Saddlebag recommendations? For camera gear and laptop.

[fuzzybabybunny]

So I want to start the process of maybe using my bike for work and photo traveling. I need to fit my DSLR camera bag (Crumpler 7 Million Dollar Home), my laptop bag (Keen Oswego), and my tripod, which is probably gonna be goofy.

I don't want to ride with the tripod slung across my back because in the event of a fall and I land on my back...

I'd like the bags to fit my laptop and camera bag because I don't feel safe leaving my valuables in my saddle bags, which can simply be unbuckled or knifed open? I can just take my stuff out of the saddlebags everytime I go into say, a Starbucks, and having my stuff already in their bags will be easier.

2010 Ninja 250R

 

[Heller]

/lawn chair
/popcorn

 

[JulesMaximus]

I've never carried my DSLR or laptop with me on my bike. Just too paranoid that the vibrations wouldn't be good for it and/or that it would be destroyed if I went down and then I'd be out a bike AND my camera.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Riding a bike to work and carrying several thousand dollars worth of equipment doesn't sound like a good idea to me...

 

[theApp]

Mmmm, I've never fitted saddlebags to a sportbike. My suggestion would be to look around a site like newenough.com that carries a bunch of different types and email them. The 250 might not be large enough to hold the size you want.

Alternatively, you could just bungee a duffelbag to the back of the bike to carry stuff

 

[Tristicus]

It's called a backpack. If you fall off and land on your back, l o fucking l.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I also want to go camping / roadtripping with it, so room for sleeping bag and pad (tent not needed), extra shoes, and toothpaste, snacks, yadda yadda.

 

[CurseTheSky]

I also want to go camping / roadtripping with it, so room for sleeping bag and pad (tent not needed), extra shoes, and toothpaste, snacks, yadda yadda.

You should bring a car then. Bikes are meant for basic transportation and sports applications. Anything involving hauling a decent amount of gear (sleeping bag is very bulky) should be left to something with four wheels, doors, and a roof.

 

[Tristicus]

You should bring a car then. Bikes are meant for basic transportation and sports applications. Anything involving hauling a decent amount of gear (sleeping bag is very bulky) should be left to something with four wheels, doors, and a roof.

My Jeep has neither doors nor a solid roof and I can haul stuff in it no problem SIR.()

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

You should bring a car then. Bikes are meant for basic transportation and sports applications. Anything involving hauling a decent amount of gear (sleeping bag is very bulky) should be left to something with four wheels, doors, and a roof.

Naw, everything will fit just fine in saddle and seat bags if you have ultralight camping gear. I mean, people camp and ride cross country on *bicycle* saddlebags and panniers... it's very doable.

 

[Fenixgoon]

ask markgm. he did a cross country ride with one of his buddies, recently.

 

[herm0016]

seems like a touring bike would have been better. i think it would be fun to get a bmw or similar touring bike, ride and camp around the country with it.

 

[waffleironhead]

My wife uses a cortech tailbag to carry her laptop, assorted textbooks, lunch, and extras to school on her sv650.

http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/catalog/Sport-Tail-Bag-p-148_31.html

I dont think it will fit a tripod though.

 

[slashbinslashbash]

Here is a photo of one of the Cortechs (+ saddlebags) (scroll down to "now" pic) on an older Ninja 250:

http://www.beginnerbikers.org/showthread.php?3565-2002-Kawasaki-Ninja-500

Looks like the tailbag should be sufficient for everything but the tripod. You should be able to lash your tripod to the back of the bag with a few lengths of nylon webbing or bungies. In fact, if that is your standard usage, you should probably permanently sew the straps to the back of the bag.

Looks like there is an FAQ/Wiki for hard cases for Ninja 250's:

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Hard_luggage

 

[DeviousTrap]

I vote for hard luggage, I've got a topcase mounted to my FZ1 and while it does sort of ruin the looks, it's really no worse than riding around with soft saddlebags.

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Ventura_rack_J_bike

 

[WackyDan]

Nelson Riggs has some really decent soft bags that may help you. You may want to invest in bags that are water proof or have the water proof covers.

Not sure how many bags you will find for the 250... Though I'm sure a seat bag is out there. Ninjas are not really "touring" bikes though, so there will be less options compared to sport tourers, or cruisers.

http://www.nelsonrigg.com/store/

 

[WackyDan]

You should bring a car then. Bikes are meant for basic transportation and sports applications. Anything involving hauling a decent amount of gear (sleeping bag is very bulky) should be left to something with four wheels, doors, and a roof.

Get your head out of your butt.

I bought my bike specifically for touring. I've taken 3 week long trips with it and carried all I needed. It takes some thought and planning to pack light and take only what you need... You will probably wear a pair of jeans or riding pants multiple days between laundry access.

Sure, a car can carry more, can weather the storms better... etc... But you can't beat being out in the wind riding through the smokie mountains, Adirondack park, etc on your way to where you ultimately are going....And my bike handles fantastic in the rain, and rain gear keeps me mostly dry. One of my recent trips was 2500 miles. My next one is 4000 miles.... And I get better mileage than most cars.

 

[WackyDan]

I've never carried my DSLR or laptop with me on my bike. Just too paranoid that the vibrations wouldn't be good for it and/or that it would be destroyed if I went down and then I'd be out a bike AND my camera.

I've logged thousands of miles with my laptop and camera on the bike...Never gotten wet, never a failure.

I'd rather have them on the bike in a wreck honestly. A laptop bag in a car wreck becomes a projectile... same for the camera. The gear I carry are encased in hard cases with other packing around them... It would have to be a pretty horrific bike wreck for me to worry about them and in that case, I'd probably have more to worry about than my other toys.

 

[Sluggo]

I was afraid of this, you should have bought a Ural.

http://www.imz-ural.com/patrol_t/function/default.html

Lots of hard storage and a sidecar to sleep in.

 

[SithSolo1]

They're really isn't a huge market for carry-on stuff for the 250r.

1) The bike is aimed at beginners who'd shouldn't be slapping on extra weight that may affect the balance of the bike.

2) Its a beginner sport bike with a high turnover rate so companies have reduced incentive to develop aftermarket touring items for it.

Most sport bike riders that carry anything at all use backpacks.

 

[JulesMaximus]

seems like a touring bike would have been better. i think it would be fun to get a bmw or similar touring bike, ride and camp around the country with it.

Well, this is his first bike. He made a good decision to get the bike he bought.

I've often thought of doing an overnight ride sometime but it has always involved a hotel vs sleeping on the ground.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I've logged thousands of miles with my laptop and camera on the bike...Never gotten wet, never a failure.

I'd rather have them on the bike in a wreck honestly. A laptop bag in a car wreck becomes a projectile... same for the camera. The gear I carry are encased in hard cases with other packing around them... It would have to be a pretty horrific bike wreck for me to worry about them and in that case, I'd probably have more to worry about than my other toys.

Yeah, I wouldn't carry either of those items in a backpack. A DSLR camera is a big chunk of metal and glass and landing on it would likely result in severe injury to your spine or ribs.

Laptop wouldn't fit in my tank bag but the DSLR would.

You should bring a car then. Bikes are meant for basic transportation and sports applications. Anything involving hauling a decent amount of gear (sleeping bag is very bulky) should be left to something with four wheels, doors, and a roof.

The better sleeping bags are extremely lightweight and can be stuffed into a tiny stuff sack you could easily fit in motorcycle soft luggage.