Recommend me a tank bag

Originally Posted by hongman

Ah...a consideration I had missed.

Magnets + laptop...hmm.

Thoughts please.

Shouldn't make a difference as long as it is turned off while in the bag.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by hongman

Ah...a consideration I had missed.

Magnets + laptop...hmm.

Thoughts please.

Originally Posted by ibanezlynx

I would suggest the bagster stuff. Its expensive but well worth it. It clips on to a tank cover and is very easy to remove.

The answer? No magnets with this system.

However, have you thought of modifying the topbox mounting so it can be removed easily, so you can carry that in with you as required?

Originally Posted by hongman

Tis temping.

Is it big enough in your opinion to also carry my other items? shoes, trousers, thin jacket, other small items?

You would probably get that lot in, its not a massive bag though. I can get a laptop, charger, pair of trainers, football kit, towel, shinpads, and a pair of footy boots. Thats the bag full then phone, wallet, ciggies, keys etc. in the side pockets. It is looking a bit bulgy by then.

Originally Posted by Webber

Shouldn't make a difference as long as it is turned off while in the bag.

I keep my laptop more or less on hibernate all the time. Worth the risk? something else to consider as I'd want to play it safe.

Originally Posted by Luckypants

The answer? No magnets with this system.

However, have you thought of modifying the topbox mounting so it can be removed easily, so you can carry that in with you as required?

The top box itself can come off with just 1 thumb screw to detach it from the plate, but its not very ergonomic to carry about. No handle or anything, also quite heavy to be lugging about! Its a 48L one.

Originally Posted by benji106

You would probably get that lot in, its not a massive bag though. I can get a laptop, charger, pair of trainers, football kit, towel, shinpads, and a pair of footy boots. Thats the bag full then phone, wallet, ciggies, keys etc. in the side pockets. It is looking a bit bulgy by then.

That would be plenty enough then I think. Just wondering if the backache issues would be solved by having something that is purpose-made, no really way of trying it out. I guess I could send it back via mail order...

If there was a tailpack with a quick and secure on/off procedure I'd definately consider that. Just cant be arsed with bungee straps and the like.

It doesnt cause any issues with back ache for me, another guy I work with has the same bag and he likes it too. Like you say though, no real way of knowing without trying for yourself. The straps are wide and padded and the chest strap really does help.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by hongman

If there was a tailpack with a quick and secure on/off procedure I'd definately consider that. Just cant be arsed with bungee straps and the like.

Have you considered the Ventura system?

http://www.ventura-bike.co.uk/produc...acksystem.aspx

[garynortheast]

Some info gleaned from my experience.....

I have a knox 6 pack rucksack, the one mentioned earlier in this thread, which I use for the 80 mile round trip to uni 3 days a week. It's probably one of the most comfortable rucsacks you can get for use on the bike. Mine takes my 15.1" laptop comfortably along with trainer type shoes, shirt, trousers and sweatshirt, college bits and bobs and a helmet bag. It fits well and has decent waist and chest straps. The weight is well supported and distributed and you only really start to notice it on fast twisty bits of road. However.....I'm aware that if I come off the bike I will in all probability roll rather than slide down the road - a good recipe for breaking bones.

I also have a couple of Oxford tankbags, the Sports Lifetime and a Humpback. Neither of them are big enough to take a full sized laptop so I've resorted to taking my 11.5" netbook into uni with me. This fits comfortably into the Humpback tankbag along with the rest of my kit except the shoes which are put in a bag under a cargo net on the back seat. The magnets have done no damage to the netbook in 6 months or so of this method of transport. Doing things this way does also mean I'm free of the worry of coming of with something large and heavy on my back and it also means I can wear my back protector for the trip.

Hope that goes some way to helping you to decide what to do.

Hi LP. Thanks for that, but I really do hate racks hanging off the back of the bike! Sorry I know I am a fussy git. I appreciate the heads up though.

Benji/Gary, useful insight indeed.

Given the info from this thread, and based on price & practicality I'm going to give the Knox backpack a go. I'm going to leave the tags on it for a week or so, if I really dont get on with it, I can send it back

Thanks all.

[keith_d]

I've got a laptop bag for all my stuff now, but before that I used a rucksack which fitted nicely in my top box. Get to work, take out rucksack, put helmet and gloves in the topbox, stroll into the office with rucksack over my shoulder.

Originally Posted by keith_d

I've got a laptop bag for all my stuff now, but before that I used a rucksack which fitted nicely in my top box. Get to work, take out rucksack, put helmet and gloves in the topbox, stroll into the office with rucksack over my shoulder.

Now thats an idea.

Although I dont know which I prefer, carrying the bag and have seat cowl or have topbox and put rucksack in that - can try both