How dangerous is a rucksack?

[Stu]

Originally Posted by BluePete

I agree with Dysparunia, one of the lads on my unit dealt with a biker who just fell off all by himself. Problem was, the rucksac he was wearing snapped his back and he is now a 24 year old in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

Sorry for starting a new thread but was quite shocked by this and wanted a wider audience

Just bought a rucksack to try and improve the style of my bike (compared with tailpack & pillion pegs).
Didn't realise it was going to put my safety at risk Or is it nothing to worry about?

Knox aeropack with built in back protector and will probably continue to wear a dedicated back protector underneath.

The rucksack is not the safety issue, its what you put inside it. Simple really, put stuff in there by all means just not anything you'd want to fall on thats all.

[TSM]

I have a back protector and very often have a ruck sack on, but the only stuff i usaly have in the bag is clothes or my dark visor. If i need to carry odd objects i usaly strap them on the rear seat. If anything i feal more comfortable with the rucksack on and soft clothes inside.

For the past 4 years i've had a laptop in my rucksack. I've never given it a second thought. Any of the safety gear you wear could potentially injure you. Its all in the way you come off.

On saying that, i've just bought a topbox and drop my laptop bag in there now.

In my last accident, I landed flat on my back. There is no way I will ever carry a rucksack with anything hard or sharp in it, my back is more important. I always bunjee a rucksack to the pillion seat, used to carry a laptop this way and it was fine when the bike slide down the road (seperate accident).

I broke my shoulder blade in an accident where I was wearing a ruck sack. A better back protector would have helped but hard objects in the ruck sack were clearly to blame.

[Bluepete]

Should have explained more, the lad had a bike chain amongst other things in his 'sac. The squishy things didn't do anything, it's just the hard things that did.

[Viney]

Just dont run through tube stations with it on!

[northwind]

Originally Posted by mysteryjimbo

For the past 4 years i've had a laptop in my rucksack. I've never given it a second thought. Any of the safety gear you wear could potentially injure you. Its all in the way you come off.

On saying that, i've just bought a topbox and drop my laptop bag in there now.

A laptop probably wouldn't be too bad, as it's large and flat- as long as it's in a suitable bag, anyway. It's things that focus the impact that are the biggest danger, or things that can cause twisting or bending injuries, I think.

[SoulKiss]

I try to avoid rucksacks on t back on the bike - bungie netting it to the rear seat is easy

Wouldn't really ride with a rucksack unless I really had to

Which is why I have the mighty Humpback kit

David