Carrying a laptop

I have one of these for work:

http://tinyurl.com/33dd8bd

Turns out that my usual laptop rucksack with laptop and a few other bits
in it is too heavy for me[1] when commuting on the bike. Would I be able
to get this into a top box? It definitely won't go in my tank bag.

Toying with the idea of getting SV/Fazer/B12 or similar which I'd put a
rack/box on. Also would look at Ventura option, had that before and
liked it.


[1] 4 hour round trip, plus I'd prefer not to have a rucksack on at all

 

Mike Buckley wibbled forthrightly:

I've got one of these:

http://www.bagster.com/en/showroom.php?id=76

Dog's nads it is.

 

I travel daily with a Dell D630, which is only slightly smaller. It fits in
a rucksack which then fits in my (large) v-strom topbox with room to spare.
It also fits on the Ventura bag I use on the Ducati.

 

Yeah, what worries me is that my 15.4" laptop also has a half inch
battery extension on the back, is it a snug fit or is there a bit of
leeway? Looks good otherwise, can use a smaller bag for a change of
clothes if they won't fit in that.

 

Mike Buckley wibbled forthrightly:

I had an old IBM ThinkPad (R50) with extended battery (15" screen,
IIRC). It fitted okay but was snug. The laptop fits in the bottom
pouch. There is a pouch above that where I regularly stick in
waterproofs without too much grief, but more clothes may be pushing it.

When I picked the tank bag up for the first time, the assistant was
pretty confident that all modern laptops would fit it quite nicely.

 

Get a bigger tank bag? I used to have a 15.4" Dell which I could
_just_ persuade into my bagster bag on the gixxer.

 

I think that's what I'll end up doing, the needs a fitting kit which
they don't do for the RD, I'll pop to HG later and see what they have.

 

My similar sized Thinkpad T510 goes in my laptop rucksack with
trousers and shirt, which goes in my Givi E45 topbox comfortably with
room left on top for a pair of shoes.

I also have a Baglux Rider tankbag which will also accommodate the
laptop, shoes, trousers and shirt.

 

Don't you mean get a job that doesn't involve commuting 4 hours a day?

 

Why? It's his choice, and there are worse things than spending 4 hours
a day on a bike.

 

I work at home in Nottingham, the company I work for is based in
Stockport. I have the choice of a shit train journey (wouldn't be too
bad except for the overcrowding on the return), a 2hr 15m car journey or
when weather allows I can take the bike, I'm only there a couple of
times a month, so a suitably sized tank bag would be the best idea while
I decide what bike is next. Bagster is out as they don't make a tank
cover for the RD. I need to get to HG to see if they have anything,
their catalogue suggests not but it's the most convenient place to
start.

I currently have a no-name magnetic tank bag that is way too narrow for
anything but a netbook, so a larger strapped one that can take a laptop
will be useful not just for the occasional commute.

 

True. I certainly couldn't do it.

<thinks> nope, still couldn't do it on a daily basis, although the OP
has clarified that it's infrequent, which I could accept more easily.

 

Something from this range?

http://www.givi.co.uk/soft-luggages/Luggage-with-plate/

 

Like the bagster - probably ok if I buy a newer bike. Hadn't seen that
before though, so ta for the link.