Here's my dilemna, I commute to work 100 miles each way from Jacksonville to the New Poker Room in Ocala/Gainsville. Heh, no I don't do it everyday, but I do it twice a week, once there, and once back at the end of the week. Thing is, I have a backpack and I can store my laptop, and 3 days worth of clothes(3 pairs of pants, shirts, underwear and socks), but it's PACKED. WOrks fine, but, it leaves me with no space for rain gear. No sense in wearing it if it's not raining. The rain gear isn't just the nylon type stuff, well, the pants are, but the jacket is a good rainjacket with insulation, etc.

So, I went back to my navy days and got a duffelbag (navy duffelbag):



But the problem is, it's TOO big. Since it's a top load type, and it's not full, at times it catches air and acts like a parachute. Not so much a parachute, but it grabs air and wobbles me some like bad turbulence. So that's out of the question, cause it SUCKED wearing it for the 100 mile trek.

So I've been thinking a tank bag for my raingear and laptop and keeping the backpack for my clothes, or if possible, use JUST the tankbag. I've also been contemplating just bungeecords on the tail around a bag, but how does that affect tire wear and "wheelies"....and fwiw, I DON'T like wheelies, lol. So yeah, I'm not fond of weight on the back, but is it that bad? no sense in spending cash if I don't have to spend it. I can just use a bag I have here and bungee the crap out of it???

Lastly, I don't have much to spend. I know I should spend money on something like this getting used, but the honest truth is, I'm only using it for THIS commute, which in about 4-6 months will no longer be an issue as I will be moving to Ocala. If I ever ride the bike otherwise, it won't be used.

 

Strapping to the tail is a good option... And of course weight is depending on how much you carry, but honestly, i would stick with the back pack, and just add another bag on the rear set/tail area for rain gear and supplies...

I've of course never strapped anything to my superhawk as i haven't had a chance yet, but have biked with things strapped to the tail plenty of times.. don't really notice them other than if they touch your back...

 

Well, unless you load up the bag with bricks it won't make any noticable difference with a standard sportsbag bungied to the pillion seat... After all it's supposed to be another person sitting there...

Before I got bags I did just the same... a big bag and bungies, combined with a rather flat backpack with laptop and such (to bulky and the two bags interfere when you are upright)...

 

I got an Icon tankbag on Ebay and I can fit enough clothes in it for a couple of days. I even use it when I'm not riding. It can be converted to a backpack as well. Joe Rocket makes a strap on tail bag that's pretty convenient too. I prefer the tank bag especially for long rides cause I can rest my chest on it. It is not affected at all by wheelies, the magnets are VERY strong. For the price, its definitely one of the most useful motorcycle accessories I've ever bought.

Now if I can just fab a sissy bar to the Hawk for that old bag I used on my Harley...

 

I just run with a tank bag when i am on extended rides and want to take the Rain gear.

 

There are also tank bags with magnets that can be strapped to the rear if you want to... mine came with 2 detachable bottom parts one straps one magnets... and it's a rudimentary backpack aswell... and it was dirt chep...

 

Yeah, I'm thinking the tank bag is the best option right now, cause the 100 miles is ALL country straight boring roads, so being able to rest on it would be SWEET. ANybody familiar with the FLorida area, my commute is 21->215->16->301->318....it's a really boring ride, and I go right through Waldo and Starke, so the speedtraps are there, so yes, I'm having to go speedlimit, etc...so yeah, being able to rest on it would be nice, lol.

Hmm...I'm thinking about just bungee cording the bag to my rear end. Anybody ever have something fall off? I haven't looked at the rear end yet, but are there hooks to secure bungee straps or do most of you just make it work? On some portions, I hit 100MPH, wouldn't be nice having my clothes spread along the highway...

 

My 03 has flip out clips under the stock seat... just take the seat off, they flip out, and replace seat.. then you have mounting points.... I would think all have this, but for sure my 03 does...

go check it out....

 

#9 had a tailbag fall off and get shredded by his rear wheel.

Couldn't you fold down the top portion of your big bag so it doesn't catch the wind?

 

"Frog Toggs"(rain gear) will fit under the seat in the side of the rear tail cover. Compress each piece(2-piece) them into a gallon zip lock bag and remove the air. Tuck it in for storage and pull it out for rainy weather. This way they are always on the bike. Get a tail pack and a tank bag for your stuff. If you have extra stuff to carry, then use a back pack.

 

Is this true? I always thought that clips would have been handy....

 

My 97 has the flip out clips aswell... So I highly doubt your's are missing...

 

Sweet! Who woulda thunk it? I was constantly thinking to myself last season, (my first season with this bike) that it would have really been handy for Honda to have thought of a way to attach bungees on the tail of the bike!

 

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