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if i go on a trip and take a bag and pillow with me i will need to strap it to my backseat. i have a dumb question... do i just use bungee cords or do they make a special bike cargo net bungee? and is there anything i should know about packing up for a trip?

I got a bungee net from Canadian Tire for $10. It'll hold a helmet and more if need be. Fits under the seat.

Check out this site for some ideas, and go from there. Look at the instructions for the straps, it's a great basis for a secure load and you can use home-made straps to duplicate the method...

http://www.helen2wheels.com/products/index.html

When I worked as a motorcycle courier, bungee cords were my bestest buddy, next to my bike and riding gear....you would be surprised what you can tie down to your rear rack and pinion seat with bungie cords. I did try one of that bungie nets a few times, but always went back to the tried and tested cords.

dean owens wrote:do they make a special bike cargo net bungee?

I don't know about "special bike" net, but bungee nets work great on bikes. You can get them lots of places. Like Sev said, keep one stowed on the bike -- you'll be ready to carry unexpected loads.

dean owens wrote:is there anything i should know about packing up for a trip?

In general, keep everything as close to the bike's center of gravity as possible. I.e. if you're fastening stuff to the back of the seat, keep the load as far forward and as low as possible. It's not always possible, don't obsess over it, but this reduces the effect on the bike's handling.

Check fastenings at your first rest stop. You'd be surprised how 50 miles of vibration can loosen things up!

Use your creativity - there aren't any 'rules'! You'll see everything out there from $1500 integrated hard luggage systems to milk crates (ahem... blues2cruise? ) strapped to the back of the seat.

dr_bar wrote:Check out this site for some ideas, and go from there. Look at the instructions for the straps, it's a great basis for a secure load and you can use home-made straps to duplicate the method...

http://www.helen2wheels.com/products/index.html

Thanks for listing that site. Looks like some decent quality products in there. Just when I'm trying to figure out how to attach some soft luggage to the ninja for a trip i plan on making next fall.

I believe that what is refered to as a bike net is just a smaller version of a bungeenet. (avail. at most bike shops for $10-15) I put one of these over my gear as an extra in case cords fail. Also great to stuff smaller gear under(like bandannas,hat,rags,canteen....etc)

On cords try to avoid the ones with plastic hooks. I have never used the flat bungees but they look like they would work better. One old timer, long gone now, I knew used old bicycle tubes, and swore by them. But he looked like the Beverly Hillbillies on two wheels. (also rode a bike painted flat black with a brush, his van also)

On long trips, I've had nearly 100 lbs of gear held on by the clever use of bungees. They're all you need,,, and more. On one trip, I lost my axle nut on the last day. I used a bungee to hold my axle in place for over 200 miles and made it home.

flynrider wrote:On long trips, I've had nearly 100 lbs of gear held on by the clever use of bungees. They're all you need,,, and more. On one trip, I lost my axle nut on the last day. I used a bungee to hold my axle in place for over 200 miles and made it home.

if i go on a trip and take a bag and pillow with me i will need to strap it to my backseat. i have a dumb question... do i just use bungee cords or do they make a special bike cargo net bungee? and is there anything i should know about packing up for a trip?

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not depend on bungee cords to tie stuff down on your motorcycle. Sure, folks do it all the time and 'nothing bad happens.' Folks also ride every day without helmets and most of them don't get injured either.
The wind can shift stuff (especially bulky, lightweight items like a sleeping bag). A sharp turn can shift stuff . . . off the seat and into your wheel. At 65 mph that will be catastrophic.

Get yourself some Rok Straps (have a short section of heavy duty stretch strap), or get a set of the Helen2Wheels straps. Why take a chance when you can get reliable, safe tie-downs for about $20?

I've used both the Rok Straps and Helen2Wheels. I prefer the Helen2Wheels straps because they snug down well and do not shift or loosen until I need them to. Here's a pic of my bike packed to the max with both the Rok Straps (black) and my H2W straps (the blue straps).



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