Bungee Cords

SLOWn60 · August 29th, 2016, 03:58 PM

Yes; this is a skill. If you mess up: it could kill you!

Never mind the possibility of losing an eye if you slip (that's another topic) but if you don't secure your stuff properly; it can slip into and lock up your rear wheel!

That is exactly what happened to me on Friday returning from my epic 2 day ride: a bungee cord came unhooked and my double pack slid onto my rear tire and jammed between the tire, frame and exhaust pipe! Fortunately; it didn't lock up and I was able to make it across 2 lanes to the curb (unaware of what exactly was happening!).

I can't emphasize this strongly enough: I'm very lucky not to have locked up and lowsided into the centre divider as it is a particularly fast, banked, right hand sweep and though I was not knee down (never on the street) I was booking it!

The thing is ; I know better! I left on what would be about a 1500km ride knowing the straps were not hooking quite the way I wanted them to to those little hooks on the stock under tail. Though I checked and fussed with them frequently at the beginning of the ride: nothing had let go so I became complacent about it and failed to check once again at my last stop for gas!

Actual damage from friction burns: both shoulder straps were burnt off the backpack, a hole burnt into the pack damaging some clothing & items, small pack(kind of a tail bag with all important items) had a big hole burned into it but fortunately the liner held and items were prevented from being strewn all over the highway!

In hindsight (and almost within sight of home!) I easily could have been badly injured or killed just because I failed to adequately secure my cargo that invariably will be sucked into the wheel or chain if it shifts loose!

Learn from my mistake!

adouglas · August 29th, 2016, 04:12 PM

This is why I use rope/cord or cam straps. I gave up on bungees sometime around 1975 or so....

Bungees, if not stretched to the limit, by their very nature can move and that's a bad thing.

Learn some knots... you can do amazing things with simple rope / paracord. My favorite is the trucker's hitch, which emulates a block and tackle. Makes snugging stuff down bowstring-tight a piece of cake and it cannot slip or come undone.

CaliGrrl · August 29th, 2016, 04:36 PM

Sorry you lost the load that way. I'm sure that was nerve-wracking.

I don't trust bungees, either, but you see a lot of nets and whatnot.

JohnnyBravo · August 29th, 2016, 05:09 PM

Glad you're alright man

Motofool · August 29th, 2016, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLOWn60

........I can't emphasize this strongly enough: I'm very lucky not to have locked up and lowsided into the centre divider as it is a particularly fast, banked, right hand sweep and though I was not knee down (never on the street) I was booking it!...........

Very much agree !!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taut-line_hitch

We have to be extra careful when the package is soft or contains big items that can move inside.

verboten1 · August 29th, 2016, 07:12 PM

This is a reason that bungee cords are not the correct thing to use to strap down a load.

My favorite now is quick release nylon straps, which go around hard parts of the bike and the load.

You can see the additional straps I use to make sure my bag is super secure, plus I can add stuff to my bike with those if I want.

SLOWn60 · August 29th, 2016, 08:29 PM

I should mention to @csmith12 they were Acme Bungee cords!
...Ok; that part's not true but the rest of the story is!

tfkrocks · August 29th, 2016, 08:47 PM

I've been using ROK straps and they work great. They are partially elastic straps that can loop onto the frame so they are not going to come unhooked.

SLOWn60 · August 29th, 2016, 09:03 PM

The cords I used (2) are very high quality, adjustable length but the problem was not being able to get a rock solid clip in.
I'm going to peruse through the cargo threads and Nevada's posts and get myself some proper saddlebags for the newgen. I hate wearing a backpack while riding and I always have something to pack around!
Perhaps I should just break down & get a Honda 250 XL (or whatever it's called today!). I'll never give up the ninja though! Too much fun!!!!

nickjpass · August 29th, 2016, 11:22 PM

The other day a bungee cord slipped off someone's canopy which was tied down to a trailer. It was very stretched out, and the hook part whipped my thumb when it broke loose. It left a really nice bruise and obtrusion on my thumb.

CaliGrrl · August 30th, 2016, 10:13 AM

If you're looking for a tailpack, I've been very happy with my Kriega one. The attachment straps hook to the frame, and you clip the bag to the straps. Cinch it down nice and tight, and good to go. Doesn't move around much at all. I've found the 10L to be a good size but they make 5, 10, 20, and 30L bags.

adouglas · August 30th, 2016, 10:15 AM

Kriega FTW.

Expensive, but utterly worth it. Love my backpack.

August 29th, 2016, 03:58 PM	#1
SLOWn60 n00bie to wannabie Name: Bill Location: St Ives, BC (Shuswap Lake) Join Date: Sep 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2012 250R (Red), 2005 VFR800A (Red), CRF450X (Red), 2012 F800GS (Wants to be Red!) Posts: A lot. MOTM - Nov '15	Bungee Cords Yes; this is a skill. If you mess up: it could kill you! Never mind the possibility of losing an eye if you slip (that's another topic) but if you don't secure your stuff properly; it can slip into and lock up your rear wheel! That is exactly what happened to me on Friday returning from my epic 2 day ride: a bungee cord came unhooked and my double pack slid onto my rear tire and jammed between the tire, frame and exhaust pipe! Fortunately; it didn't lock up and I was able to make it across 2 lanes to the curb (unaware of what exactly was happening!). I can't emphasize this strongly enough: I'm very lucky not to have locked up and lowsided into the centre divider as it is a particularly fast, banked, right hand sweep and though I was not knee down (never on the street) I was booking it! The thing is ; I know better! I left on what would be about a 1500km ride knowing the straps were not hooking quite the way I wanted them to to those little hooks on the stock under tail. Though I checked and fussed with them frequently at the beginning of the ride: nothing had let go so I became complacent about it and failed to check once again at my last stop for gas! Actual damage from friction burns: both shoulder straps were burnt off the backpack, a hole burnt into the pack damaging some clothing & items, small pack(kind of a tail bag with all important items) had a big hole burned into it but fortunately the liner held and items were prevented from being strewn all over the highway! In hindsight (and almost within sight of home!) I easily could have been badly injured or killed just because I failed to adequately secure my cargo that invariably will be sucked into the wheel or chain if it shifts loose! Learn from my mistake! __________________________________________________ The Smart Money: #1 - ATGATT, #2 - Training (machine skills and survival skills), #3 - The bike; whatever floats yer boat with the money you have left over
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

August 29th, 2016, 04:12 PM	#2
adouglas Cat herder Name: Gort Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia RS660 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 6 MOTM - Jul '18, Nov '16, Aug '14, May '13	This is why I use rope/cord or cam straps. I gave up on bungees sometime around 1975 or so.... Bungees, if not stretched to the limit, by their very nature can move and that's a bad thing. Learn some knots... you can do amazing things with simple rope / paracord. My favorite is the trucker's hitch, which emulates a block and tackle. Makes snugging stuff down bowstring-tight a piece of cake and it cannot slip or come undone. __________________________________________________ I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, I'm a skill junkie. - csmith12 Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. Heri historia. Cras mysterium. Hodie donum est. Carpe diem.
	2 out of 2 members found this post helpful.

August 29th, 2016, 05:09 PM	#4
JohnnyBravo Certifiable nontundrum Name: Harper Location: NC Milkshake stand Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2013 SE NINJA 300 Posts: Too much. MOTM - Sep '13, Sep '16	Glad you're alright man __________________________________________________

August 29th, 2016, 08:29 PM	#7
SLOWn60 n00bie to wannabie Name: Bill Location: St Ives, BC (Shuswap Lake) Join Date: Sep 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2012 250R (Red), 2005 VFR800A (Red), CRF450X (Red), 2012 F800GS (Wants to be Red!) Posts: A lot. MOTM - Nov '15	I should mention to @csmith12 they were Acme Bungee cords! ...Ok; that part's not true but the rest of the story is! __________________________________________________ The Smart Money: #1 - ATGATT, #2 - Training (machine skills and survival skills), #3 - The bike; whatever floats yer boat with the money you have left over
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

August 29th, 2016, 08:47 PM	#8
tfkrocks ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Rebecca Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300 w/ ABS, 2014 NC700X, 2008 Ninja 250 (sold), 2002 Ninja 250 (sold) Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jan '18, Sep '13	I've been using ROK straps and they work great. They are partially elastic straps that can loop onto the frame so they are not going to come unhooked. __________________________________________________ My Ninja 300

August 29th, 2016, 04:36 PM	#3
CaliGrrl ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Kerry Location: Ventura, CA Join Date: Jan 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja650 Posts: A lot. MOTM - Apr '18, Apr '17, Apr '16	Sorry you lost the load that way. I'm sure that was nerve-wracking. I don't trust bungees, either, but you see a lot of nets and whatnot.

August 29th, 2016, 09:03 PM	#9
SLOWn60 n00bie to wannabie Name: Bill Location: St Ives, BC (Shuswap Lake) Join Date: Sep 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2012 250R (Red), 2005 VFR800A (Red), CRF450X (Red), 2012 F800GS (Wants to be Red!) Posts: A lot. MOTM - Nov '15	The cords I used (2) are very high quality, adjustable length but the problem was not being able to get a rock solid clip in. I'm going to peruse through the cargo threads and Nevada's posts and get myself some proper saddlebags for the newgen. I hate wearing a backpack while riding and I always have something to pack around! Perhaps I should just break down & get a Honda 250 XL (or whatever it's called today!). I'll never give up the ninja though! Too much fun!!!! __________________________________________________ The Smart Money: #1 - ATGATT, #2 - Training (machine skills and survival skills), #3 - The bike; whatever floats yer boat with the money you have left over

August 29th, 2016, 11:22 PM	#10
nickjpass #squid Name: nickypoo Location: Five Guys Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): Track dedicated 2008 ZX6R Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jul '16	The other day a bungee cord slipped off someone's canopy which was tied down to a trailer. It was very stretched out, and the hook part whipped my thumb when it broke loose. It left a really nice bruise and obtrusion on my thumb. __________________________________________________

August 30th, 2016, 10:13 AM	#11
CaliGrrl ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Kerry Location: Ventura, CA Join Date: Jan 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja650 Posts: A lot. MOTM - Apr '18, Apr '17, Apr '16	If you're looking for a tailpack, I've been very happy with my Kriega one. The attachment straps hook to the frame, and you clip the bag to the straps. Cinch it down nice and tight, and good to go. Doesn't move around much at all. I've found the 10L to be a good size but they make 5, 10, 20, and 30L bags.

August 30th, 2016, 10:15 AM	#12
adouglas Cat herder Name: Gort Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia RS660 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 6 MOTM - Jul '18, Nov '16, Aug '14, May '13	Kriega FTW. Expensive, but utterly worth it. Love my backpack. __________________________________________________ I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, I'm a skill junkie. - csmith12 Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. Heri historia. Cras mysterium. Hodie donum est. Carpe diem.

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