Topic: Carrying a guitar on the bike?

[JBMorse]

Hi all,
I was wondering if any of the musicians on the board have tried bringing an instrument on the bike.  I give private lessons and I want to ride my bike to them if possible.  Also, I'll be taking road trips on the bike and I go stir crazy when I can't play something!
Here's what I was thinking:  Spend $100 or so on a cheap, 3/4 or 1/2 scale classical student guitar with a soft case.  That way if I crash I'm not out a thousand bucks and the size will be more manageable as well.  My bike has a rear luggage rack so I was thinking maybe the body could be bunjeed (gently of course) to the rack and the neck could face out toward the front of the bike, at an angle so the headstock isn't jabbing me in the back.  Here's my luggage rack:



Another option might be to strap it along the side of the bike, but I am eventually going to get side cases so that might not work in the future. 
Any other ideas? 

[Gordon]

I've seen guys riding with a guitar strapped to their backs.  Basically just slung over with the shoulder strap.  Of course that could end up badly if you go sliding/rolling across the ground. 

[BlindJoe]

how bout one of those Martin traveler guitars

[Chester345]

I've ridden to play golf with my travel bag strapped accross my back.

[Slayer]

Haha, I thought I was the only one to try the golf bag on the back. Once I picked up some speed it felt like I was going to lift off. Are there any skeet shooters who only ride? Is it legal to ride with a shotty on your back if it is in a case? I would be tempted to go Terminator on stupid drivers.

[BeSeeingYou]

You could look for one of these types of racks.  Gives you something to strap it to.

[Deltarider]

Why not turn the guitar case in a sidecar?

[GodFather13]

Just an idea 

[moham]

how bout one of those Martin traveler guitars

Nice! I like it...

[Industrial Rat400f Killer]

I just use a soft case with straps and wear it like a back pack. It's amazing how much wind drag it creates though.

[Inigo Montoya]

I would put it on your rack but face the neck and head backwards. You can then slide the case forward almost to you back and then bungie it.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

JB,

Here are a few options I came up with to carry things without permanent mods to the bike.  Perhaps the "CB as Golf Cart" could be adapted to a guitar case with a different shaped bucket.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=33863.msg350105#msg350105

[ugmold]

They sell gig bags with 2 straps like a back pack. I don't know why people like to strap stuff to their bike when back pack is easier and safer. Macho I guess.
-ug

[Hush]

One of my gats is a Talman Intercity and even though it doesn't have the mellow tone of a full sized guitar it is easy to carry.
That carrier suggested by srust58 would work and point the gat vertically, might be a wee bit of drag but as long as you are not doing the ton everywhere should be all good..........Rock on.

[Geeto67]

I have a martin backpacker and I like it. Doesn't have the depth of tone of the D2 or the D28 I own but it is super easy to travel with and never seems to walk out of tune. I have traveled with it a lot and never had a single issue.

If I have to carry my Jaguar, Mustang, or my Yamaha electrics I use a roadrunner soft bag. It is pretty thick and it actually has two back pack straps instead of the over the shoulder strap (the guitar moves around with the shoulder strap). when I was looking at all the roadrunner bags I bought the one with the most padding. If you have to bring an electric on the road, bring a fender, Gibson guitars are too fragile to travel by anything other than hardshell case.

If I need a full size guitar I try to take the 1978 or the 1982 ovation balladeer since it is slimmer than a standard acoustic and if it gets chucked down the highway the fiberglass backs can sort of take the abuse (my 1978 slid out the rust hole in a friends trunk once without its case and it came out without a scratch. I got both my ovations from swap meets for less than $150.

If I need to take the other Martins or the Austin Dubro - I just take the car.

Whatever bag you buy make sure it has double backpack straps. The exception is the backpacker, it is so light if it shifts it is not a big deal, plus that shoulder strap can sinch down pretty tight when it is across your chest.

[Johnny5]

I play a Fender Jazz bass at church. Using a soft gig bag, I sling the strap across my chest/shoulder with the guitar to my back. Works fine, keeping the speed around 45. Anything above that and you turn into an airplane.

[Laminar]

Just this past weekend I carried my guitar 35 highway miles. I rested the base of the case on the passenger footpeg and the neck on the turn signal arm. I then used two bungee cords to secure it to the side of my bike. It held on at 75mph without an issue.

[GammaFlat]

I love this guitar - it is, of course electric but you can get a small amp.  I had a long commute for a while and played it in my lap... only when stopped in traffic of course...  I had a belt clip amp that ran off of batteries and I somehow had it plugged into the lighter as well. 

This guitar is really nice for staying in tune as well.  It seems to never "go out".  I'd give up my strat before this one. 

[IHWillys]

...I rested the base of the case on the passenger footpeg and the neck on the turn signal arm. I then used two bungee cords to secure it to the side of my bike. It held on at 75mph without an issue.

Likewise on an '83 Virago many years ago.  For local trips at 60 mph and below I used the softbag with a strap and slung it on my back.

Ken

[MosquitoJones]

I carry a full-size Ibanez acoustic in a soft gig bag w/shoulder straps and stay off the freeway.  Wind drag gets to be a real #$%* otherwise. 

Completely hijacking the thread, I also have a Washburn Rover that I got off Amazon.com, it's quite a bit cheaper than the Martin, good sound and good quality, and the case is sturdy enough that if it flew off the bike it would probably take little to no damage.  Haven't taken that one on the bike yet though.

[Scrubs]

I love this guitar - it is, of course electric but you can get a small amp.  I had a long commute for a while and played it in my lap... only when stopped in traffic of course...  I had a belt clip amp that ran off of batteries and I somehow had it plugged into the lighter as well. 

This guitar is really nice for staying in tune as well.  It seems to never "go out".  I'd give up my strat before this one. 

what model is that? looks nice and handy.

[Scrubs]

Oh here you go.. How about this?

http://www.zmotorcase.com/

[Geeto67]

not nearly as cool or useless as this:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/4/22/460/10830/ITEM/Mad-Dog-Handgun-Mount.aspx


In all seriousness though....a buddy of mine had a surfboard mount for his honda 350 that was setup similar to that guitar case. Then one day a really nasty gust of wind blew him over on to the grass shoulder. After that he built a little surfboard come along that could be towed behind the bike.

[Blasbo]

Speaking of useless I can't believe I'm the first one to post this.

[fuzzybutt]

how bout one of those Martin traveler guitars

Nice! I like it...

those martin backpackers are a nice little guitar, i've been trying to find one used for a while.