Camera bag - waistpack style - for keen motorcyclist

goinggreynow

goinggreynow

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Afternoon all. I appreciate this is not for me but my brother is a keen motorcyclist and sometimes goes on longer trips.
He's just picked up a Panasonic G80 and lens and is looking for a waistpack style camera bag to take his new kit.
My experience is limited to shoulder/rucksack/holster type bags and so would welcome some help.
He is looking for something to go around his waist but crucially he must be able to safely wear it whilst riding, without any thought that it could come loose/detach itself, therefore the belt/webbing and the way it fits to the camera bag are important (i.e. no velcro or similar).
Other than that he either needs it to be waterproof or have rain cover because there's no way he will anywhere else to store it in bad weather.
Any help much appreciated, particularly from fellow TP members who are keen keen bikers and may have first hand knowledege.
 
Graham W said:
I can recommend this. They have updated it since I bought mine (and I don't recall paying that much.)
Built like an Arab donkey. http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/waist_bags_belt_systems/think_tank_speed_racer_v20/18197_p.html
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Same one I use (V1), but seems excessive for the kit and I wouldn't want to wear it while riding (big/bulky). I would suggest Lowepro Inverse 100 (or 200 if he may add more kit). Or maybe the Thule Perspektiv Compact for a bit less size/bulk.
 
I would never recommend carrying anything on your body whilst on a bike they can cause serious injuries in an off, I'd go for the tank bag/back pack option or at least carry it on the bike whilst ridding.
 
+1 for the above. Plus anything strapped around your torso, tends to restrict movement, that tends to be more vital in actually controlling a motorbike....

And why would you need a holster type camera bag when on a motorbike, it's not like.your going to take it out and start shooting pictures whilst you are riding, is....
11690-1432940909-0bf505b9fcdd7e1d0cc908858f38ecf9.jpg

Ah!... do as I say, not as I do!!!!!
Actually, that was taken 'blind' under my arm with an Olympus XA2 'film' compact, one handed! A well practiced hand at that, using the diddy little thing, well suited to one handed operation like that, in such a manner from sliding down a snow covered hill on planks of wood in my teens, through to chasing tear-away tots around a playground in my thirties, to well, you get the idea. I DONT think I would contemplate such antics with a Digital SLR! Thogh I do know of some folk who have a penchant for 'Point-of-View' action shots from the saddle, and one of the uses a sort of parachute harness with a tripod mount on it, and a remote release cable gaffer taped to his handle-bar I think! NOT the sort of stuff that would get the BMF seal of safety approval, though, I think

Back on topic!

As Brad & Byker suggest, you can get tank-bags that clip to the petrol tank when riding, which gives you least weight to carry r shift on your body when ridng, and no restriction of movement, or risk of possible injury from luggage slidng up the road with you if you tumble....probably as or easier to grab a camera out of a tank-bag on the tank,..... when you STOP... than to ferret out of a holster bag.and most 'convert' som-how nto a shoulder bag or ruck-sack when removed from the bike.

Mine has 'wings on the sides that have magnets to hold the bag on the tank when riding, and clips to clip the rings under the soft-base, and convert it to a shoulder bag, when off it. Its a rather old now, err. circa 1993! Oxfort 'life-time' two tier.. that bag's probably done more miles than my bike! Dang useful bit of kit!

I used to work in a factory that made electron'c control systems for aircraft, and we used to have 'pizza-boxes' that assemblies were shipped out to or back from the customer, for repair/investigation/modification,that had the same sort of segmented foam packing in them as a photo flight case, that used to be 'scrapped' if the out side box was damaged.... this of course gave me an oy-dee-ugh! When I came accross a pile of scrap shipping boxes i the corner of the dispatch room, and that Oxford Tank-Bag was at one point, compartment-ed with the foam packing salvaged from such scrap freight boxes, for my SLR's... s much as anything to stop the heavy camera denting my chuffng petrol tank when I went over a council speed-bump, as to protect the camera!!! But still! injinuity eventually saw me stuff the tank-bag with a thick woolly jumper and spare water-proofs for multiplicity, but still.....

Ultimately, these days the SLR tends to live in its regular shoulder bag, which gets attached to the rear luggage rack, along with other camping apparel, or used as ballast in the bottom of one of the panniers, rather than any 'special' measure given to it, whilst that XA2 film camera tends to live in my jacket pocket for grab shots....and the handlebars have a mount for an action-cam, and the daughter hangs off the back snapping away with a smufone... and and and......

Options and alternatives are myriad, BUT... a holster type camera bag for a DSLR REALLY isn't top choice....
 
Just want to say many thanks to all who have replied to this thread. Much appreciated.
I will ask my brother to read all replies by viewing the forums as a guest. I'm sure he will find them of interest.
Still trying to get him to register as a member - when he ses the number of TP members who are bikers, he could be tempted!
Thanks again.
 
Teflon-Mike said:
Mine has 'wings on the sides that have magnets to hold the bag on the tank when riding, and clips to clip the rings under the soft-base, and convert it to a shoulder bag, when off it. Its a rather old now, err. circa 1993! Oxfort 'life-time' two tier.. that bag's probably done more miles than my bike! Dang useful bit of kit!
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We probably have the same one. Mines a multisection. You have a top clear map pocket that zips on, with two other sections, one larger which expands and has the backpack straps, then the magnetic base with wings that zips on. It's all arranged so you can mix and match what you need and if you need it, it has a waterproof cover that goes over the top.

Haven't a bike at the moment. I was knocked off by a careless woman not looking and changing lanes at the start of june and I'm still chasing the insurance company. We're insured by the same company so they are being very slow...
 
No, my old Oxford is just two 'sections' that zip together. The bottom one has the mag-mounts on it, and both have clear map pockets in the lid, and a small pouch pocket on the front, to take the shower-cap for each tier, and a simple shoulder strap.... it's 'red', which was quite striking in the shop, but not so practical OTR...but I got it 'x-display' at a pretty useful discount! Most used bottom tier is now a sort of dirty pink colour, the top rather more 'vibrant'... but heyho...it's weathered well for quarter of a century!
 
Byker28i said:
Or,
you get tankbags that comvert to backpacks by unzipping the magnetic base. I've got an oxford one
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I used a tank bag when I used to ride.
sadly I’ve seen accidents where riders have come off and been injured with waiste bags with gear of various kinds in including tools where screwdrivers have caused horrible injuries to name but one :(
None of us go out expecting to have a accident but sadly they happen!
 
Personally I prefer not to wear bags as I find it affects my balance too much even if only filled with light stuff, so tank bag, top box or panniers for me. Depending on size of tank bag I don't much like them either, too restrictive in terms of viewing Speedo etc and get in the way at slow speeds, but each to their own.
 
Tank bag with a bit of foam inside, tested to 120mph on trackdays :)

bag1.jpg
 
I use a Givi tankbag on my Triumph Sprint which is filled with my camera equipment, tablet, phone and other valuables. It fits into a ring added to the fuel filler so easily removed and fitted. I never leave it on the bike for obvious reasons. Some bikes, mine included, have a non metallic tank so I can't use the magnetic type of bag. I too would never want anything around my waist.

P1010817EditRS.jpg
 
HarveyM said:
Some bikes, mine included, have a non metallic tank so I can't use the magnetic type of bag.]
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Are you sure about it being non metallic, the mk 1 & 2 were plastic but I though that changed to a metallic one for the 1050 engined version. You have me wondering as I had a mk1 and now have a 1050GT which I am pretty sure is metal and identical to your tank.
Sorry if that is off topic, just got me wondering now. :)

off another website
Originally it had a plastic fuel tank, but this was changed to a steel one in 2008 due to requests to use magnetic tank bags. It was also given a better headlight, the previous one was one of the few criticisms of the Sprint as it gave unpredictable coverage of the road.
It was eventually superseded by the Sprint GT 1050.
 
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Yes, mine is plastic (2006 model). These tanks also swell if ordinary fuel is used because of the ethanol content, I use the higher octane fuel.
 
HarveyM said:
Yes, mine is plastic (2006 model). These tanks also swell if ordinary fuel is used because of the ethanol content, I use the higher octane fuel.
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Mine did, thought I was going mad when it happened.
Matt
 
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