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I used to think it looked stupid for someone on a motorcycle to wear a backpack, but now I get it. These are often the guys that would rather ride and be "inconvenienced" with a backpack than to make things easier and take the car.
So now I see someone with a backpack and think "they sure do love to ride."
I wore a backpack with a laptop and a change of clothes quite a bit on my Sportster and never had any back issues. Heck, I forgot it was even there after a few minutes.
I used a backpack for a couple of months when I first bought my 2004 Kawasaki Vulcan. Was glad to get rid of it when I bought saddlebags, which did require tailight relocation so I could fit large saddlebags. Now I bought a FLHTCUI so I should be GTG (if I don't tip over). I do wonder what all the Harleys,, and sport bikes with no bags do when they need to stop at the hardware or grocery store. Do they only ride for fun? I use my bike to commute.. definitely the best part of the day is leaving work, going second, work comes in about 10th!
I ride my sportster with no bags everyday, as I don't own a car. Lady decided the stop sign was optional and i t-boned her. I used the insurance money to buy my sportster. If I require a car for something, I just use my girlfriends SUV...maybe once a week....other then that, regardless of weather, I still use the sportster to get to work and back and everything else.
Although I eventually bought a Biker Friend bag for my FXD, I was very resistant to the thought of having bags on my bike. I loved to preserve the minimalist clean flowing lines of the Superglide. A Camelback backpack that was an issued item when I deployed to Iraq was proudly worn on the bike. My wife forced me to buy the Biker Friend bag.
I wear a backpack sometimes, it depends on the situation. I don't have saddlebags but I do have a couple of different bags that strap on the back. If I am going for a trip, even a short weekend trip it is the big bags all the way. But if I am taking work stuff, particularly a laptop, I love the backpack. Like others have said it is set up with compartment just for that and when I get to where I have to work I have it all right with me. I don't have to pull the bag off the bike.
Sometimes I have to bring my work home with me so the laptop will go into the backpack, usually I don't have to have nothing on my back on my commute to work. I even ride with my gym clothes under my clothes so I don't have to carry the backpack, I would hate to cover up my chrome with saddle bags.
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