TKDean wrote:I know that bike storage compartments are pretty small. so ill probably get either a back pack or a tank bag.My question is it more dangerous to wear a back pack (especially a hard pack) if your in an accident, seeing as there is something on your back.
I know a lot of people, including myself from time to time, wear a backpack on the bike. It is unsafe for one main reason - if it gets caught on something if you fell off, it could break or rip off your arm, or tear up your shoulder. It is like most things a calculated risk.
I don't know about these hardbags, but I've seen them advertised in the bike magazines.
I would love to see proof of the possibility of having your arm ripped off. Last time I checked the tensile strength of standard stitching is substantially less then that of muscle and connective tissue.
I think the greatest risk of injury would be either landing on the bag and having something hard and funny shaped jammed into you at high speed. Or the back catching the fabric of your jacket and moving it around.
Of course I'm generalizing from a single example here, but everyone does that. At least I do.
Eh, I wore my backpack on the bike every day I rode to school... I found that if you strap it up tight against your back it feels pretty good usually. Doesn't affect your center of balance or anything, just feels like a REALLY light pillion!
Wrider
Have owned - 2001 Suzuki Volusia
Current bike - 2005 Kawasaki Z750S
MMI Graduation date January 9th, 2009. Factory Certifications in Suzuki and Yamaha
I carry things one of two ways. One way is in a backpack, strapped to my back. I let the shoulder straps out enough that the weight is resting on the seat instead of my shoulders. I keep the belt and sternum strap buckled to prevent the pack from shifting around.
The other way is in my Maxpedition Fatboy. Again, I have it adjusted so that it will rest on the seat behind me. It is somewhat prone to shifting around.
One of these days I'll get a tail bag or panniers so I don't have to have things strapped to my body.
'07 Suzuki V-Strom DL650
An armed man is a citizen, an unarmed man is a subject.
Molon Labe!!!
I bungee and cargo net my backpack to the back every night going to work. I have a heavily padded backpack made for outdoors and rugged stuff to pad my laptop.
My torso is to short to comfrotably wear a backpack on the bike. I tried it once and didn't make it down the driveway.
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Kawasaki Fangirl
I ride Mantis - Yamaha FZ6
On the laptop issue, all hard drives have a mechanical "hook" type device to park the read/write heads of the drive. The most sensitive piece is the display cracking from flexing. I would carry it in a backpack rather than hard mount it on the pillion seat so you know it won't get any more abuse than you do. Also with just some generic foam inside it will bet some extra protection for little to no cost.
On the backpack it can just as easily help or hurt in a accident. It totally depends on the geometry of the fall and you/bag. Yes you should trim any straps/strings that hangs below your personal rear end or belt if possible.
