Saxophones Carrying a tenor on a (motor)bike?

[jonf]

Ah, I remember this thread. Lots of comments about riding motorbikes, and specifically not riding motorbikes, from people who don't currently ride motorbikes.

 

[scotsman]

🙂🙂 Re the above. I carry my horns all the time on motorcycles and have done so for the last 10 years. There are no problems whatsoever as long as you have the experience. I speak from 60 years riding. Although I do have to admit that fitting the baritone on the BMW R80 was a bit of a problem!! Worked out in the end though.. Keep safe!!! Regards..🙂🙂

 

[thomsax]

Ah, I remember this thread. Lots of comments about riding motorbikes, and specifically not riding motorbikes, from people who don't currently ride motorbikes.

Why (motor)bike and not motorbike? The last (latest) post from the person who started the thread was in February 2016:

"I've just managed to acquire a very-neary-new pair of Daytona boots, the ones that are built up inside but look normal outside, for not very much, on Gumtree.
The extra inch on my legs makes all the difference to how easy it is to move my bike about with my feet, since although the CBF600 supposedly has quite a low seat on its bottom setting, mine came with a custom seat which is comfier but thicker......".

What was the person looking for?

 

[jonf]

Why (motor)bike and not motorbike? The last (latest) post from the person who started the thread was in February 2016:

"I've just managed to acquire a very-neary-new pair of Daytona boots, the ones that are built up inside but look normal outside, for not very much, on Gumtree.
The extra inch on my legs makes all the difference to how easy it is to move my bike about with my feet, since although the CBF600 supposedly has quite a low seat on its bottom setting, mine came with a custom seat which is comfier but thicker......".

What was the person looking for?

Bike is used as a generic term for both motorbike and bicycle. I ride both, I am going out for a ride on my bicycle very shortly. I think she wrote bike and then added motor as a clarification.

Most motorbikes are scaled around a fit for the median sized person, meaning those outside that measurement can struggle to be comfortable. Built up boots are one solution for those with shorter legs to be able to ride comfortably.

Motorcycling is one of those subjects, where, for some reason, people feel at liberty to offer strongly worded advice, even when they have no experience whatsoever to support that advice, and this thread was a prime example of that phenomenon. I was reminded of this when the post was resurrected recently.

Incidentally, on your own comments, I recently rode a cargo bike for the first time. It had electric assistance, and I liked it very much. If I lived in an area where travel distances were short and safe, it would be a very interesting option.

 

[Ghr9204]

Spring 2020 I decided to enroll in MUS 269 P – Music Ensembles (Jazz Saxophone Combo Lab) at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, 20 miles from here. NM State had a special tuition rate for seniors 65 and over, cost me less than $100 US. I contacted the music department and the saxophone professor accepted my Army Band credentials without audition.

It was a fun class. Once or twice, I packed my tenor sax with case using bungee cords on the pillion seat of my 2001 Kawasaki ZG1200 Voyager XII tourer, rode to class. (Paid for a parking sticker on my pickup truck. Bike, didn't want to pay extra, so parked in a visitor spot, but didn't overdo it else violate the school's rules.

2014, I packed my early 1950's Beaugnier VIto Bari with gig bag in my Harbor Freight Trailer with camping gear, my Behringer 12 inch powered speaker instrument amplifier and accessories. Rode from Clovis 200 miles to a camping site about 15 miles south of Carlsbad, NM in Black River Village.

This is my motorcycle trailer connected to my touring motorcycle:

This is how I packed my trailer. Top is fully packed with instrument amp, netbook with mp3 backing tracks, clothing & toiletries, camping gear, accessories, and my bari sax in gig bag. It was packed against the hinged side, left side of trailer. There was more than enough room for it and every thing was secured so it would suffer no damage. The bottom shows my anchoring system with the 40 lb. (18 kg.) instrument amplifier.

It was for a Christian Motorcyclists Association NM State Rally. I put on some dinner time background jazz sax music for the group. The trailer with an X-Cargo car rooftop enclosure worked well. By the time I entered Carlsbad started a heavy thunderstorm. I quickly parked at a McDonalds Restaurant and waited out 30 minutes of a rainstorm. None of my gear got wet.

End of rally made the 200 mile trip back without incident. Everything including my bari sax arrived safe and sound.

Longest trip I made was with a chaplain friend to Missouri and back via secondary (fun) roads, about 1,800 miles round trip.

So, I think I am a motorcyclist. 😉

 

[wakyct]

I recently rode a cargo bike for the first time. It had electric assistance, and I liked it very much. If I lived in an area where travel distances were short and safe, it would be a very interesting option.

I am not totally off-topic because my cargo bike does have an electric motor 😀. I'm still a little leery of packing my horn in there. Though I've done it a couple of times without incident there's no suspension other than as many cushions I can pack into the box with my alto case.

 

[cjR]

Don't mind me replying to the wrong thread

 

[Pete Thomas]

View attachment 29224

I am not totally off-topic because my cargo bike does have an electric motor 😀. I'm still a little leery of packing my horn in there. Though I've done it a couple of times without incident there's no suspension other than as many cushions I can pack into the box with my alto case.

OK, I want one of those.

 

[PiccoloPirate]

Best thing to carry on a motorbike, is health insurance and a paid up membership with the Neptune Society. 😵‍💫
Flip flops, no gloves or helmet, shorts and a T shirt, South Florida stupid.
Job security for my EMT friends.

Riding since '65 and bought this one new in '79. Old pic as it is getting a makeover.
Always dress for the crash, that has never occurred.
Enduros rule. 😍
Will be adding a side car and use it when our kids get a ranch/farm/sensible offroad.
No street use.

 

[Ghr9204]

Flip flops, no gloves or helmet, shorts and a T shirt, South Florida stupid. Job security for my EMT friends.

Stoopidity cross state bounds, even country. I've seen that summer wear in these parts.

I always use a full face helmet. at least a 3rd of the injuries involve the jaw. Have armoured jackets and overpants, mesh wear for Summer and other for cooler weather; use leather full ankle boots and gloves.

Riding since '65 and bought this one new in '79.

Riding since '79. There are old riders and there are bold riders; but there are no old bold riders. 😉

 

[Wonko]

View attachment 29224

I am not totally off-topic because my cargo bike does have an electric motor 😀. I'm still a little leery of packing my horn in there. Though I've done it a couple of times without incident there's no suspension other than as many cushions I can pack into the box with my alto case.

I have an electric Bullitt too.
I have been thinking about having a device made to create a sort of suspended hammoc style canvas, suspended with strong springs to absorb most vabrations. That way I could use it to transport my bari sax.
I cary my tenor in a backpack case
This one: Protec PB305CT-XL Case for Tenor Sax - Extra Large

 

[wakyct]

I have been thinking about having a device made to create a sort of suspended hammoc style canvas, suspended with strong springs to absorb most vabrations.

This thread has got me thinking along the same lines. Currently I have a 1/2" thick mat of rubber under the cargo box, and when I carry my alto I add a foam camping pad, folded up to about 1". It would be cool to have some kind of rubber/foam/spring sandwich material cut to fit the platform. Not sure what material would be best though.

 

[PiccoloPirate]

I always stay far behind, when vehicles are dragging a boat/trailer, in the Keys or to Florida's West Coast.
The trailer starts to wobble left and right, then it flips over, sometimes the vehicle also flips.
The when, not if rule applies.
Towing a trailer, with a two wheeled vehicle, this is what I recommend or a side car. 👍
Slow is smooth
Smooth is safe.

pic from web

 

[thomsax]

I have a conventional cargo/christiania bibycle without electric engine and just 3 gears. I have to work pretty hard, but good for my health and the environment. The battery can start a fire when the are charging in the wrong way and at the wrong place.

I don't like to transport my baritone tone sax on the cargo bike. The old baritone case is not protecting enough. No problem with a tenor. Better case and less weight. I recommend good cases and key holders or something that holds the key close when I take my saxes out for bicycle ride.

 

[Ghr9204]

Here in US, theft is a big problem. In some locales, one is extremely careful not to look like they are carrying anything of value due to marauding (sometimes armed) bandits.

My motorcycle trailer's luggage carrying box is lockable and keeps my instruments out-of-sight. Use of a bicycle to tow a trailer or cargo side car is more or less out of the practical question, due to distances. We do not have many bicycle lanes, a bicyclist is vulnerable to injury from passing cars. Even with bicycle lanes, the danger of being struck by a car is always present due to their much faster speeds, especially on busy streets.

Here in this smaller town when I was bicycling (don't do it as much now), I took a country road heading further out of the city into farmland about 4 miles out when cycling for exercise. Traffic was extremely light. A few times I rode my bike to the Salvation Army 4 miles away, but I used mostly residential side streets avoiding the heavily trafficked ones.

 

[mark_addy]

This is a funny thread to find. Getting on 40 years ago I used to ride to school on a moped (50cc) with a tenor sax bungeed to the luggage rack - it was pretty wide and I probably should have attached warning triangle reflectors to both ends of the case!

 

[Vetinari]

This is a funny thread to find. Getting on 40 years ago I used to ride to school on a moped (50cc) with a tenor sax bungeed to the luggage rack - it was pretty wide and I probably should have attached warning triangle reflectors to both ends of the case!

Cycle lanes springing up everywhere now. Tameside has been given to the gods of cycling. 🤣

 

[mark_addy]

Cycle lanes springing up everywhere now. Tameside has been given to the gods of cycling. 🤣

I cycle to work (Salford) so I get some use out of the lanes around our way. I have a trailer, and I reckon pulling the bari is not out of the question...

 

[Vetinari]

Physical difficulties prevent me from riding a bike, never mind towing the bari. I need help lifting it in and out of the car

 

[Ghr9204]

This is a funny thread to find. Getting on 40 years ago I used to ride to school on a moped (50cc) with a tenor sax bungeed to the luggage rack - it was pretty wide and I probably should have attached warning triangle reflectors to both ends of the case!

It might stick a wee touch past the handle bar mirrors. At least here in US depending on what location, most would probably be able to do it without being cited, as long as it was securely bungeed to the package rack.

Spring 2020 I had my tenor sax case and all bungeed on the pillion seat of my touring motorcycle. Took an Eastern New Mexico University jazz combo class for fun (and grade - aced it).

A decade ago I saw a westbound motorcycle towing a canoe behind it on a special trailer for it. This was in Texas on Highway US-84 near the town of Muleshoe. The canoe was several times longer than the motorcycle.