Transporting via motorcycle

MartinCrabtree · Apr 16, 2010

Bikes are my preferred method of transportation.Now that it's warm I hafta ask how well will my AE-1 travel?I'm thinking rolled up in a sweatshirt in the tankbag.The bike itself vibrates little and the suspension is a bit sporting (read firm) but the roads are in rough shape after the tough winter.I don't typically carry lenses just the one on the camera.
Any suggestions,help or advice?
Thanks.

rjbuzzclick · Apr 16, 2010

I take a 4-day motorcycle trip (800-1000 miles) every year on a Yamaha 650 twin, which is definitely not the smoothest bike around. I usually brink a Pentax K1000 and something else. For the Pentax, I just use an ever-ready case and wrap it up in clothes or towels, in either a tank bag or saddle bag. That camera has probably done at least 10-12 trips like this, and I've never had an issue. It even survived a small spill at 25-30 mph one year.

Last year, my second camera was an Ansco Speedex folder, which made the trip fine, but soon after I got back, I discovered that I could no longer select the slower speeds on the dial. I took it apart and all it turned out to be was the screws holding the inside front plate had backed out 1mm or so, most definitely due to vibration from the trip.

John Lawrence · Apr 16, 2010

I seem to remember that Roger Hicks and Frances Schultz had some information about this on their (free) website:

http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/travel.html

The above link springs to mind, but I think there may be more on that or their sister site.

John

jerry lebens · Apr 16, 2010

I've been carrying photographic gear on my bike for over 30 years - currently a BMW R1100SS - I don't have a car license. As long as there's a bit of padding (I usually use a dark cloth or bubble wrap) and I can prevent things moving around under braking etc, then I've never had a problem putting gear - including studio flash and even field cameras - into panniers or tank bags.

Vibration has never been an issue. Not even with Norton Commando's, which shook like buggery, or, even worse, Triumph Bonneville's that'd give you white finger just looking at them from 50 paces...

Regards
Jerry

MartinCrabtree · Apr 16, 2010

Thanks everyone.This is how I get around most of the time.

Colin Corneau · Apr 16, 2010

Try pinhole!

pentaxuser · Apr 16, 2010

jerry lebens said:
Vibration has never been an issue. Not even with Norton Commando's, which shook like buggery, or, even worse, Triumph Bonneville's that'd give you white finger just looking at them from 50 paces...

Regards
Jerry

Wrong bikes Jerry. You needed a big single, the Goldstar springs to mind. With a 70mph limit you don't even need any gear other than 1st with the Goldstar

pentaxuser

jerry lebens · Apr 16, 2010

Wrong bikes Jerry. You needed a big single, the Goldstar springs to mind. With a 70mph limit you don't even need any gear other than 1st with the Goldstar

pentaxuser

I'm not that old, thanks!

I had a BSA Victor, tho. Bag of Sh*te. Had an "external lubrication system". Couldn't do more than 50 yards without throwing the crankshaft...

Oh, the money I've wasted on bikes and cameras...

Regards
Jerry

Ralph Javins · Apr 16, 2010

pentaxuser said:
Wrong bikes Jerry. You needed a big single, the Goldstar springs to mind. With a 70mph limit you don't even need any gear other than 1st with the Goldstar

pentaxuser

That was only if you had the RRT-2 gearbox. That was what was on my DBD34GS, and I pulled the Competition Magneto and put in a Lucas Mag-Dyno, so I could have lights on it. (Well, as much light as the Prince of Darkness would allow, more at times.) Such is the fate of many retired competition vehicles. The clip-ons and running and bumping were always a delight to the spectators around when starting it.

Transporting via motorcycle

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