Backpack/rucksack Recommendations

I need a new sack. My current one is very difficult to put on. It's not designed for motorcyclists. The straps are too short and do not easily go over leathers.

One always catches a cuff once I've got the other on and I have to faff, pull and swear at it to pull it over. Often it comes loose and I have to re-insert. An old shoulder injury doesn't help.

I must have looked a right tw*t fighting with it at the supermarket. These days I carry it outside and put it on to minimise ridicule.

Some of the sacks I've been looking at appear to have a formed top loop that might make it easier to get your arms in. One like that might be just the job. It could be my happy sack.

I don't need a large one. Just enough room for half a dozen bottles of beer, a loaf, a couple of tins of beans and a few sad bastard meals for one. A modicum of aerodynamics would be good as well!

Cheers

 

Top box or paniers instead?

 

I have a Givi motorcycle rucksack that I use daily.
Absolutely perfect for daily use but also has a helmet carrier that folds out and a bottom zip that extends the hold capacity.
£55 off fleabay brand new
I looked for ages and this one is superb quality and design.

 

Get yourself a tank bag mate
There's a similar thread in here somewhere where I told of a workmate who came off his bike with a back pack
Should've seen the bruise his lunch and flask made
This was with a back protector as well!!
Put your tins in a backpack and then fall backwards on to them
Then imagine high siding or rolling down the road with that lot strapped to your back
I've not worn one since I saw his injuries
You're choice mate but you won't look as daft carrying one rather than wrestling with one

 

I'm with dilligaf on this.....
You compromise your protective gear with a rucksack. You cannot slide or naturally tumble as you decelerate....the backpack become part of the accident. Your helmet is shiny so it does not impose rotational forces to your neck but a back pack potentially does the same to your torso.
A tank bag is great for occasional modest loads and most can be expanded or contracted; luggage on the bike not the person.

 

Anybody want to buy a Givi rucksack ?

 

i occasionally use a rucksack instead of sticking the panniers on,never really thought about what would happen if i crashed, might think twice about it now though,cheers for the heads up guys

 

I know! I did read your post about the bruised back but I must admit I never think about coming off, which I suppose is what we all think.
I've just sold a brilliant Givi tank bag because I don't particularly like them for bits of daily stuff and have no plans for serious touring as yet.
But methinks getting tangled up in a bike trailer would be worse surely?

 

All depends what's in it really.

 

Calumity makes a good point about it restricting your ability to slide,that's the reason they tell us to wear a jacket that is fitting, as if it's too big it reduces your ability to slide effectively.I'm the same as Mick though i never think about crashing..well not when I'm on the bike anyway

 

i guess if it's a rucksack that is made specifically for motorbikes and not one of the cheapos you can get for rambling etc. you would have thought the motorbike rucksacks would be well tested though.also if it fits snuggly to your back and not loose that would make a big difference

 

Aye good point mate but if the (god forbid) trailer accident ever happened I'd like to think I would stand a chance of us going separate ways
Can't do that with tins of beans strapped to your spine

 

Due to my 30 years absence from biking, I am now aware that Im wearing gear that must be 1,000 times safer than my old stuff.
My new gear has all the protection, but I still wouldn't want to put it to the test.
It's purely down to your own personal risk assessment, for example, as much as I like open face helmets, a quick assessment tells me no.
Rucksack with 'softish' contents inside, probably okay
It's great to get feedback and I know everybody is offering their best advice, some unfortunately from bad accidents.
If I pondered on the risks too much, it would probably result in another 30 year absence.

 

i do wear an open face occasionally when it's a warm day and I'm just going out for a cruise, try not to think of the consequences if any thing happens
i think i will have to treat myself to a proper motorbike rucksack though..and remember not to put anything hard in it

 

Hate riding with a backpack, have occasionally used one to work, but still not keen. As other suggested - look at tank bags or even tailpacks - Kriega make an excellent range and the US30 would be big enough for beer and ding meals !!!

 

Thanks for all your comments.

I've often thought about what would happen if I came off with a few bottles and tins in my rucksack. I've got a rear seat cowl (sold pillion seat) so will make using throw overs difficult.

I'll probably get a tank cover and bag. Bagster make some colour-coded covers that look pretty good, though not keen on the price and the plastic clips!

Cheers all!

 

I don't like riding with rucksacks but do occasionally with work gear in (A4 pad, laser measure, tape measure and camera).
Have been using a canvas messenger bag on the Bonneville but have now progressed to the Kriega 10ltr tail pack which all my gear fits into - have straps fitted to both bikes so it is transferable (also have panniers on the Tiger but leave them off if filtering is required!)
I was wearing the messenger bag when I came off my T100 - I can vouch for the huge bruise an 8m Stanley "Fat Max" tape leaves in your side!

 

Not liking the sound of that!

6 bottles of beer could make a right old mess

 

In the days of party hopping on the m/cycle I had the obligatory bottle of leibfraumilch stuffed down the front of my jacket, pulled a wheelie, as you do, came off, as you try not to do!, the wine was fine. Now had it been in a rucksack it could have been messy who knows, had I been sober there would be no reason to post this!

 

Bloody dangerous those tapes!

 

I've had a Bagster tank cover on both my last two bikes - brilliant kit. I had no issues with the plastic front clips at all in many years of use and apparently you can get the spares quite easily (never needed to myself).

 

How dare you bring this back on topic!

 

Just done this at work today to my 10yr old Bagstar and agree it's a great bit of kit
Using a cheap pillion seat and bonded together it now attaches to the rear mudguard behind my seat
Will ride home later as fast as I dare to test it
Any problems and I can always put a bungee on as well