Topic: question for those of you that travel on their bikes with hard bags

[bucky katt]

do any of you feel that the protection the hardbags gives is sufficent that you feel comfortable traveling with a laptop? i mean as far as vibration, impact and heat resistance, bring the laptop into the hotel at night.

[Gordon]

As long as it's packed well with some cushioning I don't think vibration would be a problem.  And sitting as far back as they do over the exhaust where the pipes aren't as hot, and the fact that you're moving most of the time keeps the bags from getting heated up much on the bottom. 

Shortly after installing my hard bags last year I felt the bottom of the bags after taking a long ride and the bottom was actually cooler than the top that had been getting direct sunlight.  The bags sit a couple of inches over the end of the mufflers. 

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I have removable leather bags that are pretty stiff. Thick plastic-of-some-sort backing with hard style mounts. I wouldn't hesitate to travel with my daughters new netbook IF she would let me take it, which ain't gonna happen    I'd use a padded case with a big thick ziplock bag or something similar to keep it clean and dry. It only cost $200 and would be the perfect traveling companion for emails and unloading pictures to. Acer brand. TigerDirect.com new refurb. Works great and disposable for $200.

[bucky katt]

i actually got a really nice bag when i got my first laptop 5 years ago. lots of padding and all. i'm looking at the aluminum bags that bmw sells.

[turin39789]

i do it all the time, as long as you don't leave it on and there is no reason for the hard drive to be spinning I can't imagine a problem.

[Tretnine]

I think you'll be ok if you have another bag that the computer sits in. I would put a computer in my saddle bag, but I'd put it inside of something soft-ish.

[techy5025]

The new slip type covers that are OK to go through airport security with have a good deal of padding. I have carried two different laptops in Cortech textile type bags using the covers with no problems. Packing clothes around the laptop helps also. You obviously don't want to put a lot of top to bottom pressure on the laptop.

Jim

[Peterbylt]

I always bring my laptop with me when touring. I have not had a problem with it traveling in my Vetter hardbags. I always put it in a Ziploc bag and wrap it in my spare pair of jeans and pack all the rest of my clothes around it and it has survived many miles.
Last year I replaced my old Dell laptop with an Acer aspire one Netbook due its small size. Its not much bigger than a paper back book and yet it has Built in WIFI, 120 gig disk, 1.6 ghz processor, 2 gig mem, high res monitor and full size keys. The one I bought came with XP and I paid $250.00.

Peter 

[medic09]

I think you got all good answers.

I used to commute on the Honda 130 miles round trip daily.  Really old Bates hardbags.  Carried my old Dell laptop all the time. No problems.

On the Sprint I've travelled with my Macbook.  For work it is usually in my flight pack strapped to the seat; but I've had it in the hardbags, too.  I've had it in a Seal Line padded case, and without.  So far, no problems.

Of course, if you want to get really fancy and drop some bucks, I think Aerostich used to sell a laptop travel case made to attach directly to your luggage rack.  Bit much for me.  I'll just keep shoving it in my pack.

[bucky katt]

wow, i'd actually forgotten about this thread. looks like there will be no worries for me though.