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Josh_
| | Posted on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 11:15 pm: | 
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I commuted with a Dell laptop on my S3 quite a bit. I just strapped the laptop case on to the back of the bike and off I went. Never had a problem.
Krassh, great bike. I keep telling people about the GTS and just get blank expressions. got higher-quality pics of yours?
Darthane, with the bags off and 'shield down it doesn't look that much bigger than an S3. I test rode one for a little bit and I think my main concern will be the seat height/width. I can't touch any better than I could on the S3 and it weight more (80?lbs).
I actually haven't ridden any new Buell models. newest I've been on is the wife's 2000 Blast.
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Krassh
| | Posted on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 11:17 pm: |
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I have hauled Laptops in my Electra Glide and on the Buell in a backpack and of course in the Trunk of my GTS. All modern hard drives park their heads when powered down. So I would not worry about the hard drive. The only thing I have found is there is enough flex in the LCD that it rubs the keyboard while exposed to vibrations and bumps. I have found using a sheet of small bubble wrap between the LCD and the keyboard keeps this from happening. I carry external 2.5" USB hard drives and my Laptops around all the time and have run to no longevity problems of any kind. Even when I carry my Laptop on the Electra Glide and the GTS I keep my Laptop in my backpack or place bubble wrap around the Laptop to protect the exterior and absorb some vibration. I definitely would not carry a Laptop in any time luggage without some sort of protection. |
Krassh
| | Posted on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 11:34 pm: |
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Lemonchili_x1
I do not know how the ergonomics on your 02 X1 are compared to my XB9S but I use a Targus Laptop bag and leave enough slack in the straps so the bag rests on the seat behind me. It takes almost all the weight of my shoulders.
Josh
Yeah I do they are 1600 X 1200 and about a meg a piece, to large to post here but give me your email and I can send what I have. A lot of people ask whether it is a Beemer. I do not have any identifying badging on the bike unless you know what you are looking at or see the Yamaha logo on the brake master cylinder most people don't even know it is a Yamaha. I had been in Love with this model bike since it first appeared in Motorcyclist in 1992 prior to the 1993 launch. Then the price was finally released and I knew I would never swing the 13K in 93. So when I found this one for $7,500.00 I could not resist. |
Dale
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 12:35 am: |
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Jesse James says if you cannot put it in your back pocket, you do not need it to ride. What a dummy. It is obvious that he does not live in Wisconsin. I put bags on my xb12s so I can ride it. Rain gear, cold weather gear, tools, hot weather gear, add oil, and so forth. I have been to Sturgis in 108 degree weather and two days later, riding in sleet through Rocky Mountain National Park. BAGS ARE MANDATORY. |
Krassh
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 12:45 am: |
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What is funny is if you watched Motorcycle Mania 3 the bike he was building, at one point he thought of making metal side bags from a old scooter part. |
Lemonchili_x1
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 02:51 am: |
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Thanks for the thoughts - I use a Paklite laptop backpack which i think is pretty similar to the Targus one, I'll try loosening the straps and see if I can get it to rest on the seat. And I'll grab some bubble wrap...
This is a GTS1000 racing at the TT in '99. Yes, a GTS at the Isle of Man! There was an article in Performance Bikes that year, but I don't think I have that issue any more.
http://www.harriet80.freeserve.co.uk/arc_1999/tt99_01.htm |
Court
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 04:43 am: |
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I use an Aerostich Courier bag. Adjust the strap so that the bag, with the laptop, just contacts the seat as the bag hangs over your back. I also keep my laptop in an Aerostich Fleece envelope.
Seems to have kept the high amplitude, low frequency trying to unseat devices gremlins as bay.
Court |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 08:39 am: |
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quote:Jesse James says if you cannot put it in your back pocket, you do not need it to ride.
Did you see the ride video he took with Kid Rock on the discovery channel? He says that, because anything that won't fit in his back pocket gets thrown in the full trailer full of tools that is following off camera... Including the stuff necessary to replace a primary belt.
Though I don't doubt he has had some past experiences surviving rides pretty well with just wits and tenacity. |
Lemonchili_x1
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 09:14 am: |
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Tried it on my way home tonight - the X1 pillion seat is a little low and my bag a little small, so even with the straps as loose as I dare, there's still about a 5 inch gap.
I had a look at seat bags a while ago, but couldn't find anything decent quality that would fit the X1 pillion seat AND fit my laptop inside.
So I think my best options are to talk my work into getting me a newer lighter laptop (unlikely  ) or check out the courier style bags.
Court, how do you stop the bag trying to swing around to the front? Do you have a second strap, or is it okay because it's on the seat?
cheers,
lemonchili |
Curtyd
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 10:05 am: |
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I actually have gone on long trips with the Courier Bag. It's even been very full and I have had it on my side because I had a huge duffle bag on the passenger seat. I am talking 3 to 4 hundred mile days, it works just fine . It will stay in the middle of your back generally even without it sitting on the rear seat. I am on my 3rd or 4th one now. |
Henrik
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 10:07 am: |
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Quote from friend to his new GF when going on short weekend hop: "Wear leather, bring toothbrush, underwear is optional"
That said; with some planning, I could probably do a week trip with just tank bag and decent size tail trunk. Bringing mostly polypro clothes and washing on the road. But I do prefer having a bit more room for gear - my tool collection alone takes up a good bit of room, and considering it's weight, is best packed in the bottom of saddlebags for "best" handling.
The new VFR is still "haunting" me as "the" sport touring bike with the integrated factory hard bags(made by Givi), and not it comes in flat black 
Henrik |
Bomber
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 10:16 am: |
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a courier-type bag or briefcase with the strap slung across your chest, bandolier style, set on the seat (like court sez) won't rotate to the front of your unless you're really haulin the mail -- it'll set nice and still on the seat behind you . . . . I've got a buncha miles commuting with just that setup -- when the bag DOES move to one side or the other, a shrug of the appropriate shoulder or shove with the appropriate elbow will get it right back in the middle of the seat . . . . . . the seat takes all the weight, and the you are only providing locational keying for the bag
of course, any get off at all and your laptop's toast, but hey, that's what a network backup is for, yes? |
Josh_
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 10:18 am: |
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When did the viffer get "factory" bags?
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Dasxb9s
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 10:37 am: |
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I had a very bad experience one time with a backpack. Though it was a bicycle crash, I was going pretty fast. To this day I will not wear a back pack, or anything on my belt (cell phone, pager) or much in my pockets.
I was going pretty fast down a hill on my way to work when I was in the Army, the wife had the Jeep, so my choice was walk or bicycle. I had all I needed in the backpack. The car in front of me made a left turn, or almost made a left turn. Mid turn he stopped dead and I clipped the rear bumper. I cartwheeled over the car as the fork snapped, I landed in the street and the backpack broke my fall! (NOT!!!) I landed smack on the backpack which had a small/medium radio in it. I could not see my back but I bet there was an impression of a radio complete with knobs and dial settings!!
It would have been a bad crash due to speed and landing on the street, but landing on that backpack made it worse. Probably was the reason for most of the damage to my arm/shoulder. I could not raise my right arm above my waist for a couple of weeks or so, and I looked like I got run over by the car!!!
I view backpacks as being worse or as bad as riding dressed like a squid. Even with good gear, whatever is in that backpack is gonna be a problem when you land on it!!
If I need to carry stuff that is more than tankbag size, I ride my BMW R1100RA and bag it! After that bicycle crash, I to this day (happened 30+ years ago) I cringe when I see some guy on a bike wearing a backpack.
Think about what you pack, and how it's gonna feel to land on!!! BE CAREFULLER!!! |
Lemonchili_x1
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 10:38 am: |
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I remember riding to the Australian Grand Prix one year ('96???) with tent, bags etc on the back... distance was a bit over 1000km each way, and it was cold too. Saw a guy early in the morning on a Fireblade - Brando jacket, jeans, work boots and ex-army duffle bag slung over shoulder. Made me laugh cause it had that look as if he'd woken up in the morning and thought "Sh*t, the GP's on this weekend, better get moving...". I think that's sport-touring too
I've used shoulder/courier style bags before, but not with something as heavy as the laptop, but it sounds like the best option cause, like you say, at least it can sit on the seat most of the time and if it swings around I'll just push it back.
Bomber - thanks for reminding me, must do a backup... |
Bomber
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 10:39 am: |
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quote from the aerostich catalog -- don't cary anything more massive than a letter in your pockets!
edited by bomber on July 20, 2004 |
Lemonchili_x1
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 10:42 am: |
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Point noted Dasxb9s
Might have to think about other options for the X1... |
Josh_
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 10:45 am: |
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>quote from the aerostich catalog
which explains why the Roadcrafter suit has 10 pockets but only one that opens enough to put more than a letter in (and that one is supposed to have a water pouch)
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Outrider
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 11:21 am: |
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A word of caution:
It wasn't too many years ago when the MC Mags were down on the concept of backpacks. The reason being additional injuries incurred in the event of a get off.
Backpacks and fanny packs (esp. tool bags) contributed highly to back injuries that most likely would not have occurred if the bags were mounted to the bike and not the person.
I realize the importance of not subjecting a notebook computer to the bikes vibrations, so let's just leave it at please be cautious when riding with a backpack or fanny pack. The spine you save may be your own. |
Davefla
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 12:42 pm: |
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I figure that the backpack is where the underwear, toothbrush and maybe a towel will go. Nothing harder than my bones, for certain.
Just bought an XB12R. I already have a big tank bag, am looking at the Ventura pack systems (see yesterday's pic of the yellow Lightning) and various soft saddlebags. Anybody ever use the Ortlieb DryBag type units from Riderwearhouse?
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Bomber
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 01:00 pm: |
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Dave -- yessir . . . .those things are aces! plus, as a bonus, it'll hardly ever rain once you have them! |
Curtyd
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 01:02 pm: |
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Ortlieb DryBag type units from Riderwearhouse?
Yes, and the webbing loops, two go around the turnsignal anchors, which are pretty stout.Two go under the seat around the seat posts, that the seat latches onto, and snaked outside the underseat area. Then my long cinching webs go thru the loops as an X on top of the duffle. Cinched down tight, real tight. The large bag held all my camping gear plus a little more and I had an 850 mile 2 nite camping weekend without a problem. Mostly flats but I don't think the bag was going anywhere, I was on some gravel and dirt roads with it. |
Davefla
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 01:06 pm: |
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"plus, as a bonus, it'll hardly ever rain once you have them!"
LOL! Might offset the rain that'll fall due to the fact that I have a new bike!
Thanks for the feedback.
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Roc
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 01:55 pm: |
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Coldwthrrider - Do keep us posted on the bag mounts.
I make it a point to put soft stuff in the courier bag. Comfortable and safe.
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Henrik
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 09:20 pm: |
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I've taken to have absolutely nothing in my pockets when riding. A friend went down in a slow lowside with relatively minimal damage. Except for the huge black/blue on his thigh, where he'd landed on the bundle of keys in his pants pocket - had him limping for weeks.
The Ortlieb bags are great.
Henrik |
Court
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 10:18 pm: |
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>>>>any get off at all and your laptop's toast
Having jetisoned an IBM ThinkPad at 5:00AM on the Blue Ridge Parkway, I inclined to declare that an inaccurate statement.
The bottle of Polo colonge, however, was trashed resulting in lots of comments when I stopped, 900 miles later, for the night in 100F weather.
Court |
Road_thing
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 11:51 pm: |
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Lemme make sure I understand this---when you tour the country on a motorcycle, you carry a bottle of cologne??
Apparently Texas riders and New York/Kansas riders may have some significant differences in their approaches to personal grooming on the road...
rt |
Blake
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 12:30 am: |
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That is one thing I've always left at home, cologne. I mean, it's difficult enough for the ladies to resist my innate animal magnetism, charm, and rugged good looks. Don't want to temp fate too much when I'm riding solo away from my honey. It's just not fair to the poor dejected ladies.
Blake (always thinking of the ladies) |
Road_thing
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 10:56 am: |
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Um, yeah, me too... |
Lemonchili_x1
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 08:45 pm: |
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Thanks Court, you've just given me the justification to go to my boss and ask for a ThinkPad  (they're a lot lighter than my old Dell too!)
I don't think I'll tell him about the cologne though... |
Court
| | Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2004 - 06:21 am: |
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>>>>when you tour the country on a motorcycle, you carry a bottle of cologne??
It's a looooooooooooooooong story that involves TV cameras,Polo, 6 pair of kahki slacks, golf shirts and spare cell phone batteries.
Things were fine until......
never mind.
Remind me to tell you sometime, but this story requires the "hearee" to have a certain BAC to appreciate.
Court |
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