I've carried a cheap point and shoot on my bike in the past, but would like to carry a D300 and a 17-55 2.8 with me.
My bike has a super tight suspension, damn near like riding a rigid frame bike. Plus the good old Harley vibration. I just ordered a killer set of leather saddlebags, and was thinking I could wrap the camera and lens in a 2" thick piece of memory foam and it should be OK.
Not interested in a backpack.
Started riding with a local group, and a lot of our destinations have a lot of photo potential.
Rick OBanion Photo wrote: Can you fit a hard case inside the saddle bag?
not really much point. if you take one ( a fall) on a bike it's gonna be painful. nobody wears kevlar body armor on their legs either. if you take a spill your first priority is waking up alive. with all limbs attached. happy the bike didn't land on you. or if it did, happy there wasnt #$%^ hard case inside the saddle bag and it was just soft leather and spare flannel shirts cushioning the impact. Don't over think this. Memory foam should do it. (30 years motorcycle licence but havent been on one in almost 20, 10 years crashing down cliffs in a mountain bike so no stranger to spills just lucky never on anything with any cylinders).
Kyle T Edwards
Posts: 291
St Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Some foam will be fine to protect it. I have an old Kodak soft shell case that holds the body, one lens, and maybe a spare lens (if you stand it upright), and that's about it. Granted, my saddlebags are hardshell (side, no beer bag), but I wiggle it in there and it's been fine thus far.
If you don't mind me askin', what bike do you have?
I have a bike that doesn't have all the greatest suspension. 5D with 70-200, wrap it in a shirt and throw it under the seat. No change in riding style and, still hit dips the same and I have never had any issues. Plus, if I did go down I know under the seat its safe. These cameras are meant to take abuse, but don't intentionally try to destroy them.
Herman van Gestel
Posts: 1,662
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
used to do wedding photography like that on the motorbike, shooting loosely out of hand with a Leica R4, photographing the grooms and brides while in the car...from left and right....yep...all manual ...used a 28 mm prime lens
like that always could arrive as well before them...
had a BMW K75, a very stable motorbike, with low gravity point
[EDIT] Oops misread, you mean how to transport...I put it on a rug sack on my back, as low as possible, or in the "beauty-case"wrapped up in soft cushions, to protect gains vibrations...., even if my BMW K 75 is one of the smoothest engines (3 cylinder)
Hector Fernandez
Posts: 1,146
Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
I have a KLR650 I place my cameras in a tank bag that has magnetic attachment but I also super secure it with a stretch net when riding in dirt. I also did the foam thing for the top case but at the end I didn't like it.
Kevin, which bike do you have? I took pelican foam and made a cradle for the touring HD's hardbags. Worked pretty good. Really though, even the touring hard bags shake violently when stopped, lol. Once rolling, the bikes are very smooth. Even if wrapped in foam, the whole unit is vibrating that hard. So while you are protecting it from banging around, you are still shaking the hell out of it.
The only thing I use is a backpack. It's the greatest protection and if I go down the last thing I care about is my camera at that point. But I understand some riders, especially Harley riders lol, would rather be castrated then be caught with a backpack, so the Tank bag is the only way I would go. And be sure to never have any lens attached when riding (obviously).
I cringe at the thought of people having their cameras bouncing around loose or wrapped in a t-shirt in a saddle bag or under the seat. Eek.
Michael Pandolfo wrote: The only thing I use is a backpack. It's the greatest protection and if I go down the last thing I care about is my camera at that point. But I understand some riders, especially Harley riders lol, would rather be castrated then be caught with a backpack, so the Tank bag is the only way I would go. And be sure to never have any lens attached when riding (obviously).
I cringe at the thought of people having their cameras bouncing around loose or wrapped in a t-shirt in a saddle bag or under the seat. Eek.
I ride a Triumph Sprint ST which is more sport bike than tourer and have the suspension setup for track days so it is very firm. Don't want it bottoming out under braking from 140 to 50. Sometimes I forget to reset the suspension for the road and have hard bags and carry either a D700, D1X or D7000. Sometimes a 4X5. I wouldn't use a memory or temperfoam as those are very firm need a body warmth to mold but a less dense foam for shock and vibration absorption. Never have had a problem. This has always worked out in the mountains during winter on snowmobiles as well.
Oh and yes, some of us motorcyclists do wear Kevlar and fully armored kit always.
That's an FLHX, or a Street Glide. Had one. Those bags shake like hell when stopped. The way they mount to the bike is with two small pins at the top (like a race car hood pin), then they simply rest against a metal bracket at the bottom. The bike in my avatar is a Road Glide, which has the same frame, different faring. All of HD's touring bikes are built on the same frame - and the rear is an air suspension. Still shakes like hell...lol. Just not a good environment for a digital camera.
Kevin Fair wrote: I've carried a cheap point and shoot on my bike in the past, but would like to carry a D300 and a 17-55 2.8 with me.
My bike has a super tight suspension, damn near like riding a rigid frame bike. Plus the good old Harley vibration. I just ordered a killer set of leather saddlebags, and was thinking I could wrap the camera and lens in a 2" thick piece of memory foam and it should be OK.
Not interested in a backpack.
Started riding with a local group, and a lot of our destinations have a lot of photo potential.
I use a brest harness, clips apart when I want to shoot.. Keeping the cam on the body absorbs lots of vibration..
Marciofs
Posts: 1,565
Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
I have often carried my Pentax 6x7, Bronica 645, Nikon F3 and FM and Nikon D90 in my bicycle bag without any problem, in the city and woods. And my bicycle has no suspension.
With my Road King, I just wrap my camera in a hoodie and or towel. never had a problem. With all my other bikes, I take a low profile backpack made for one body,a lens and speedlight.
not sure if anyone mentioned it or not but a tank-bag is probably the safest bet.
the top of the tank will be the best spot to avoid impact.
if you go down, having it in soft luggage on the sides won't work and backpack will also likely take a hard hit.
My Lumix LX5 was for the bike.
I've just kept them in their soft side bag either in my saddle bags or my tank bag. When you think about it anything that moves will produce some kind of vibration - car, bus, plane, train, bike, etc, so I wouldn't worry too much unless it's going to shake the whole thing to bits - and you with it.
Photos by McQ
Posts: 23
HAYDENVILLE, Massachusetts, US
Camera in a Lowepro toploader. Bungie corded and strapped to the handlebars of my chopper for 4 years. Now in top loader in the tourpack of the Electraglide. In the event I go down....the camera is the least of my worries.
Room in my tank bag for two bodies and a couple of lenses.
Took a 3 inch thick piece of foam, cut to fit inside bag. Then cut out places for the bodies and lenses. Been riding and shooting this way since my R90S in 74, never had a problem, film or digital.
I would just use a Go Pro Hero3 camera and use their suction cup mount. I have the original Go Pro Hero camera. I bought it for video but it can do stills too...Just a thought!
I'm going to have to do some shots of how I load my bike. I ride a 1978 FX "Milwaukee Vibrator" as my only mode of transportation. If there is some sort of dire need to go somewhere, and it's either raining or icy, I can beg the car off the Ol' Lady, but I've put a little over 60,000+ miles on her in just over 2 years. No hard bags, only leather saddlebags, and those are draped over the back seat for easy removal. I keep my 5D in a Think Tank Urban Disguise and use a "Hair net" cargo net to strap it to the back seat. Under that, I can put reflectors, and other flat objects, and carry my T3i, on a Black Rapid sport strap. LOVE getting those first-person wide-angle shots from in the saddle!
Matt Knowles
Posts: 3,520
Ferndale, California, US
Don Olson Imagery wrote: I ride a Triumph Sprint ST
Hector Fernandez wrote: I have a KLR650
Both good choices, I have both. The KLR is one of my main tools for finding locations. I like my camera gear well protected and the bags on the KLR are big enough to hold a small carbon fiber tripod, along with my camera backpack. The back pack also fits in the trunk on the Triumph.
The ST on Forest Route 1, blocked by snow in June.
The KLR on Shower Pass Rd., on my traditional New Years Day ride this year.
I have a Road King with hard saddle bags. I bought thi bag made by Nova. I can put a body and acouple of lenses and flash, along with some odds and ends. It fits in the saddle bags. I have never had any problems using it.
Taylor
I rarely search the fora and find exactly what I am looking for.. but this time, Eureka!
Thanks for the helpful comments.
And this is my baby. 1973 Harley Davidson Sportster 1000cc XLCH
She was made while HD was 'experimenting'.
Kick start only. (no electric start)
Right side shift.
That's my baby!!!
Just got her out of the shop today with plans to put a lot of miles on her this week!
A motorcycle is better than prozac.
I cant hear her motor running without smiling like a kid in the candy store!
My two cents, YMMV
Daeda1us
"A bad day (rain/sleet/snow/etc) on a my Harley is better than a good day at the office."
...used a 28 mm prime lens
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