Carrying a bass on a bike/scooter... advice?

[Srirachaglo]

NYC is warming up and it's my first Spring/Summer in this city—and I'm carless. I'm an avid cyclist and also drive a Genuine Buddy motor scooter (like a Vespa).

I have a great Mono Vertigo gig bag, but that hangs too low to ride safely, as do most gig bags (the bass prevents my butt from getting on the bike saddle, or hangs over and skims the rear tire). I ride a fixed-gear track bike, so the seat rides pretty high.

And the scooter... I don't know where to begin in finding a safe/legal/comfortable solution. There are side-mounting surf-board racks for scooters, but nothing I can think of for an instrument.

Anyone have any two-wheeled, bass-lugging tips, tricks, and best practices?

[xgator4u]

Sissy bar ?

[BassedInSpace]

Strap on the bass and play it while riding man!

[Mtnman]

I ride a Harley. One time I thought it would be cool to ride to rehearsal so I put my Steinberger in my gigbag with the backpack straps and off I went. (there was an amp at the rehearsal place so I didn't have to deal with that)

What I found was, even with the shorter bass, the neck was still above my head when I was seated on the bike. It became like a sail or rudder and made riding safely quite a challenge. It blew me all over the road. I'll also mention that the roads I took were all fairly low speed back roads and I never went over 45mph.

[Lowend65]

[Roscoe East]

Some 30-odd years ago when I was bicycle commuting to Berklee I bought some 2" web strapping material & buckles from a camping supply store, and fashioned a harness that attached to the gig bag and strapped over both shoulders. (Remember, this was back when gigbags didn't come with backpack-type straps.) The advantage of this DIY approach was that I was able to design the length of the harness such that the bass would ride high enough so as not to interfere with the saddle.

Nowadays, if I were going to cycle with a bass -- and to be honest, I don't think I would -- I'd try the ProTec Contego gigbag, because the backpack-type straps with teh chest harness seem like they'd at least be very secure for cycling. No idea whether the length is appropriately adjustable though.

[grey area]

the surfboard rack has always worked for me, but pad the mother with super thick pipe foam and remember how wide you are. also watch out for the other traffic. good luck.PS.if possible get a side rack made with your bass in mind (ie,custom)and you can build in extra protection.

[TheEmptyCell]

Before my moped was stolen I would just strap my backback style gig bag on tight and ride. I don't recommend it in the wind.

[Srirachaglo]

I'm beginning to reason that the best solution to my problem is to rent a practice space and keep one of my two basses there at all times... or stick with the subway.

[HuntYouDown]

Ha! My kinda topic! Riding a motorcycle is my favorite thing to do, next to playing bass. I have had some trips with 1 or even 2 basses at a time. At first, I tried the gigbag thing on my shoulders and I was like MtnMan stated, it was like a sail, a hindrance, it made me swerve and I feel it might hurt the neck of my bass. So, I laid the bass down, on the back of my bike. I found the best way on a motorcycle is to put it behind you, on the passenger seat, sticking straight out, behind the tag. If your seat is flat, kind of like mine. I would strap it down with 2-3 bungees, or whatever and ride on. It can look kind of goofy, so I usually do these types of things at night. Heck, I have even put combo amps on the back of my bike. That's a little more comfortable actually, but throwing your leg over to get on is a challenge. It's kind, of funny with an amp. You're thinking, what if I had this plugged into a radio?! Hahaaahaaaaaa! I love to ride, I will look for stuff on craigslist to check out, just to go ride my bike. Who knows, I may come back with a new bass. As for the OP, a bicycle and gigbag on your shoulders should be no problem. But, the wind drag on like a motorcycle is too much for the shoulder straps.

[brandau]

I ride a track bike around nyc daily with a bass strapped on my back... I love it. I have a Reunion Blues leather gig bag and Glen Cronkite gig bag. Never had any problems. They do hang over the seat a bit, but no where near the tire

[Basssssist]

Personally, I would use a gig bag and put it on my back while I'm riding.

Either that or buy a car

[cfsporn]

Originally Posted by Basssssist

Either that or buy a car

This is New York City. We don't do that.

[spufman]

Would a rear rack help to support the thing? Maybe even one that accepts a child carrier that you could hack up to fit the bass in bag? Good for carrying beer, I know that!

[Bassdirty]

or get this:

[Srirachaglo]

Originally Posted by brandau

I ride a track bike around nyc daily with a bass strapped on my back... I love it. I have a Reunion Blues leather gig bag and Glen Cronkite gig bag. Never had any problems. They do hang over the seat a bit, but no where near the tire

I noticed the RB bags sit higher than the Mono bags. Maybe that's my ticket.

I'll tell ya what, I didn't move to New York to drive a car, that's for sure! I always admired the ingenuity New Yorkers put into getting from point A to B. This thread has given me some surprisingly straight-forward tips. Thanks so far!

[Lee H]

I am building a small trailer to go behind my harley. I have an junk 80s coffin case for a BC Rich warlock, that became the pattern for the shape and size. Obviously the trailer will be slightly larger then the case, but it did give me the basic dimensions I needed.

[Lee H]

Originally Posted by Bassdirty

or get this:

whoever built this OBVIOUSLY does not play bass.

Right side drive transmission with a chain...and exhaust that is too short... let's not forget that the oil vents are on the right side of the engine, too

How much chain lube, blowby oil, and and exhaust smoke can you put on a bass?

[khutch]

Originally Posted by Basssssist

Personally, I would use a gig bag and put it on my back while I'm riding.

Me too. I walk to my only gig, at a church about a quarter mile away, and that is how I transport my bass.

Ken

[Bassmunnky]

http://www.kyddbass.com/

The exact reason Bruce invented this for himself.