Laptop on a bike

[Feasty]

Pretty simple question, what's the best way to carry a laptop on a bike!?

I've got an XJ900 with top box and side panniers, but believe it or not none of the boxes are big enough to fit a laptop bag in to. I'm currently putting the laptop bag round my neck/shoulder but feel rather scared in case the strap breaks while I'm traveling slightly fast! The laptop will also get wet if it rains...
So options... either I buy a larger topbox (expensive) or maybe some sort of tank bag - but is this expensive too? And would it get in the way? Get wet?

Ideas please?
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[arena]

backpack with a section for laptops built in

[CaNsA]

[chris-red]

How big is your laptop? Even my 17" 5kg beast of a laptop fit in my Topbox.

I put my Netbook in my boblbee pack.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[dragstaar]

I'd get a slimmer laptop bag. I'm guessing you're using the huge chunky ones that are 3 times the size of the laptop itself.

If not, then I'd still say that a double helmet sized topbox will be a better option as it will protect your laptop to some extent in an accident

[Feasty]

My laptop is a Latitude D630, so not very big! But my topbox only fits 1 helmet and the topbox is curved around in the corners meaning a laptop has no chance let alone whe it's in a bag!

The concern I have with a backpack is if I come off and land on my back - it's gonna hurt. And it would have to be a very good bag to fully protect the laptop from downpours.
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[dragstaar]

Then I'd defo keep an eye out for a double size top box on egay, and wrap the laptop in plastic bags when i put it in the bag whilst you wait on the box

[CaNsA]

[FBSF]

Leave the laptop in a locked drawer in work?

Failing that, a larger top box. I've put a 48L on the back of my CM, and it does a great job. Only cost £45 too. I've also bought a laptop-rucksack instead of the carry cases, which has a protective foam lining for the laptop, and cushions it in the topbox.

I always found the rucksack to restrict my riding (and it didn't do my back a great deal of good either). Bunging it all into the topbox and riding without the rucksack was a massive improvement.

[Ayrton]

[John933]

As been said, back pack.
John933
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My trip

[Bendy]

I used to just bungee my laptop bag to the backseat. The old Acer weighed a ton and I couldn't be arsed carrying that in a rucksack.

If it had fit in my topbox it would have gone in there, but Triumph make them a stupid shape and tbf my laptop bag is enormous.

Then I concluded 'fuck it', left it at the office and bought another one to use at home.

[Seb]

I ferry at least 2 laptops a time in my r25 backpack and it's perfectly comfortable with no weight on my shoulders and very little actually on my back. Another solid option is a messenger bag like the timbuk2 mentioned in another thread here, that way the weight is on the pillion seat rather than you.
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[G]

I don't like using backpacks on the bike too much if I can help it - so I attached a laptop backpack to the very bottom 'map' bit of a tank bag. Worked really well as the bag had straps in about the right place. When I found it was fine, didn't bother to attach it properly - just used the magnets so I could whip it off as needed.
I like having it between my arms so I knew the £1.5k of work laptop was still there - tail packs make me a bit nervous and I keep checking they haven't fallen off etc.
Crashed with it (only slow speed low side) and it did fine.

https://gees.zenfolio.com/img/s7/v8/p479961187-4.jpg
Side:
https://gees.zenfolio.com/img/s7/v8/p450520607-4.jpg

[ms51ves3]

I carry mine in my laptop rucksack.

[Easter Bunny]

I have a 45L Givi box and havent taken a laptop that wouldnt fit in it yet (I'm a courier) I would never take a laptop that wasnt in a laptop bag (havent had the occasion as yet) I always keep the odd extra layer on the bike which acts some protection, be aware that older boxes arent always totally waterproof in extreme weather.
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The light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train!

[Gerrard]

[Pete.]

[CaNsA]

not a fan of backpacks myself....

My honda CLR125

https://i40.tinypic.com/2mg31fr.jpg

[The Tot]

I always use a backpack, so it doesn't bother me. As long as it's in a waterproof sleeve it'll be fine. My 14" sony fits nicely in the Kriega R20 and R30 with room for shopping too. Boblbee swallowed up the 14" laptop nicely.

I'm quite the contrary... I despise tankbags since it restricts my elbows too much and stretches out my arm (I've got no choice but to use the bagster tank system because I've got the tank cover attached to my bike). The tankbag itself was free.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Glenben92]

Just put it in the top box. Fuck the bag. My top box is 37 litre (i.e. 1 helmet and a little space for very tightly rolled up waterproofs) and I an EASILY fit a 17.5" laptop in it. Forget the bag, it's unnecessary bulk. Just wrap the corners of the laptop in an old jumper or something to stop it scraping against the hard plastic. Job Done.
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57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
Mod 2 Passed - 01/10/2010

[Kickstart]

Hi

I have a Baglux / Bagster lap top tank bag.

https://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/TempPicture/LapTopBag.jpg

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Glenben92]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Nah, totally wrong.

Windows wouldn't manage to do anything useful like send a report after a proper crash.

View of the clocks though.

https://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/TempPicture/LapTopBagOn.jpg

Space in it for a lap top.

https://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/TempPicture/LapTopBagOpen.jpg

Harder to see the clocks on this though:-

https://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/TempPicture/YsrLaden.jpg

I wasn't really thinking when I got a few more things than I intended at the supermarket.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Glenben92]

Ah the first pic was quite deceiving! I stand corrected, decent view of the clocks... I'd be riding rather gingerly on that YSR though!
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57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
Mod 2 Passed - 01/10/2010