Messenger bag on a motorcycle?

I ride my crotch rocket to work daily and occasionally out and about, and would like to bring along some basic camera gear (5dii, 430 EXII, 50mm 1.4, and 85mm 1.8). Sounds easy enough right? Here, let me make it more complicated...

I have a reg (laptop) backpack, and I have a ThinkTank Retrosopective (messenger style) camera bag. I'm trying to avoid yet another backpack specific to camera gear, but worried the messenger bag will just swing to the side on turns. I tried just padding the backpack with towels, but I'm hoping for something a little better.

Just wondering if any of you ride and how you transport your camera gear on the bike (if u do).

I would avoid a messenger bag at all costs if it were me. I have bags attached to my bike and only ride with a backpack if it is absolutely necessary. My reasoning is this (and I will add that I am very paranoid)
if I go down a pack attached to me is only going to cause me problems and a messenger bag is likely to become a noose if you go down and if it does swing on you in a turn depending on it's weight it could take you over. I don't want to sound horrible or like a drag but I have had a few friends go down this year and bike safety is very important to me. Again this is just my opinion. I have nylon bags that are made by Dowco and have held up very well over the years. There are tons of options out there.

http://www.kriega.com/

Cbr1000rr here, and my SLR gear goes in the kreiga tail pack. 100% waterproof, even in torrential rain, well built and easy to carry off bike. The us20 will be more than enough.

fstopg wrote in post #15071078
I would avoid a messenger bag at all costs if it were me. I have bags attached to my bike and only ride with a backpack if it is absolutely necessary. My reasoning is this (and I will add that I am very paranoid)
if I go down a pack attached to me is only going to cause me problems and a messenger bag is likely to become a noose if you go down and if it does swing on you in a turn depending on it's weight it could take you over. I don't want to sound horrible or like a drag but I have had a few friends go down this year and bike safety is very important to me. Again this is just my opinion. I have nylon bags that are made by Dowco and have held up very well over the years. There are tons of options out there.

Good point. Never thought of the noose thing.

simon n wrote in post #15071103
http://www.kriega.com/

Cbr1000rr here, and my SLR gear goes in the kreiga tail pack. 100% waterproof, even in torrential rain, well built and easy to carry off bike. The us20 will be more than enough.

Mounted on the bike:

Nice bike! I suppose maybe a nice tailbag might work...I'll have to check them out. Thanks for the idea.

P.S> Heres my current pride...

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Fellow Rider/photogs United.
Nice rides! Y'all have.
One, Ride with-in the legal limits & keep your eyes open and you won't go down.
Two, Your Bikes are race bikes that have been made street legal. Back packs are your best bet.
I have three bags I can carry my gear in....
I can carry several lens, bodies, tripod, flashes, laptops too.

Here are my Bags

Fester wrote in post #15071726
Fellow Rider/photogs United.
Nice rides! Y'all have.
One, Ride with-in the legal limits & keep your eyes open and you won't go down.
Two, Your Bikes are race bikes that have been made street legal. Back packs are your best bet.
I have three bags I can carry my gear in....
I can carry several lens, bodies, tripod, flashes, laptops too.

Here are my Bags

Some nice saddlebags on some nice bikes! I may love my race bike but I like pics of all types of bikes.

Sportbike or cruiser, I just strap on a Cortech/Tour Master Sport Tailpack. It has expandable sides and holds a crapload of gear. Unfortunately, it's no longer made.

what about a Mission workshop bag? With some inserts. They are kind of expensive and more of a messenger bag than a camera specific messenger bag, if that makes sense.

you could go into a good local bike shop and see if they have them just so you can see and feel what they are like.

a step down from that is chrome messenger bag... Chrome used to be owned by Mission workshop.

Thats the only advice i have for a messenger bag that may stay on you.

timbuk2 makes bags for this purpose. Actually, they make bags for cycling, but, their cross strap prevents the messenger bag from twisting around.

I used to have an actual messenger bag from Chrome that had a waist strap to hold it in place while riding. Now I have a tankbag and saddlebags. So much easier. Granted for a trip a camera backpack coupled with saddlebags and a tank bag should fit everything you need.

I have a Thinktank harness and holster do I can have my camera with my 150-500 mounted on my belt when I ride. The only pic I have is from a speed camera so I won't share that.

Thanks for all the input. I'm thinking maybe getting a messenger bag insert like this one from Tenba and throwing it in my backpack.

TRath wrote in post #15089437
I have a Thinktank harness and holster do I can have my camera with my 150-500 mounted on my belt when I ride. The only pic I have is from a speed camera so I won't share that.

I don't think I have the balls to ride with the camera clipped to me. It may be fine, but I would be freaking out the whole time. And I do get rocks and other crap flung at me from time to time. I'd rather it hit my leather jacket or leg before it hits a lens.

No bike for me anymore but IMO the last thing you want on your body is a back pack in the event of a crash. Even with a spine protector on, a hard object like a camera is a serious back trauma waiting to happen. Riding at the legal limits will not prevent someone from taking you down, especially in the city. Best bet will be a pair of saddlebags, tail bag, or rack mounted box of some kind.

flowrider wrote in post #15092968
No bike for me anymore but IMO the last thing you want on your body is a back pack in the event of a crash. Even with a spine protector on, a hard object like a camera is a serious back trauma waiting to happen. Riding at the legal limits will not prevent someone from taking you down, especially in the city. Best bet will be a pair of saddlebags, tail bag, or rack mounted box of some kind.

again...I did NOT think of that. Looks like maybe a saddle bag or tail bag it is then. Thanks for pointing out what SHOULD have been the obvious.

Since I won't wear any type of bag when I ride I had to use a tank bag on one of my bikes that didn't have space in the back. My tank is metal so the tank bags magnetic flaps mounted easily. Your tank sits higher than mine but if you find a lower profile tank bag it may work.

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JPepus wrote in post #15070957
I ride my crotch rocket to work daily and occasionally out and about, and would like to bring along some basic camera gear (5dii, 430 EXII, 50mm 1.4, and 85mm 1.8). Sounds easy enough right? Here, let me make it more complicated...

I have a reg (laptop) backpack, and I have a ThinkTank Retrosopective (messenger style) camera bag. I'm trying to avoid yet another backpack specific to camera gear, but worried the messenger bag will just swing to the side on turns. I tried just padding the backpack with towels, but I'm hoping for something a little better.

Just wondering if any of you ride and how you transport your camera gear on the bike (if u do).