Tramping backpack on the bike

[centaurus]

I have decided to do my holiday on the bike this summer. I was wondering if I can use a proper backpack as bike luggage (proper multi day backpack). I'm thinking of securing it to the bike, not carrying on my back. This would save me the expense of buying bike luggage and also allow me to do tramping while on holiday with the bike.

Has anybody tried this? Any ideeas or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Oh, I almost forgot. I have a 99' ZX6R. Small back seat but it has the grab rails on both sides of the seat which could be used as support/tiedown points.

[sleemanj]

As long as you can attach it securely, away from the wheels and hot bits, you should be fine. Just make sure you keep the weight as low as possible, you do NOT want a top heavy load.

Other thing to consider is waterproofness. Tramping in the rain is probably less demanding on your pack than riding at 100k's through it. So some rubbish bags handy would be a good idea, to either wrap the pack, or the stuff inside the pack.

[fliplid]

As long as you can attach it securely, away from the wheels and hot bits, you should be fine. Just make sure you keep the weight as low as possible, you do NOT want a top heavy load.

Other thing to consider is waterproofness. Tramping in the rain is probably less demanding on your pack than riding at 100k's through it. So some rubbish bags handy would be a good idea, to either wrap the pack, or the stuff inside the pack.

As above, and definitely agree with the rubbish bag covering idea! Also useful for "regular" bike luggage.

[p.dath]

You could use tie downs. But a proper back pack (as in for camping and hiking) can be quite large.

If you position it over the bike where you would strap it on - does it stick out either side very far?

You would want to balance the contents of the back pack as much as possible as well. Otherwise you might lean into a corner, and the heavy side of the back pack might take you and the bike with it.

[220 Ohms]

Just make sure it is secure and away from your wheel/chain etc.
No worse than riding with a wobbly pillion

[BMWST?]

pack stuff in plastic bags INSIDE the pack....A rubbish bag on the outside wont last five minutes,it will get torn by the tie downs and or flap itself to death .Just make sure it is secure and cant move.

[fliplid]

I tend to stick me stuff in plastic carrier bags at anyrate.

[centaurus]

Hey guys, thanks for the ideas.

What I'm most worried about is securing the backpack on the bike. Vertically is not possible (I don't have a pack rack) and would be too dangerous for riding through corners so I'm thinking to lay it on the horizontal, across the bike (there wouldn't be enough room to put it lengthwise, unless I sit on top of it )

A few things that worry me:
1- would it make the bike too wide to be safe?
2- how difficult is to ballance it so as not to pull to one side
3- how secure would it be at highway cruising speeds, being sideways and catching enough wind.

I would be curious to hear from people that have tried it. I would hate to find out the hard way that it's not a good ideea.

[AD345]

If you have got a pack-rack that is tall and/or has a frame then it's probably less of a good idea.

I did a 2 week tour of the SI on my Katana back in the 80's with a tramping back pack with a rigid frame. I tied it to the pack rack on the bike and it was all good.

Without a pack rack I would go for the non-framed back pack and try to tie it down on the back.


Fack, thats a lot of back, packs and racks - sheesh

[CookMySock]

Nah mate, just wear it. You will get used to it in only one day, and its much less dicking around with it on yer back.

It's safer too, as you can manipulate the weight rather than it manipulate you.

I enjoy riding with a backpack on. It feels like I'm on a mission, going somewhere fun, or on holiday.

Steve

[centaurus]

Nah mate, just wear it. You will get used to it in only one day, and its much less dicking around with it on yer back.

It's safer too, as you can manipulate the weight rather than it manipulate you.

I enjoy riding with a backpack on. It feels like I'm on a mission, going somewhere fun, or on holiday.

Steve

I ride with a backpack too, but a small one. Here I am talking about a big backpack with inner frame, used for multiday tramps, that can hold all my stuff for the holiday (a 60-70 L backpack). I would hate to have to ride the bike with one of those strapped to my back. And I'm pretty sure it's quite dangerous too.

[eelracing]

I ride with a backpack too, but a small one. Here I am talking about a big backpack with inner frame, used for multiday tramps, that can hold all my stuff for the holiday (a 60-70 L backpack). I would hate to have to ride the bike with one of those strapped to my back. And I'm pretty sure it's quite dangerous too.

Having a massive backpack across the back seat sounds like an accident waiting to happen to me.

Just splash out on some soft luggage throwover bags and a good cargo net bungy with multiple hooks.

You can always wear the backpack (empty)if tramping is definately on the agenda.

[Rockbuddy]

Just wear it, i have a 90ltr(i think, its big anyway) back pack which i have done a tour of the nth island with, its just like having a pillion on the back

[grusomhat]

You should have a couple of straps that came out from under the pillion seat just in front of the grab rails. Very handy for tying stuff to. You may want some rags or something to cover the body work with to prevent rubbing.

[boman]

How lomg are you going away for. I went away for 7 days last X-mas, and I overpacked. It really is amazing how little you need to take with you on your bike. Most camp grounds and towns have a laundromat, you can wash every 3-4days and really cut down on what you need. You might be able to fit it all into a back pack, and save the hassle of lugging alot of gear around with you.