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Heavy backpack - question to regular commuters

Akar.Zaephyr

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Guys,

This time around I want to ask a question regarding carrying your work gear to and from work. I'be been wondering how to get rid of my backpack during commuting so here are details.

When I go to work, I usually carry all my stuff in a regular backpack. On normal days, it's just some regular stuff, food and drink and the backpack is fairly light.
There are times, however, when I need to carry my laptop home (on-call) so the backpack weight increases to around 22lb (all the junk I want to have included).
I've been searching for solution to get my back rid of the weight and strap the damn thing to the bike somehow, so how do you guys, who have similar stuff to carry around, deal with it?

I've got luggage net so I can strap light things to pillion seat, but with the laptop packed - it's no longer an option, doesn't seem like the net can handle such weight and keep it from moving around/falling off.

I'm considering Honda's OEM center box and panniers for longer journeys in the future, but I have no solution for the time being.
Any ideas how to get around 20lb backpack off my back and strap it safely to the bike for everyday driving? All your input is highly welcome :)
Also, if you already have Honda's OEM center box installed, how much weight can it withstand? Would it keep my backpack safely without falling off?

PS: I'm just looking for inspiration so even the strangest idea is welcome as it can be source for another invention ;)
 
not strange, but I got some givi Explorers (two 33's and a 54) and I keep my laptop bag (also a backpack) in the trunk (big givi trekker 54) on the way to work, and then swap it out for my riding jacket when I get there, helmet still goes in the frunk with my gloves, and rain gear, cold weather gear, tools, chain lube, etc. are all kept in on of the side boxes...

If I'm going to be going for a long ride I'll put the laptop in the other side box instead of the trunk just to lower the center of gravity, but it's a bit more challenging to get the bag into the side box instead of the trunk, and I don't feel like it makes a particularly big difference so I don't do that often.
 
Get a top box, you won't regret it.
It's like that empty drawer in your house. Oh, there isn't one? That's what I'm talking about!
 
A quick fix is Rok Straps. They are like your net or cords with hooks on the end, only on steroids. I love them, I have 3 pair that stay on the bike. They don't scratch and can hold a heavy load secure. And easily adjustable. I have Givi Trekkers 33L and 46L. When I go camping I usually leave my top box home and strap a huge dry bag over back seat and rack. 2 Rok Straps holds it secure. They make it easy to buy gas too, Two clips and it's off.
 
I commute everyday and I'm so happy I got a top box. I have the honda OEM box (which I might sell soon) and it has really helped me out. I've stuffed shoes, suits, laptops, lunch, gym bags, all kinds of stuff in there. Not all at the same time of course, but enough so that when I take the box off, it is very heavy to carry in one hand.

Basically, I think it can hold as much as you can stuff in there. I haven't found the limit yet, nor do I want to, but it is a very capable luggage box.

I used to use a backpack, still do in rare circumstances, but hard luggage is a must for everyday commuters.
 
As a computer guy for a school district, I carry my own laptop, and all my computer tools in a back pack.... It's heavy. I have to move from home to work and then from school to school every day.

My solution: The GIVI monorack arms ($112) and the ($30) TopBox from Amazon.com.

The backpack and riding coat just change places. Riding: coat on, backpack in top box and reversed when I get to the site.
NO, extra weight on my back.
 
although top boxes are convenient I don't like them because they make bike top heavy and they look bad to me.

With stuff that cannot fit into frunk like 14" plus laptops (13" fits fine) I use single arm backpack.
Easy on, easy off solution. Something like that:

View attachment 25764
 
I went with SWMotech rack and besteem topbox on the NC. Ed Up mentioned the Rock straps. I use them on my CRF250l to strap the backpack. They work great.
 
My stuff for my commute is small enough that it can fit in the frunk. The guy I bought the bike from did short multi day tours. He used some soft motorcycle luggage that would strap to the the passenger seat and tie down to the passenger pegs. He liked that he could remove it easily to carry around like a bag while not having to carry the weight on his person for riding.
 
The Honda 45-liter top box (I have this, and the Honda saddlebags) says its carrying capacity is whatever the mounting plate on the bike says, minus the empty weight. It lists its empty weight as 11 lbs (~5 Kg). However, my Honda mounting plate doesn't show me its max carrying capacity, and I've forgotten what all those specs were from when the bike was new and we discussed it on the forum here. I've just come from a work assignment, on my motorcycle, that was ~1,700 miles away, with the top box full of my 'stuff.' It is heavy to pick up, so I estimate that it weighs around 35 lbs. Maybe more. No issues with it during the trip, even when I set the bike on its side one day. :|

My laptop, which is either a 15" or 17" widescreen format, will fit in the frunk. I have to hold it up to let the lid close over it, but it fits. I know that not everyone can get their laptops to fit in the frunk, though.

Like you, I dislike carrying the weight of a backpack on my back while riding. It's also hot, at least here in my climate. I've used a tank/tail bag successfully before, on my previous bike. It basically strapped to whatever was convenient. I used to carry my laptop and other stuff in that. A plain old rigid box (such as a plastic milk crate?) will work, too. It really helps to have a flat mounting location, though. If you're planning on adding a top box/trunk at some point anyway, are you able to purchase the mounting plate now, and just strap your bag to it until you can save enough for the trunk itself?
 
I used to use a backpack when I had a Harley. I hated it. So when I got the NC I got the Honda luggage with it. I keep the top box on 99.8% of the time. I use it virtually every time I ride. It's great not having to have extra weight on your back. That being said, I love having a top box, but it doesn't matter if it's a Honda box or if you went aftermarket like Givi or SW-MOTECH. If I were to do the luggage thing over I would have went aftermarket. Shop around and find what you like. The Honda luggage will only fit the NC, if you get another bike latter on the luggage will go with it and you'll have to buy a new set for the next bike. Aftermarket ones can be transferred to the new bike with different adapters.
 
ive bolted a supermarket tray on givi top box bars ,its proven indestructible on offs and has great tie points all over for strapping stuff in front and takes more than a top box and costs less than a fiver !
 
Back pack is low cost and convenient. I have a Givi Trekker top case normally on my NC. I also have a backpack computer briefcase. If I put it in the top box the bike handles better than with the pack higher on my back.
 
I would simply strap down the whole backpack to the rear seat, versus any individual items like a lap top separated from it, and then presenting a difficulty to tie down.

Put all you want in the pack, and then tuck in any sticky-outy bits like long straps that could get caught or melted in/on tires exhausts, etc. You can then cover the thing with your cargo net, and make use of already supplied loops and fastening points on the backpack, to double secure to the bike's grabrail and passenger footpeg brackets, using a couple small webbing straps and fastex buckles. Or cool Rokstraps like mentioned earlier. Those things work awesome.
 
I've used a Cortech Sport Tailbag on a CBR250R and then on the NC700X for 3 years, until I moved up to a Givi topcase. The tail bag works perfectly and is big enough to my laptop, lunch, and pair of sneakers. It also comes with a rain cover to be 100% water proof.
 
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ive bolted a supermarket tray on givi top box bars ,its proven indestructible on offs and has great tie points all over for strapping stuff in front and takes more than a top box and costs less than a fiver !

I'd like to see a picture of that. :)
 
A top box, whatever you decide to get, is the way to go if you are commuting. I haul my rain gear, a toolkit, all my work stuff - binders, folders, my laptop - and a few other odds and ends every day, everywhere and still leave the frunk clear to store my helmet when I go indoors.
 
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