Tramping backpack on the bike

[jonbuoy]

I did North and South Islands with a backpack strapped sideways with bungees positioned where the pillion would sit and using the pillion pegs to hook the bungees on. You won't even know its there after a while and the paranoia of stopping every 30 k's to check it wears off after the first day.

[FROSTY:Me]

why not just make a couple of vertical posts it can slp over.I did a couple of big tours with a hikingpack on the packrack

[PeteJ]

For those who are interested in "back in the day" experiences before pack frames, affordable hard luggage (or any soft luggage that did not need its own pannier frame) etc:

Loosen the pack's shoulder straps off until when you sit on the bike the pack mainly sits on the pillion seat, with a smidge of weight on your shoulders. I and many others did millions of safe and happy miles of touring with luggage just like this; in my case 3 times a year Tauranga to Dunedin and back for 5 years, and plenty of other touring as well.

No buggering about wondering what the hell might be going on, or falling off, behind you. No tying, untying, worrying about stuff getting burnt or in the chain...

Even had one friend who ran into a truck - by the time of personal impact, the pack had swung around and absorbed the impact between him and the edge of the truck's tray. All concerned agreed the luggage method saved his life. He practises medicine now.

Now for the flurry of criticism from the great wise minds who've never tried it...

[jafafour]

I use my regular 'tramping' backpack all the time when touring- use bungies, lay it the same direction as the set - not at 90degrees to it. mine overhangs the end of the bike by about 15cm, doesnt cause any problems, doesnt move at all . I use 3 bungies to make sure its solid. garbage bag inside makes it 100% waterproof. you'll find a way to bungy it on its way better then wearing it while riding.

[centaurus]

I use my regular 'tramping' backpack all the time when touring- use bungies, lay it the same direction as the set - not at 90degrees to it. mine overhangs the end of the bike by about 15cm, doesnt cause any problems, doesnt move at all . I use 3 bungies to make sure its solid. garbage bag inside makes it 100% waterproof. you'll find a way to bungy it on its way better then wearing it while riding.

doesn't it obscure your tail lights?

[Sharry]

In '79 when I had a suzuki 175 I used a trampimg pack with inner frames on my back no problem. I now use it on my Hornets pack rack, and hardly notice it is there at all.

If you are going to place it across your seat you will have to make sure you have even wieght top and bottom of the pack.

[jonbuoy]

doesn't it obscure your tail lights?

Not if you tuck all the flaps away, with just clothes and wash kit I'm thinking yours probably won't weigh much more than 25kg all up, strapped sideways across the seat its less unsettling balance wise than a squirming pillion rider.

[sunhuntin]

my one suggestion would be to make sure you can climb on and off without getting your foot hooked up.
i sometimes ride with a pack strapped on the pillion seat, and cant count the number of times ive nearly pulled the bike over due to getting hooked up, either due to lack of space or just plain forgetting its there. i have a top box and saddle bags, but sometimes need to extra luggage. at times i have to unhook the bungies and shove the pack off before i can climb off, or else i stick my right leg straight out and do a funny little hop/shuffle with the left leg. that works, but is awkward and bloody embarassing.

[mctshirt]

Whatever you do weight is not your friend.

[jafafour]

Centaurus : doesn't it obscure your tail lights?
nope not at all- it sits level with the seat and is well above the lights at the back

[centaurus]

Thanks for all your advice guys. I got to borrow a set of panniers from a mate of mine the other day and I went for a test ride with them first and then I put all the stuff in my training bag and tied it on top of my rear seat. After that experience, I have decided to buy panniers.

Tail pack is doable but it's not fun. Everytime I tried pushing through the corners, the front end became vague and the bike went all skittish. It's definitely not impossible but it would take all the fun out of riding, especially thinking that I will be doing an average of 4-500ks daily for two weeks during my holiday this year.

[sleemanj]

I'm sorta planning a similar length ride this year (5000 maybe 6000 ks, see how I go), in preparation I picked up a set of Oxford Sport panniers on Trademe for a hundred bucks (used).

They are freaking massive even without expanding them to the full size (when I do that it's just ridiculously huge), I havn't ridden with them yet but I reckon they will be the business, maybe even won't need the tank bag, but probably take it anyway incase I need to distribute weight a bit better.

[centaurus]

I'm sorta planning a similar length ride this year (5000 maybe 6000 ks, see how I go), in preparation I picked up a set of Oxford Sport panniers on Trademe for a hundred bucks (used).

They are freaking massive even without expanding them to the full size (when I do that it's just ridiculously huge), I havn't ridden with them yet but I reckon they will be the business, maybe even won't need the tank bag, but probably take it anyway incase I need to distribute weight a bit better.

Funny you should mention the oxford sports. I've just bought a pair today from trademe too. I was worried they might be too big to fit my bike but after expanding and filling them with random stuff, it turned out they do actually fit on my bike. They are so big that extended, the rear of the bike is wider than the handlebars, much wider, but they seem to be stable. Will take them out for a test ride next week.

As for tank bag, It's always good to have one when you're carrying a load on the rear of the bike - it's ballances with the weight in the back bringing the centre of gravity towards the middle of the bike and thus settling down the front. Most people with touring experience actually recommended me to put in the tank bag the heaviest stuff I will carry (the tank bag is much smaller than the load I would carry on the back of the bike)

[lankyman]

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.

Pack rack?

[centaurus]

Pack rack?

Sorry mate, I don't do pack racks. As far as I'm concerned, pack racks and destroy both the looks and the handling of a bike. I know they're very practical but for me the cons are bigger than pros.