I do normally ride with a back-pack


There is back-bikes specifically designed for bikers and so on.......


but I have read here, some people have concerns about their safety in case of a spill......?

Why? and or how bad can it be?


I understand that if you are carring something breakable, bottles, sharp etc is definetely not a good idea , but a few items of clothing, your filofax, books etc...


Personally I can see how that can cause so much harm....

Ideally I understand that we should all go out wearing a leather suit and bubble- wrap for maximum security,, but.....


So , what do you think and why??????

I use a back pack frequently, i wouldn't carry bottles in it though because that would be dangerous in case of an off.
having said that i've never really given it much thought.

ive thought about this before, as i quite often ride with my back pack on. I just make sure thats whatever in there will 'squash' down if it has too, no glass or hard objects (ie lunch box), i also make sure that my disc lock isnt in there OR im my jacket pocket, i like my ribs the way they are

A mate of mine once made a big hole in his thigh 'cos he'd got his loose change in his jeans pocket.

My only concern about back packs (never need to cary anything myself so don't use one) is that in the event of an 'off' you're more likely to tumble rather than slide.

I don't like back packs while riding. They are too uncomfortable. I much prefer the bike to take the weight even if it means strapping a bag to the pillion seat.

I wear a backpack almost everytime I take the bike out- normaly it's got a couple of small tools, a can of WD40 in the front pocket, and my workshop manual and waterproof cover (for when I'm at work).
If I must I have my chain and lock in there too but I make sure the cover is in the way.

Hi

Uw.L




you must be joking,,,,,

that is a lot of hard things to carry on your back-pack.....


put tools under the seat etc.... safer

I carry stuff around all the time... And the poser in me hates m/c luggage.

Bought a gucci KRIEGA motorcycling rucksack, its brilliant in terms of comfort, highly recommend it.

Safety-wise I never really thought about it, but I dont really feel that it would make a great deal of difference. I think sliding with a backpack is possible, and if anything it should prevent you from rolling and breaking arms/legs that way?

But I did carry a bloody massive disc lock in my pocket - 'till I've read this thread! Cheers guys!

When i was at uni i wore a rucksack every day with all sorts of books n stuff in it. I was wearing my rucksack when i got hit last year, it had my arai helmet in it!
It didn't cause me any damage but it prevented me from being able to roll over so i was stuck on my broken elbow and collarbone, could have been alot worse!

I can't carry a rucksack very far now cos of the nerves in my neck play up but i would much rather strap the bag to the bike.

oogachakaGlat to know you are ok M8



but just a bit lost on your post...


Ain't you suppose to wear the helmet on your head? "joking"
Why was the Helmet on your bag?
I don't get it?????

do you think if you were not wearing a back-pack it would have been better, or less damage to yourself.....?



uscincpac - Just in case put flat/softer things on the part that goes against your back,,,,,,,,,,,,,

LOL..... I was wearing my shoei on my head and taking the arai to get the cheek pads checked out for the corect size.

I was lucky as wearing the rucksack didn't cause me any injury as i went down on my right side and stayed that way, if i had gone down on my back who knows what damage i would have done, i learnt my lesson by a close escape i will never carry anything on my back unless its small soft and light.

Often wear a back pack but only carry soft stuff in it. In the event of an off it won't make much difference except give my back a little more padded protection. We're talking about road riding here not on a track, you'll seldom slide more than a couple of feet on the road before you hit something hard that will start you tumbling and a soft padded back is just a little more protection. Hard items are always carried on the bike either in a Tank bag, panniers, on a rack or just strapped to the rear seat.

Always use one for work as it's so convenient but on a run I'd rather load the bike.

Me too!




I might wear a backpack now and then but NEVER with a heavy chain in it - that's just the kind of thing that can cause real damage. Bungee it to the pillion seat, you do NOT want your spine modified!

Not joking Roddas, but the "tools" is generally a set of Allan Key's (about the size of a box of matches) and a screwdriver with some small sockets in the handle. The WD40 takes up the most room.

I wish I could put the tools under the seat- but the seat doesn't come off, there's a space above the battery for a small the "official" tool kit (which I don't have) but you need a screwdriver to get anywhere near it.

I've worn the pack on both my offs and I can't say it's made any difference, it' one of those Uni-Strap jobs.

I wear a backpack on most of my rides as I'm usually going somewhere where I need stuff. If it's a leisure ride then generally I don't need one. I have nowhere else to carry stuff and no pillion seat. I use a disc lock that I carry on the exhaust bracket.

Having said that, a friend once had an off while wearing a rucksack, a lady came out of her house to see if he was ok (which he was), and said she saw him slide past her window with his back on fire. One melted rucksack later.

Backpacks are convenient for carrying light stuff, but it's true that they will cause a sliding rider to tumble rather than slide, and that greatly increases the risk of limb fractures. I'd disagree that you'll only slide a few feet, if you're doing 40 mph and lose the front end on some diesel, or get knocked off doing 60, you'll slide a long long way.
I do occasionally wear a light rucksack, but tend to use a tankbag in preference.

Can't say I agree with you that you'll only slide a few feet I've come off quite a few times in the last 27 years and have slid a fair way several times. The last time I came off was on an oily wet road and I covered abuit 18 metres feet first flat on my back,as if I was on a Luge, and I'd only been doing about 40 mph.

You must be luck then Wilf, the only times I come off since I've been riding (Since 1967) it's been tarmack, kerb and something solid. I don't seem to be able to get thrown off on a nice wide smooth bit of road, its usually a bend and I get thrown into the side of the road, slid once for 30 feet but that was on ice so it don't count.

So many different opinions,,,,,



I guess it all depends on how you fall , what do you hit etc....... :tounge:



Have anyone though of the possibility that the back-pack would absorb some energy in case you hit back first......
So rather then hitting the tarmac with your back,,, the rucksack would go first and protect partially your bones......


Plus there are some hard-shell Back-packs. #
Would it be better or worse????


Does anyone know if there is any statistic on this, or test etc.......??

for my sins I work as a paramedic and have never known a sensibly packed rucksack to make much difference to type or extent of injuries...but to all those who ride a bike in trainers or shoes.....DONT!!!

Interesting parasal, I didn't think there would be too many bike riders in your line of work, apart from the quick response folks on bikes of course. Do your colleagues raise eyebrows at your bike riding?

So coming back from Tesco's t'other day with a back pack full of eggs, washing up liquid, mince, tins of tomatos etc was a "bad thing". Better not mention the stuff I had stuffed down the front of my jacket then, let alone the fact that the loaf of bread I couldn't fit anywhere else was wedged in the fairing, obscuring all the clocks, idiot lights etc...

I wear a backpack quite a lot, there's sod all room under the seat, there's no rear seat to bungee stuff on, and I'm not gonna put a rack on it either. Ok, so I might be worse off in the event of an off, but seeing as the 'tona is my only means of transport, I haven't got a lot of options really short of selling it and getting a nice beemer or summat with hard luggage or more of an 'all rounder'. Some bikes just aren't practical for carrying stuff on.

I guess we're really talking about 'damage limitation'. Where do you want to draw the line? Ultimately riding bikes at all has it dangers, so personally it doesn't bother me any wearing a backpack, it's simply necessary for me and accepted as par for the course with choosing to ride what I do.

Footnote: Sh!t happens, an acquaintence of mine wrapped up a van against a tree a few years ago, he wasn't wearing a seatbelt and was lucky enough to get thrown through the windscreen. If he had been wearing a seatbelt (as common sense and the law dictates), he'd be dead now, the front of the van was completely stoved in, cab crushed and the steering column was forced clean through the drivers seat. Always makes me think that whatever precautions you may or may not take in terms of minimising damage, you're only really playing the odds anyway, every off/accident is different.

So I'll concentrate on staying on (complete with my backpack) rather than get overly concerned about what may happen if I do come off thanks.

Tricky one this, since i sold the BMW with its BBQ style rack i have started to use a small rucksack, but i am aware of the potential hazards of this and it has crossed my mind. I think it is a case of.... " You'll get your answer when the circumstance arises", i think i think i prefer this answer "Lets not find out the answer, i think this is one question best left unanswered !"

Time for a new cargo net me thinks, then off to Ikea for a new rack !!!!

suprisingly, about half the (male) staff ride or would ride if their wives let them have a bike!! sorry if that sounds sexist but it seems to be the case! don`t think any other girls ride....thing is Dave, how ever many bad bike accidents you attend, still seen far more dead people in cars!! but no one says "ooh, cars, there so dangerous!!" Maybe also there`s a sence that we`re constantly reminded that life can be cut short so do everything to excess!!

I have a top box on the XJR and it never comes off the bike and I would never ride with anything else as to have seen the out come of a back pack in a fall.
My other bike has hard panniers fitted as standard so again no need for back packs, I would have thought in times like these and the lower prices especialy second hand boxes they were as cheap as a back pack of good quality as we all talk safety these days.