camera bag for motorcycle

[kksberna]

I just bought a R1150R BMW motorcycle and would like to carry my photo gear, but I have not found the right type of luggage to do so. The bike has hard cases on the sides, but it just seems that the camera/lenses would have a rough ride in there. I was looking for something that would ride on the passenger seat. I have a backpack style camera bag now, and if I can't find a suitable luggage system for the camera, I guess I could just strap it down to the seat. I'm carrying a 350D, 70-200 IS 2.8, 24-70 2.8, 75-300 4.5-5.6, stock lens and monopod.

Kristi

[Bruce Watson]

Nice bike, I have an 86 K100RS, about to trade to a 06 Honda ST.

The unfortunate reality is that all bikes vibrate and transmit road "bumps" far more than a car. They have less suspension and more power per weight, with the engine very close to any part of the bike, unlike a car where the passenger compartment is relatively isolated.

Anything I have carried in saddle bags, top case or tank bags shows signs of vibration damage after a period of time.

Any delicate equipment, camera or computer, will not fare well in direct contact with the frame, i.e. in saddle bags.

Strapped to the seat gives some padding, but you are still getting vibration. That is why a bike is more tiring to ride for many hours in comparison to a luxury car.

For my laptop or camera equipment, I wear a backpack for anything but short trips. Your body can then be the isolation between the vibration/motion of the bike.

This has worked for me, but YMMV. Good luck.

[Mick Emmett]

I've carried my stuff around in my GoldWing for years and had no trouble from vibration at all, a good padded camera bag is all you need when your bike is as smoooooooooth as mine. I certainly wouldn't want to carry all my stuff around on my back for long; I'd need hospital treatment after every job;)

[kksberna]

Thanks for the replies. My bike is not as smooth as a Goldwing, neither are the backroads I ride, so I don't think I want to risk the vibration that would be transmitted through the saddlebags. I do have a couple of good camera bags with plenty of padding, so maybe for just short runs it would be fine to just strap them to the seat. Today would have been a wonderful day to have had my camera with me on the ride. The weather here was in the 70's and clear skies. Bikes all over the place!! Good luck with the Honda ST. They look like great bikes, just too big for me.

Kristi

[Skip Souza]

Here is how I solved the problem for me. Of course part of the solution was lens selection.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=676142#post676142
No problems so far.