Anyone packing around a dSLR? Bubba? Any tips?
Yesterday was the first time I took some of my gear for a ride. I used a tank bag. Riding certainly elevates the "hassle factor" when I want to take a photograph. Stop bike, get off, take sunglasses off, take helmet off, take gloves off, take earplugs out so I don't get hit by traffic I can't hear, get camera, compose and set exposure, take photo, put camera back, put earplugs back in, put helmet on, put gloves back on, get on motorcycle.
I spent fifteen minutes slowly cruising along the isolated road where the first picture was taken looking for a glove that had fallen out of my jacket pocket when I decided to ride a few hundred yards to what looked like better light.
I think a Hayabusa is perhaps the worst possible choice of transportation when embarking on a photo mission. I tend to move very slowly when I'm looking for a shot, but when I ride everything passes too quickly. I think a better bike would be a dual sport 500...but that wouldn't be as much fun in the twisties.
Hi F=MA
I have to admit you are correct that the Busa with no add-on racks is not carry-friendly for a Photographer.
I like to carry my DSLR (Canon 40D) with a large lens 70-200 f2.8 and a smaller utility lens 28-135 f3.5 (variable) IS, a lens pen, extra batteries, and sometimes a large flash.
This requires a back pack for me. I do not wear the leathers with the neck and back hump, so I am able to carry a backpack easily enough.
I have 2 different styles of packs, 1 is a normal backpack that has a decent amount of internal volume and lots of small zippered pockets and mesh open pockets on the side.
This is my daily commuter now, as it is easy to get off and get into the pack quickly. I have been known to carry over 20 lbs of “stuff†in here and still rode the twisties.
I stopped doing this for obvious reasons.
The Rub – it has many zippers and is a real drag when you tuck in and go for long rides. I usually travel over one hour of slab riding before I even get to my favorite twisties. The straps are slightly “V†shaped at the top and can become uncomfortable on long rides.
The pack I now use to ride the twisties and carry the larger lens is an Ogio No Drag.
Great pack to carry laptops and other thinner type devices. It has “U†shaped straps at the top and this provides a comfortable feel even on longer rides. There are no external zippers at all and is molded to provide aerodynamic flow.
When you tuck in and lean out on curves I barely even notice I am carrying at all.
The Rub – this is a much smaller volume and is slightly more cumbersome to get in and out of. The zippered section is on the front and is padded so when it is against your back it is nice and comfy.
The camera, with the larger lens attached, is usually all I carry in this pack (no other lenses).
All said, I love the Busa and photography, and love to take pics of riders on curves, so I put up with the rubs, and ride and snap pics most every time I go on a ride.
Here is a pic of Scar in Idyllwild on the 243 Saturday 9/12/09. I go ahead and set-up, then take pics of them going down the Mt and then get them when they come back up also. I looked at the location on Google Earth before I ever went there looking for the right curve and tree shadows. I am usually there for about an hour just to get a few shots of the riders with me, but I get a lot of good stuff from all the other vehicles that come by there during the wait.
Hope this helped, thanks for the ear.
Ride safe and snap a lot of pics too.
Bubba
