Re: Laptop Transport

I've had a Motobag tail bag for a long time.  My rear seat fits through the bottom and snaps back in so it's pretty secure unless someone cuts it.  It has 3 external pockets plus the large middle area that can be unzipped to grow to about twice as tall.  It's a nice bag and was an Ebay bargain years ago.  I can't find them online now at all.

Unfortunately my laptop bag doesn't fit inside this tail bag.  The laptop by itself will and I've done that a number of times.  It takes a little extra work to get a leg over the bike with the tail bag on.  The bag isn't water proof and I have to worry about that.  When I get to work I need to carry in the naked laptop and my helmet and somehow get through the card-reader door without dropping anything.

Then I got the Vstrom with top and saddle bags.  Only used the saddle bags on trips but the top bag stayed on for my daily commute.  Yeah it looked goofy.  The laptop and it's bag fit inside the top case.  Loading up was easier.  The top bag sits behind the rear seat so getting on and off the bike is easier.  When I got to work I pulled the laptop out of the top bag and dropped my helmet in, so I didn't have to carry my helmet in anymore.  The top bag was completely weather proof so if it rained I had no worries. The Vstrom's gone but I miss that top bag.

For me the look of the bike for my commute isn't all that important.  I saw a Ducati Monster with a Givi monorack but no top case installed and it didn't look all that bad.  That would be my weekend/fun riding setup.   It's not clear to me if I'd remove it for a track day but I haven't been to one of these events yet and if I get hooked it could be a problem.

Mark.


On Tue, 7 Mar 2006 23:01:56 -0800, Stan Potts wrote:

I've been commuting for 18 months with a laptop nearly every day. I use the
Tour Master Cortech Sport Tail bag (
http://www.tourmaster.com/product.html?sku=82-417), secured to the rear seat
with Rok Straps (http://www.rokstraps.com/motorbike_tailored.html) in an
X-Pattern to the four downward facing pegs. Works great, the Rok straps make
it part of the bike. The bungee cords that come with the tail bag are
essentially useless. I also sheath the laptop in a neopreme padded sleeve
inside the tail bag.  It's a cheap and cheerful alternative to the hard top
box like the Givi.

Sorry guys I just can't help thinking that Givi top box detracts from the
overall line of the bike and makes it look ungainly and lop-sided.  But
that's just one man's opinion. Which is why when I get saddle bags, it'll be
the RKA soft bags. I don't want any more "stuff" to have to take off for
track days. I've got enough work now to go from commuter bike to track day
bike, I don't need any more dis-incentives.

Stan

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