Laptop and Motorcycling

cheap & cheerful = bungee & binbag

[timwilky]

My own personal opinion is that I never carry anything hard or bulky on my back. Whilst it might be convenient to use a back pack, it is also asking for a broken back in the event of an off.

When I have carried a laptop, it is in its normal storage bag, then in a bin bag and bungied to the bike.

I commute from Cardiff to Leicester and Cardiff to Staines reasonably regularly, if the weather is looking good I jump on the bike and take the laptop in a targus back pack.

It's highly padded, has some sort of air cushoning and I find it really comfortable. Not paticularly cheap but I claimed it back from the company

http://www.targus.com/uk/product_details.asp?sku=TR600

Mike

My personal choice is not to carry the laptop on the bike because of vibration and knocks, I carry my 17" dell in a targus backpack similar to mbuk's, hardly notice it when riding, in fact I miss it when I go without it.
I've now got a top box but still carry my laptop in the rucksack
Just my thoughts anyhow

Originally Posted by mbuk

I commute from Cardiff to Leicester and Cardiff to Staines reasonably regularly, if the weather is looking good I jump on the bike and take the laptop in a targus back pack.

It's highly padded, has some sort of air cushoning and I find it really comfortable. Not paticularly cheap but I claimed it back from the company

http://www.targus.com/uk/product_details.asp?sku=TR600

Mike

I have a similar bag and must say it is very comfy and the laptop feels very safe. The padding is also very substantial between you and laptop.

Originally Posted by timwilky

My own personal opinion is that I never carry anything hard or bulky on my back. Whilst it might be convenient to use a back pack, it is also asking for a broken back in the event of an off.

When I have carried a laptop, it is in its normal storage bag, then in a bin bag and bungied to the bike.

Is there anyway evidence to support this tw? I would be interested in seeing it as i commute alot with my laptop rucksack.

[rictus01]

The BAGLUX harness and ALPHA bag is what you need, you never have to worry about hard stuff in a rutsack (I wouldn't carry anything really solid in one on a bike no matter what padding),you get a tank protector, the lock system makes it easy for getting fuel in without removing the bag, and when you do it's a 10 sec job, the newer models are a bit rounded and won't fit an A4 laptop, but the ALPHA will take even a widescreen one, I used one for work over a three year period and covered near 200,000 miles without once having a problem with either the bag or laptop, and after all that time the harness and bag were almost as good as new.

and just on another not, you get good money on Ebay for them, so if you come to sell it you should make a good amount back .

Hard luggage is probably best from a security point of veiw, but the position of a tankbag is just about perfect for any weight carried on a bike, one of the few things I always get for a new bike is a BAGLUX, and that's because they work.

Cheers Mark.

Originally Posted by pencil shavings

why dont you just put it in your rucksack inside the laptop case? I cant imagine it would get damaged unless you came off.

:O Ouch. The laptop wouldn't get damaned in that case unless you came off... erm, what about the damage to your back if you came off? Always plan for the worst case scenario, when you come off, not if.

If you come off with the laptop attached to you, and you survive it unharmed, do you want to add it to your insurance claim?

Originally Posted by timwilky

My own personal opinion is that I never carry anything hard or bulky on my back. Whilst it might be convenient to use a back pack, it is also asking for a broken back in the event of an off.

When I have carried a laptop, it is in its normal storage bag, then in a bin bag and bungied to the bike.

+1. Laptop in a laptop bag, that in a bin bag, bungee net on to the pillion seat. Put the laptop side on to the bike, and if you drop the bike, chances are that the laptop won't even touch the ground. I know it wouldn't on my bike anyway. The pillion pegs would stop that happening.

Originally Posted by maultin

cheap & cheerful = bungee & binbag

Only problem with that method (without the laptop bag) is that the bungee will chaffe on the laptop. I learnt the hard way.

Thanks for the many posts

I found some rather interesting options, but the limitiation is that I've 17 inch widescreen 'laptop' (HP nw9440) and it's huge... The tank bag option seems interesting, have to check.

Cheers!

i have a vaio laptop and as my bike is my only transport and i need my lappy for work and play it gos everywhere with me. i got a suitable bag from pcworld and havent looked back. bag cost about £10

[Skip]

Sorry to drag up this thread but I have sold my car now and will be commuting purely by bike in a couple of weeks.

I was going to get a rucksack but after reading all this I am not so sure! If I use a magnetic tankbag (Oxford Lifetime) with the laptop bag in it (I think it will fit!) will the laptop survive being in a reasonable proximity to the magnets?!

Just a thought really! I know the magnets are only on the side and not directly underneath...