backback but it's just a little too tall.

The R30 and R25, apparently, doesn't get in the way like that.

That's the only bad thing about the R35 though, I can completely fill it with stuff so that it's a good effort to hoik it on to my shoulders, but once it's on and done up it doesn't move at all and the weight's spread so well it feels like it's got half the weight in it.

Doesn't move an inch on the bike, no flappy straps, completely secure and loads of pockets. Acres of room in it as well. And it's high visibility without being bright yellow, the white panel down the back is reflective. Amazing backpack.

R35: http://www.kriega.com/pages_uk/r35/R35frameset.html

R30: http://www.kriega.com/pages_uk/r30/R30-topframeset.html

R25: http://www.kriega.com/pages_uk/r25/R25-topframeset.html
 
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The "pukka" bike designed stuff like Kriega packs are the exception to the rule/guideline/advice - call it what you will, when it comes to backpacks. In comparison to "ordinary" backpacks, rucksacks of course. :cool:
 
I had one of those tail packs on my old bike. It was a bit of a pain in the arse to zip up. I got caught in the rain one day so was in a rush, ended up breaking a few teeth on the zip so had to carry it home :eek:

I recommend quick lock tank bags. Once you've had the adapter bolted to your tank it's really quick to attach/detach. And the bag has a shoulder strap or handle to carry it with :)

They come in a variety of shapes and sizes too. Some with clear panels to hold maps etc.
 
MADMAN69UK said:
...Once you've had the adapter bolted to your tank it's really quick to attach/detach..
Click to expand...

I like the sound of a quick attach/detatch but my tank has recently had 2 holes filled - dont really want to go doing anything else to it in fear it will fall appart on me!

Is the annoying zip / broken teath thing universal to the tail bags or just unlucky that time?
 
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I have a six pack :D Sadly not my abdomen :(

I use a Knox Six Pack for my commute - comes with a laptop bag, although that's not very protective, but that was the main point for me. It has several other internal bags etc, hence the name 'six pack'... there's 6 bags/combinations or some such.

It's a decent bad and was a fair price - about fifty quid, the only trouble I have is that it's quite low slung when loaded up, so interferes with the tail of the bike – this also pushes up the bag and the large handle area (where you can attach a tent etc) then pushes up the back of your helmet.

Other than this, it does the trick and is supposed to be waterproof, but as my commute isn’t long, I can’t verify this…
 
WrathOfAchilles said:
I like the sound of a quick attach/detatch but my tank has recently had 2 holes filled - dont really want to go doing anything else to it in fear it will fall appart on me!

Is the annoying zip / broken teath thing universal to the tail bags or just unlucky that time?
Click to expand...

The adapter basically just bolts to your fuel cap. I had a garage do it since knowing my luck I'd have dropped a screw into the tank :p

I imagine the fiddly zip issue would be the same for any of that tail pack model. With the base tied onto the seat it isn't perfectly flat, plus you have to tuck in the bag straps etc while zipping it up. I got very frustrated while trying to do it in the rain, hence broken zip teeth *innocent whistle* :rolleyes:
 
I can't bring myself to trust tail packs.

When I consider at the same time, where it's attached and how it's attached, I just can't stomach it.

If it comes off, you're proper ****ed, no two ways about it.

A tank bag's different, even if that thing came completely detached at 120mph, your reflexes and reactions and physics would mean it'd just be shoved in your chest and you'd keep hold of it til you stopped, or it'd vanish off into the ether.

With a tailpack, you'd have no idea it was loose until it was wrapped around your back wheel and you were lying on the road in several pieces.

A rucksack's not perfect though. I got knocked off wearing my R35 and I landed on my back and in all honesty I did hurt my neck. I landed on the bag and my head did snap back, but it was quite low speed so I just had a crick in my neck for a couple of days. May have been worse at higher speeds, definitely.

The only way to carry stuff on your bike in the best way is a top box, but that's not always feasible/desirable. But if you commute, get one. That or a Ventura system. Those are reasonably attractive and really versatile.

Once you get used to having a topbox you'll always want one, they're amazing :D
 
I have 2 R20's, love the Kriega stuff to bits.

+1 on chain in bag, don't do it, simple.

I have crashed in one of my R20 bags, high sided and slid on front, the bag held up find and actually helped with my impact when I hit the curb!

Bit pricey, but if you can wait, get one at a show, I got 2 for the price of one at the NEC show last year :D

ags
 
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