Hauling your cargo for the daily commute

[pannayar]

I normally use a tank bag (a nice chase harper) for my daily commute. Today I wanted to carry some gym clothes, shoes etc and tried the backpack. Though I have commuted w/ backpacks in the past, I felt a tangible difference today. All the bag had was a 16" laptop, shoes and a t-shirt/shorts, but it's presence was felt enough that I prefer the tank bag so much. Going back to the tank bag from tomorrow.

What is your default mode of hauling the stuff for your commute?

 

[Spec-ECU]

Semi-hard backpack.

 

[Smilygo]

I use a slim backpack to carry a laptop. The rest (lunch) goes to the tail bag. This tail bag is really handy but the content moves around and the sidewall is not strong (thus fold-able when not in use). I love it so far.

 

[antidote]

Backpack.

Hated it.

One reason I stopped my 10 mile commute.

 

[sckego]

Topbox. 42 liters of whateverthefuckyouwant.

 

[CAmudgeon]

Depends on the length of your commute. I hate backpack but I have a longer ride.

Side cases are a pain to split with (I commute with 1) - I prefer a tailcase if the bike is equipped. Its nice to have a place to lock stuff when you run errands, so at least one hardcase is a must for a practical daily driver bike for me. Others make do with a backpack, but I like having a case or two.

 

[weasel]

Tank bag goes with me everywhere, riding or not (Murse). I also wear a backpack to work so I can ditch my warm weather clothes for the ride home.

No option for both

 

[mototireguy]

Cordura helmet bag with bungee net on back seat.

 

[Surj]

Topbox. 42 liters of whateverthefuckyouwant.

Depends on the length of your commute. I hate backpack but I have a longer ride.

Side cases are a pain to split with (I commute with 1) - I prefer a tailcase if the bike is equipped. Its nice to have a place to lock stuff when you run errands, so at least one hardcase is a must for a practical daily driver bike for me. Others make do with a backpack, but I like having a case or two.

This. Topcase, even for short commutes. Stow stuff, pick stuff up, whatever. I'm currently riding with narrow "city-lids" on my sidecases and they're unnoticeable while splitting, so narrow sidecases can be an option too. In either case, hard luggage is where it's at.

 

[kurth83]

I don't travel light any more, those days are gone.
Never met a bike that had enough space for me.
I ride in the rain, so I prefer hard bags over soft ones.

So a full set of hard side bags and a large top-case is my commuter.
I have soft bags that fit inside each of the hard bags for convenience.
The side bags are a few inches less wide than my handlebars for lane splitting.
A nice swiss gear backpack fits the top-case perfectly,
takes the place of a tank-bag nicely, and no worries when it is wet.

 

[RightCoastBias]

I used to do a backpack until I got my FZ6, now I rock a Chase Harper tank bag. I don't need much in the way of stuff, so the bag I've got works.

Might be useful to make this poll multiple choice.

 

[babyhuyx]

does anyone ride to gym? I see a couple at 24 hour fitness. I don't like the idea of sticking my super sweaty gym head into my beautiful shoei o_o or the hassle of locking up all my gear in the shitty gym lockers.

 

[BiG Chris]

usually just have a backpack other wise its in the hard bags on the harley

 

[Hoppalong]

Using a backpack while riding is not the greatest idea.

Having something hard, something with corners, and especially weight (such as a laptop) on your back during a crash can cause some real injuries.


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[antidote]

does anyone ride to gym? I see a couple at 24 hour fitness. I don't like the idea of sticking my super sweaty gym head into my beautiful shoei o_o or the hassle of locking up all my gear in the shitty gym lockers.

Don't fancy ass 24hrs have showers??

 

[Hoho]

Depends on what I need to haul. Most days it's my tank bag, when I need a little more, I have a couple of backpacks that I use.

 

[minh]

did the backpack thing for a few years, then got a trunk box mounted on passenger seat. don't look back. your shoulders and back will thank you. I can't even feel the weight of the box at all... plus I can store the helmet and gloves in the box when I'm at the office or out eating...

 

[RaptorFA]

Hate, Hate, Hate wearing a backpack while riding. Hardbagz for me!

 

[Ozymandias]

Using a backpack while riding is not the greatest idea.

Having something hard, something with corners, and especially weight (such as a laptop) on your back during a crash can cause some real injuries.


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Let me tell you a little story about a notebook in a backpack during a crash.

Cliff notes version... 40 foot fall, Dell D630 in the backpack. Still worked perfectly 2 years later with NO signs of damage of any type and may very well have helped save me from paralysis. It's all about how you hit.

To be fair, I'm the guy that at 19 if I had been wearing my seatbelt at the time I wouldn't be here so I'm the opposite side of the statistics than most people apparently.

OP: I put my stuff in a messenger bag and cargo net to the tail/rear seat. I can't stand anything on my back, not willing to buy a top case and don't really want the extra width from side bags.

 

[Hooli]

The sidecases that come with the Duc work well but the attachment system is awkward and the added width makes lanesplitting...interesting, to say the least.

Ordering one of these tomorrow:

And one of these to sit atop it.