Magnetic tank bags and credit cards etc

[Reckless]

Personally I hate things in my face that could slip off or scratch the tank. Not keen on the feel of pack racks etc either and they are ugly.

So if your tank bag is small as you say what about the bumbag as an option. I use one heaps. Just slip it around behind me, pointing backwards, when riding. Really comfy and they are only about 30-40 bucks.

Biggest bonuses for me are nice small size and the spare visor thingy so I can take a clear one for night riding, thats brilliant. Also the bumbag is Bloody good for a weekend (overnight ride). Fits toothbrush, Socks, fresh t shirt, undies, Wallet keys etc. Pic attached.

If I have a longer trip I add the tail pack directly behind me on the pillion seat so the bungys don't shag up the paint and it rides nicer there.

But thats just me I like the feel of the bike not to be hindered by racks, panniers, high pack rack frames, tanks bags etc etc.

Personal preference though, Just a suggestion, each to their own.

[bert_is_evil]

Hmm...I've wondered what it would be like to crash with a piece of folded metal in my pocket

True, I saw someone riding to work this morning with a hard case backpack (I guess for a laptop), I'd much prefer to smash up my laptop than land on my back on that thing, might as well land backwards over a rock!

[avgas]

I have nasty magnets in my bag and they dont affect either my phone, my wallet, my electronics or even just the bank card sitting on its own in the tank bag.
The wallet seems to wear my bank cards down the worst.
Both my credit card and bank card will need replacing at the end of the year as the signature (and the white thing you sign) have both dissapper'd.

[Steam]

The Mythbusters crew did this one - their conclusion was that to affect your cards, the magnets need to be absolutley ferkin ginormous. Little wee magnets like those that are found in tank bags just ain't going to do it.

People often bring that up as proof, but the Mythbusters' reasoning on that one was debunked, breaking magnetic fields is the vital thing, and the fields break every time you put it on and off the tank.
They didn't break the fields in their tests.
Even tiny mag fields can scramble cards when oscillating or breaking.

Mythbusters often get it wrong.

[timorang]

My experience is indicating that credit cards and tank bag magnets are not compatible. Hence the question to solicit others experience and knowledge. i will no longer carry my wallet in the bottom of the tankbag - which is a shame as in all other respects this system works best for me.

[90s]

So if your tank bag is small as you say what about the bumbag as an option. I use one heaps. Just slip it around behind me, pointing backwards, when riding. Really comfy and they are only about 30-40 bucks.

I would not like to land on that in an off.
Seems more like a back breaker than a back protector.


My Oxford tank bag does not have pathetic little magnets - they are pretty powerful. Powerful enough to disrupt stuff?
Theory aside the only experience I have is that I had to put my digital SLR-styled camera in there with a 256mb card, and afterwards it read it was 128mb. (I was careful to position if well away from the magents). On file management software it showed only 128mb, found no bad sectors etc etc. Scandisk and Norton found no errors, but did not find the other 128mb either.

Could have been coincidence, or maybe it fell out naturally. I anyone finds 128mb laying about pls return it me.

[Wannabiker]

Good luck with your missing 128MB.

I had a credit card wiped of information while on the way back from the states by one of them magnetic security tag de-activators at a shop checkout. Just as well it was on the way home as woulda been stuffed for money otherwise! So, yes I guess that moderately powerful magnets can affect credit / eftpos cards.

[discotex]

I put my laptop in my Givi T434 tankbag and it seems fine. Not sure I'd put in in there on sleep mode though!

My iPod only goes in the top section to keep it away from the magnets and my wallet is always kept in my jacket pocket.

YMMV but as I don't carry much cash there's no way I'm risking demagnetising my credit/cashflow cards.

[Daffyd]

I feel I should qualify my statement which I made in another thread to the effect that magnets in a tank bag may damage credit cards.
A little back ground...I worked? (was employed) for just under 12 years in the high voltage switchyard at Tiwai Point near Bluff.
One of the first things we were taught was that even walking through the switchyard with credit cards in your wallet in your pocket was enough to kill them. The same applied to analogue watches, (we always had to wear digital ones).
I should point out that it was not the high voltage but the magnetism from the adjacent potlines. This was strong enough to stall a car engine, make all the warning lights flash on and off, indicators to operate, and all sorts of other things. One of my workmates borrowed some music cassettes from another and forgot he had them in his bag when he returned them...wiped the whole lot!
Maybe a little off topic but thought it might be of some inerest.

D

[discotex]

I should point out that it was not the high voltage but the magnetism from the adjacent potlines. This was strong enough to stall a car engine, make all the warning lights flash on and off, indicators to operate, and all sorts of other things.

Sure it wasn't aliens? Sounds very x-files to me.

[Daffyd]

Sure it wasn't aliens? Sounds very x-files to me.

Good point...maybe it was.

[What?]

... breaking magnetic fields is the vital thing, and the fields break every time you put it on and off the tank...

Interesting. That would in turn debunk a few other theories, not one of which I have ever bothered to look into.

[90s]

Good luck with your missing 128MB.

Thanks.

Despite the camera problem I still have confidence in the bag and its powerful time-and-space warping magnets. I figure the SD card was 4 years old and had had very heavy use, so coincidence?

Anyway, I have put my wallet, memory stick, laptop (work-owned one - not my own!) and other items in the tank bag and they have all been OK.

So today I bought a new 330gb hard drive and am transporting it home in the tankbag.

I'll let you all know if its OK - wish me luck!

[Chanak]

I feel I should qualify my statement which I made in another thread to the effect that magnets in a tank bag may damage credit cards.
A little back ground...I worked? (was employed) for just under 12 years in the high voltage switchyard at Tiwai Point near Bluff.
One of the first things we were taught was that even walking through the switchyard with credit cards in your wallet in your pocket was enough to kill them. The same applied to analogue watches, (we always had to wear digital ones).
I should point out that it was not the high voltage but the magnetism from the adjacent potlines. This was strong enough to stall a car engine, make all the warning lights flash on and off, indicators to operate, and all sorts of other things. One of my workmates borrowed some music cassettes from another and forgot he had them in his bag when he returned them...wiped the whole lot!
Maybe a little off topic but thought it might be of some inerest.

D

The magnetism in the potlines (I am employed (and shh on the 'worked' thing down there, vow of secrecy and all that) down there atm) doesn't seem to mess with my cards, but if I put my phone case (magnetic clasp) anywhere near it (same bag, let alone same pocket), it's time to get another new eftpos card.

[2fst4u]

i saw a tank bag with suction cups advertised somewhere. would they be better or would they have less 'stick'?