I know at first, the backpack idea makes sense. Yes, lots of other bikers use this so it's a common site, which unfortunately makes you think it better than it really is. Just because the other morons on the road use a backpack, it doesnt make it SAFE, or the correct thing to use, to haul your crap.

(if everyone jumps off a bridge because there's an imaginary pot of gold at the bottom of the river 500+ feet below, would you do it to!??)

It will NOT help with balancing because your body constantly moves front to back, left to right when operating a motorcycle on public roads. For anything to remain stable, the CG (center of gravity) needs to remain constant ie.- in the same position at all times. And there's NO WAY that can happen with a backpack on your back!

As I said, I've got 30yrs of riding experience under my belt. And at least half that is from riding on the street.

There WILL BE a time when you think everything's fine and you start whipping that thing around corners - slower speeds, very sharp turns ie. like canyon carving where you have to sit upright more, but TONS of fun! - and the weight in the backpack will try to throw you off the bike. You'll turn the bike left, you'll try to lean left, but the backpack will yank you hard to the right like a bully pushing you off your bmx bike in middle school. Remember those days lol? Same thing happens here.

With a strap on tank bag, the CG stays in the exact spot no matter if you are accelerating, decelerating, turning left or right, or sitting tall or hugging the tank. It remains constant and the bike's maneuverability stays controllable and predictable.

It's beginning physics man, did you skip that class in high school or what?



You can still hug the tank to go "supersonic" if you want. The bag is an excellent cushion to lay on.

(btw- thats probably before your time but it's from the Top Gun movie.. when Tom Cruise was racing the fighter plane on his crotch rocket. Anyone remember that? I bet Kruzzer and Geezer saw it lol)



Quote Originally Posted by Born2Juice4Ever View Post


Jerk I like the backpack...I saw others carry similar to those. It's tight around the body, and for sure this helps with balancing.
As far as the tank one...what I have found out on my own, is that when I hit the bike at 90+k/phour, my first action is to get low and hug the tank with my quads and rest my arms on it...