Any motorbiking photographers here?

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photostar_1

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Now that I am (almost...4wks to go) retired, him indoors and me are planning some looooong motorbiking trips, both in the UK and abroad. As any bikers will know, space is an issue.........those panniers are really quite small!!

I can cope (just about) with limited clothing, minimal toiletries etc, but should I get one of those superzooms and blame the poor quality of the images on it (not me!) or take my 10-20mm, 24-70mm, 70-200mm lenses? I also reckon I will need:
1. the battery charger,
2. a flash unit,
3. my Lee filters and holder and a polariser,
4. a tripod (or at a push, my SLR ZOOM gorrilla pod)
5. a sensor cleaning kit.

How would you bikers recommend that I safely transport the camera gear..........padded tank bag; sacrifice the top box to it all; or something else? Not too keen on wearing it as a backpack as if we come off, the impact against my back, even with my body armour, could potentially add to injuries, not to mention that I couldn't probably wear one if we had a top box fitted anyway.


We haven't yet traded up to a big sports tourer, but will be doing so in the next few weeks and trying to decide which one is even worse than trying to decide which DSLR!!


I'd appreciate a bit of advice!! ;)
 
I done a few days around scotland and a 9days in france on the motorbike.

I use the tank bag and some socks etc to pad lol.

For france i only had the 40d and the 17-85is (3 batteries, CPL, 24GB of memory)
I wish i had have brought the 10-20,70-200 and a flash along, missed so many great shots. But to be fair mostly we were riding 350-500miles a day so rarely stopped for photos, roads were just too good lol.

For scotland i had the 10-20,50,70-200, flash and filters etc. Much better setup for me ill be trying to take this kit anytime im out for a good run on the bike, fits nicely in the tank bag. All this was on a hornet600.

I think ill be adding maybe a 12v charger and a gorrila pod to my travel kit. You can lash the gorrila pod to something with a cargo net type thing :D

Have you looked at the triumph tigers? Awesome machines for mile munching 2 up. I think it will be my next bike :D
 
yup. tankbag and well packed with soft stuff.
preferably an easily demountable one(baglux?) so you can take your kit off, if your away from the bike.
and put it all in a dustbin bag.
waterproof, even if ya tankbag isnt.

what bike ta got in mind?
cool flickr by the way. and your b day is the day before mine.
"ageing rock chick" ahahahahaha

go look at my blog. might find something interesting.
 
A few years ago I did a trip down to the south of Germany, a 6 hour ride with all my gear in a lowepro computrekker. D2x plus heavy 2.8 lenses. Surprisingly it wasn't uncomfy at all. The uncomfy bit was the whole 6 hour ride in the rain..
I had the stock rain cover pulled over the backpack and despite all that rain and cruising over the speed limit the bag only had mild seepage at the bottom edge. Oh, and I had an-off on the way too. Pulled into a petrol station, soaking feet, cold cramped legs.. brain said put foot out, foot refused. BONK. frame mushrooms protected the bike and the camera gear suffered nothing. Top marks for Lowepro there.

Anyway, once there I took the d2x out on jaunts with the 17-55 fitted. I stuffed it in the tankbag, kept safe with socks for padding..

Doing it all again, I'd leave all the heavy stuff at home and just take my D50 with an 18-200 ;o)

As for transporting, I once saw a guy who'd filled a tankbag with foam insulation, the stuff from a can.. He made wooden plug to hold space for the camera kit, lined the tankbag with a binliner and filled it up. Once hard unzipped the bag, extracted the wooden plugs and had a perfectly moulded interior for his tankbag. Very robust, light and could be removed to use the tankbag more conventionally.
 
I use a Lowepro rucksac - or at least Anna does!
We did the Pacific Coast Highway like this - and had an off (you seen the manequin on the Lowepro stand with my riding gear and the Lowepro rucksac?) the ruckasac actually helped protect her back and stopped her from rolling over and over, acted as a skid pad!

The weight is going to be an issue, and which bike you get if using a tank bag to carry your kit - vibrations on the bike have rattled some of my kit apart in the past. Lenses especially, the little screws inside get vibrated undone and then they jam the mechanism! Modern 4 cylinfder bikes are not so bad - don't get a Harley, you will not finish your journey, well, you will, on the back of a truck.
Tigers are good, I have the Beemer equivalent (yes, OK a Charlie clone - only he copied me, mine is an 03. I know Charlie, he gives our trophies away each year at the NEC Bike Show).
You'll get what suits you two. I don't think there is bad tourer built now -Pan Euros hold their value very well and are brilliant (better, more reliable, than the Beemer K tourers - and cheaper. The K12s lose value very quickly especially the LT). The GS 1150 is holding its value very well, people are getting nearly what they paid for them new, 8 years down the line - 2000 W 1150s are still fetching over £4000 without any extras on them.

Cameras on the bike? You can buy clothes there if you need them. Take minimal clothing, just the majors. The trick is to not take much, rotate what you wear and wash out your socks etc each evening, first thing you do, wash them and hang to dry. That way, two sets will last you weeks and still be fresh. - you B&B or camping?

How you take the camera will depend on which bike you end up with. I would start with the bike, then work a system to suit it - GS panniers you can lash dry bags or other stuff to the outside, system panniers you can't. So there is a difference straight away.

Once you know the layout of the bike, then you can start to think about how to load your photo gear onto it. If you do it the other way round you could well end up with a camera luggage system that is incompatible with your bike.
 
I ride a Triumph Tiger and I have the standard panniers, 42 Litre top box and Baglux tankbag fitted.

My 40D and 28 -135 mm lives in the tankbag no problem, I wrap it in a cotton helmet bag for a bit of extra protection and stuff a couple of other items around it.

In the lockable top box goes an AW 100 lowepro bag with the following kit; 300mm f4, 70 - 200mm f2.8, Tokina 11 - 16 f2.8, spare batteries, cards, charger etc etc.

Minimal clothing etc is squeezed into the panniers no problems and they also accomodate a Calumet monopod. I don't use a rucksack on the bike and there's plenty of room if I needed to strap a tent and sleeping bag to the rear seat. I've done two trips to the IOM this year plus others around the UK to various bike race events and there have been no issues with the kit staying safe and cosy.

Weight isn't an issue because I've made sure that the load is evenly distributed between each of the bags/panniers and I keep each below 6Kg as recommended by Triumph and Kappa (Top box).
 
inaneredstripe said:
...........
go look at my blog. might find something interesting.
Click to expand...

Certainly did..........Buckcherry at Rock city!! ;) Hope you checked out "my" boys too (Heaven's Basement).............oh! you mean the bikes??? :lol::lol:

We have still not decided on which bike, (too much choice!) but thanks to everyone for the advice re carrying gear. Will have to take a tank bag full of gear when we go to try out the bike, to check out the handling issues for him indoors.
 
I went to Calumet and bought one of their 'hard' cases, just big enough to take the camera body, my 14-24 and my 24-70. The case itself is virtally indestructable and it fits very nicely in a tank bag, with room to spare.
 
did indeed see "your boys" and they rocked the house.
as opposed to dear superstar, who sucked bottom.
buckcherry were possibly the best gig ive seen.amasing tattoo,s too.
weight in a tankbag tends to affect handling less than wehight in panniers, cos its nearer the centre of gravity.
 
I've toured the Alps & Pyrennees several times with camera & accessories. I used a padded Lowepro bag which I put inside a tailpack on the rear seat. No problems with it at all. I'd be a bit wary about putting kit in a top-box due to the vibrations, but I guess if you pack it up well you should be OK.

I have used a rucksack - a really cool Kriega one which you hardly know you're wearing - but dont put camera gear in it- that always goes in the tailpack.
 
I'm a fan of the Baglux kit and use the tankbag on my VFR for the camera gear. I've not long moved to digital SLR after abondoning film SLR about 5 years ago for the hassles described below.

I'll tend to put the zoom lens on the body and put it in the tank bag and stash any other lenses in either tailpack or panniers.
The one thing I will say is that if you find you're not stopping for photos, get a flip front helmet. I wear glasses and it's a total pain to stop, remove gloves, remove glasses, remove helmet, remove camera gear from luggage ... click ... [reassembly is the reverse of removal etc.]

Getting the flip front makes enough of a difference that I will stop at the side of the road to take a picture of that view. Having the camera ready to hand in the tank bag makes a difference too. This was true with my powershot S2, and on the handful of occasions I've tried it, is very true for the DSLR.

Each to their own though - this just worked for me.

As for the bike, I loved my 02 Sprint ST but after a couple of alternatives my FI-1 VFR is still a smooth, swift, reliable, all-day comfortable piece of kit.
 
inaneredstripe said:
did indeed see "your boys" and they rocked the house.
as opposed to dear superstar, who sucked bottom.
buckcherry were possibly the best gig ive seen.amasing tattoo,s too.
weight in a tankbag tends to affect handling less than wehight in panniers, cos its nearer the centre of gravity.
Click to expand...

Some tank bags look huge: surely they must get in the drivers way??


Tobers said:
I've toured the Alps & Pyrennees several times with camera & accessories. I used a padded Lowepro bag which I put inside a tailpack on the rear seat. No problems with it at all. I'd be a bit wary about putting kit in a top-box due to the vibrations, but I guess if you pack it up well you should be OK.QUOTE]

I'm on the rear seat.......

SilverSurfer said:
I'm a fan of the Baglux kit and use the tankbag on my VFR for the camera gear. I've not long moved to digital SLR after abondoning film SLR about 5 years ago for the hassles described below.

I'll tend to put the zoom lens on the body and put it in the tank bag and stash any other lenses in either tailpack or panniers.
The one thing I will say is that if you find you're not stopping for photos, get a flip front helmet. I wear glasses and it's a total pain to stop, remove gloves, remove glasses, remove helmet, remove camera gear from luggage ... click ... [reassembly is the reverse of removal etc.]

Getting the flip front makes enough of a difference that I will stop at the side of the road to take a picture of that view. Having the camera ready to hand in the tank bag makes a difference too. This was true with my powershot S2, and on the handful of occasions I've tried it, is very true for the DSLR.

Each to their own though - this just worked for me.

As for the bike, I loved my 02 Sprint ST but after a couple of alternatives my FI-1 VFR is still a smooth, swift, reliable, all-day comfortable piece of kit.
Click to expand...

I have a flip front, as it happens but that's a very good point.


We are testing bikes later this week.........a Triumph Sprint and two different BMW's. I'll let you know how I get on.
Click to expand...
 
only the realy huge bags get in the way.
had an oxford sports extendable bag on my old 750. so crammed full of stuff that it would occasionaly touch my chest, or brush an arm.
but even that didnt affect the ride.
oh, i have two flip fronts. (i am a speccy too.)
an Aero 55 and a caberg justissimo (recomended.)
the only real downside, is they tend to be noisier than a normal full face.
unless you can afford a schuberth.
triumph sprint ST is a brill bike.
friend of mine has one.
actualy chopped in a BMW for it.
 
Thanks everyone. Now on a slightly differnt note from transporting camera gear........

Bikes themselves!

We are keeping our sports bike, so there is no need to compromise. We want a big touring bike and think that the Triumph Sprint is nice, but the pannier rails were very uncomfortable against my legs. The Pan-European is looking very dated so we are struggling to choose between BMW K1200/1300 GT and Kawasaki GTR 1400.


Anyone got any views??

PS: can't get our hands on a Kawasaki to try one out! They all seem to be sold as soon as arriving in UK.
 
photostar_1 said:
Thanks everyone. Now on a slightly differnt note from transporting camera gear........

Bikes themselves!

We are keeping our sports bike, so there is no need to compromise. We want a big touring bike and think that the Triumph Sprint is nice, but the pannier rails were very uncomfortable against my legs. The Pan-European is looking very dated so we are struggling to choose between BMW K1200/1300 GT and Kawasaki GTR 1400.


Anyone got any views??

PS: can't get our hands on a Kawasaki to try one out! They all seem to be sold as soon as arriving in UK.
Click to expand...

I have just come back from a 3 day trek from Durham to Hereford and return covering 780 miles on some fantatsic roads, on my 06 ST 1050. I managed with just a rear soft luggage. Most others just had a tank bag and a tail pack, no side panniers. Get a 1050 and don't use side panniers. Its the way forward:D
 
Lensflare said:
I use a Lowepro rucksac - or at least Anna does!
We did the Pacific Coast Highway like this - and had an off (you seen the manequin on the Lowepro stand with my riding gear and the Lowepro rucksac?) the ruckasac actually helped protect her back and stopped her from rolling over and over, acted as a skid pad!

The weight is going to be an issue, and which bike you get if using a tank bag to carry your kit - vibrations on the bike have rattled some of my kit apart in the past. Lenses especially, the little screws inside get vibrated undone and then they jam the mechanism! Modern 4 cylinfder bikes are not so bad - don't get a Harley, you will not finish your journey, well, you will, on the back of a truck.
Tigers are good, I have the Beemer equivalent (yes, OK a Charlie clone - only he copied me, mine is an 03. I know Charlie, he gives our trophies away each year at the NEC Bike Show).
You'll get what suits you two. I don't think there is bad tourer built now -Pan Euros hold their value very well and are brilliant (better, more reliable, than the Beemer K tourers - and cheaper. The K12s lose value very quickly especially the LT). The GS 1150 is holding its value very well, people are getting nearly what they paid for them new, 8 years down the line - 2000 W 1150s are still fetching over £4000 without any extras on them.

Cameras on the bike? You can buy clothes there if you need them. Take minimal clothing, just the majors. The trick is to not take much, rotate what you wear and wash out your socks etc each evening, first thing you do, wash them and hang to dry. That way, two sets will last you weeks and still be fresh. - you B&B or camping?

How you take the camera will depend on which bike you end up with. I would start with the bike, then work a system to suit it - GS panniers you can lash dry bags or other stuff to the outside, system panniers you can't. So there is a difference straight away.

Once you know the layout of the bike, then you can start to think about how to load your photo gear onto it. If you do it the other way round you could well end up with a camera luggage system that is incompatible with your bike.
Click to expand...

Can't do the sentence quoting thing, but this all reads very sensible, especially the socks - and your smalls bit!
 
hiddybiddy said:
I have just come back from a 3 day trek from Durham to Hereford and return covering 780 miles on some fantatsic roads, on my 06 ST 1050. I managed with just a rear soft luggage. Most others just had a tank bag and a tail pack, no side panniers. Get a 1050 and don't use side panniers. Its the way forward:D
Click to expand...

Were you one up or two up? We will be two up, which is a bit limiting on space. Him indoors wants me to learn to ride so I can have a bike of my own but I said ..........no!!:lol:
 
I'm a little paranoid, so I'd probably go with a peli case on the pillion seat attached with a cargo net and a few bungee cables.

Oops it seems you'll be going 2 up.

that only leaves a rucksack or the panniers.....

I'd pad them as best i can and put them in a tank bag in that case (Bagster do some very good ones)
 
Obviously, I'd recommend the 1050ST.

I carry the camera body and a short zoom, in my tankbag, for those 'bike in front of a stunning view' type shots.

The top box is water-proof, for any other gear, but if you're travelling 2-up, does the other half know that she's giving up clothes space ??
 
Robell said:
Obviously, I'd recommend the 1050ST.

I carry the camera body and a short zoom, in my tankbag, for those 'bike in front of a stunning view' type shots.

The top box is water-proof, for any other gear, but if you're travelling 2-up, does the other half know that she's giving up clothes space ??
Click to expand...

Sorry for the slight thread hijack here, but you may be able to answer a question that's been niggling me for a while:D

I've been thinking of getting a tank bag to carry my gear in instead of using my current camera bag whilest out on the bike. The reason being that if I see something that catches my eye that I wish to capture on 'the spure of the moment' sort of thing, I can just pull up & whip the camera out of the tank bag & take the shot, instead of having to wrestle my camera bag off my back before getting the camera out:(
The one thing that has stopped me is wondering whether the magnets in the tank bag will have any effect on either the camera or the memory card :thinking:
If the memory card became corrupted it would be an irritation, not the end of the world. But if the camera got damaged, that would be rather expensive.....& an irritation :'(

Have you had any problems along these lines?
 
RVF said:
Sorry for the slight thread hijack here, but you may be able to answer a question that's been niggling me for a while:D

I've been thinking of getting a tank bag to carry my gear in instead of using my current camera bag whilest out on the bike. The reason being that if I see something that catches my eye that I wish to capture on 'the spure of the moment' sort of thing, I can just pull up & whip the camera out of the tank bag & take the shot, instead of having to wrestle my camera bag off my back before getting the camera out:(
The one thing that has stopped me is wondering whether the magnets in the tank bag will have any effect on either the camera or the memory card :thinking:
If the memory card became corrupted it would be an irritation, not the end of the world. But if the camera got damaged, that would be rather expensive.....& an irritation :'(

Have you had any problems along these lines?
Click to expand...

Have you considered a Baglux tank cover and bag. Top quality kit and no magnets. I've used both on my Speed Triple and Tiger and can recommend their products. I carry a 40D and lens oin the tank bag with no problems. They have an integral waterproof (100%) cover as well.

http://www.baglux.co.uk/
 
I'll second the Baglux recommendation. Reasonably waterproof without the rain cover (less of an issue with a sports touring/half-faired bike anyway) and pretty well made. No scratching issues either. I like to know the camera is still there too so there is some re-assurance having it in front of you.
 
Robell said:
Obviously, I'd recommend the 1050ST.

I carry the camera body and a short zoom, in my tankbag, for those 'bike in front of a stunning view' type shots.

The top box is water-proof, for any other gear, but if you're travelling 2-up, does the other half know that she's giving up clothes space ??
Click to expand...

Going to try out the 1050 ST and a Tiger today.

PS: I'm the "she" and yes.....I know I can't take a hairdryer! :lol::lol:
 
RVF said:
Sorry for the slight thread hijack here, but you may be able to answer a question that's been niggling me for a while:D

................. wondering whether the magnets in the tank bag will have any effect on either the camera or the memory card :thinking:
If the memory card became corrupted it would be an irritation, not the end of the world. But if the camera got damaged, that would be rather expensive.....& an irritation :'(

Have you had any problems along these lines?
Click to expand...


Never even thought of that problem!! Looks like a baglux is the way to go.
 
photostar_1 said:
Never even thought of that problem!! Looks like a baglux is the way to go.
Click to expand...

Any tank bag that has magnets is not a place to store digital equipment (inc. cameras, CF/SD cards, portable hard drives or credit cards for that matter). Have a look at the Touratech stuff (http://www.touratech.co.uk/). I used one of their tank bags for several big trips overseas, including three and a half years in Central and South America, a trip from Alaska to Patagonia, the Karakorma Highway and several tours which I lead for GlobeBusters.

The tank bag served me well for the camera gear that I wanted to be close at hand. Other gear that I used less regularly or need time to create a shot with I just kept in one of the panniers. We were 2-up and there was more than enough room for 2 dslr's, a bridge camera, 3 lenses, tripod and 'other photo gumph'. (We were on a Honda Africa Twin and BMW GS1150 and BMW GS1200 at different times).

Also have a look here: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ for a few pointers on the forum section (in the menu on the left side)
 
I've just got a compact for taking on the bike. Figure it will get OK shots to capture where I've been.

Couldn't warrant lugging around an SLR and risk getting it damaged.

That said If I was going abroad I would want to take an SLR if possible. Just make sure you have insurance for your gear.
 
roadracer said:
Have you considered a Baglux tank cover and bag. Top quality kit and no magnets. I've used both on my Speed Triple and Tiger and can recommend their products. I carry a 40D and lens oin the tank bag with no problems. They have an integral waterproof (100%) cover as well.

http://www.baglux.co.uk/
Click to expand...

Yeah they are god kit, trouble is I've got two bikes & I'd have to buy two tank covers......then when you change bikes (which I might be soon) you've got to buy a new cover :|
 
inaneredstripe said:
wifey has a baglux on her bike (ALL WOMEN SHOULD HAVE THEIR OWN BIKES).
Click to expand...

Oy!! I was starting to consider you a friend, then you go and say that!!!! ;) :lol: Him indoors has been saying the same thing for ages but the answer is always the same............NO WAY! (He even offered me a pink Tiger.......:gag:) Far too scared to even try it. I'll stick to being the pillion passenger, thanks.


We tried a Tiger (lovely bike but not what we are after for touring), a BMW R1200 RT (yeuch) and a BMW K1300 GT.....now that was quite nice. Trying to get our hands on a Kawasaki GTR 1400, but even dealers don't have any. If anyone knows of one to try, let me know please.


EDIT:Him indoors says I should qualify the Yeuch comment.............as a pillion passenger I felt cocooned and protected (I almost nodded off to sleep) and completely disengaged from the experience of being on a bike. Much more like being in a car with the roof down.
 
inaneredstripe said:
your such a wuss.
my mrs rides a Honda hornet.shes 5ft notverymuch, and loves it.
thought about an fjr1300 ?.
i know a couple of people who own, and love theirs.
handle well too.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know I am......and happy to stay that way :)

We have thought about the FJR, just haven't tried one yet. Finding the time is tricky whilst I'm still in work for another 3 weeks yet.
 
I have an Oxford tankbag and all i have done is pop down to the local market and bought 2 pieces of foam cut to the size of the bag. Keep the bottom one intact and use it as a cushion and place your camera and lenses on the other one, draw around it and then cut out the bits so all your bits fit perfectly. No vibrations or loose stuff bashing around. I have done 3 two thousand mile trips with no problems. Heres one of them ....

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149970

Alan :thumbs:
 
AlanAce1967 said:
I have an Oxford tankbag and all i have done is pop down to the local market and bought 2 pieces of foam cut to the size of the bag. Keep the bottom one intact and use it as a cushion and place your camera and lenses on the other one, draw around it and then cut out the bits so all your bits fit perfectly. No vibrations or loose stuff bashing around. I have done 3 two thousand mile trips with no problems. Heres one of them ....

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149970

Alan :thumbs:
Click to expand...

That all sounds perfectly sensible......except the dropping of bike ;). just read your trip diary and it's sounds wonderful, apart from the midges. :lol: Is there ever a midge free time to visit Scotland?
 
Re magnetic tank bags. It depends on where the magnets are. I have a magnetic tank bag (Oxford something or other) it is a two tier version. The main compartment has the base on it, and then you can zip a smaller day bag on top - somethng like that, I have only used the one tier this year so far. Anyway, the magnets are strond, but only on the side flaps that grip each side of the tank, so far enough away from any contents to not effect them.

The beauty of the magnetic bag is it fits any bike. I hade it my 100RS (sold that with 337,000 miles on it) and now it is on the GS1150 happily - it was on a Morini 350 before that (which saw 187,00 miles under its wheels). I don't use the tank bag so much now, because the GS tin boxes swallow more then I need happily, and then the tank bag is extra - great support for long runs though, you can lean against it! Did Como for the weekend two years ago - left Thursday night, got there Friday night. Worked all day Saturday, got everything I needed (Classic motor boat rally with dinner at Villa D'Este, meaning dicky bow and dinner jacket). Sunday I wasn't going to get anything new that I needed, so saw the boats away, said thanks very much and got on the road for 10.30 - was home in my bed that night here in the Midlands by 03.30. - 3300 mile round trip, Thursday to Sunday night, with a day of work in between! Great fun.

Anyway, the top box thing - panniers are brilliant. A top box limits the amount of gear yoyu can carry. Better to lose the top box and use a long bag across the tops of the panniers and rack. You gain a considerable amount of space that way - Ortleib dry bag is excellent and reasonable money - and transfrerable to any bike.
 
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