Welcome to AikiWeb Aikido Information
AikiWeb: The Source for Aikido Information
AikiWeb's principal purpose is to serve the Internet community as a repository and dissemination point for aikido information.

Sections
home
aikido articles
columns

Discussions
forums
aikiblogs

Databases
dojo search
seminars
image gallery
supplies
links directory

Reviews
book reviews
video reviews
dvd reviews
equip. reviews

News
submit
archive

Miscellaneous
newsletter
rss feeds
polls
about

Follow us on



Home > AikiWeb Aikido Forums
Go Back   AikiWeb Aikido Forums > General

Hello and thank you for visiting AikiWeb, the world's most active online Aikido community! This site is home to over 22,000 aikido practitioners from around the world and covers a wide range of aikido topics including techniques, philosophy, history, humor, beginner issues, the marketplace, and more.

If you wish to join in the discussions or use the other advanced features available, you will need to register first. Registration is absolutely free and takes only a few minutes to complete so sign up today!

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 06-25-2009, 07:58 AM   #1
Nick P.
 
Nick P.'s Avatar
Dojo: Sukagawa Aikido Club of Montreal
Location: Montreal
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 641
Offline
How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

I put this in the general section, as it is not purely weapons related.

Last fall I got my motorcycle license and a Kawasaki ZZR 250 (not the exact same as a US model Ninja 250, but pretty close), and just picked up some used soft saddle bags. She looks just like this one...http://proshop-saito.tripod.com/new/zzr250.jpg

I rarely need to carry weapons, but if I do, it would be for rather long rides (2+ hours). I believe I can build and bolt-on a case made of PVC pipeing carry case that would have the tube rideing at a 45-degree angle, bolted to the passenger footrest at the bottom and attached to the frame near the back of the seat (pictures of a mock up coming later). In essence it would look like a slanted flagpole (or weird exhaust pipes).

If it were just the bokken, I would lash it down across the seat and be done with it as it doesnt protrude much wider than the bike. The jo is another story and this is clearly not an option.

How would/do you carry a jo on a motorbike at highway speeds?

Thanks in advance.

  Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2009, 08:19 AM   #2
JO
Dojo: Aikikai de l'Université Laval
Location: Sainte-Catherine-de-la-J.-C., Québec
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 292
Canada
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

I have caried my weapons on my bike, a Kawasaki Vulcan 500, a few times. Up to highway speeds each time. I carry them all together in the cheap nylon case I got with them. I strap them diagonally across the back seet with bungees. I manage an angle where they don't stick out too much on the sides. It usually makes me a little nervous, but I haven't had any problems as long as I get them right enough that the don't get shifted by the wind.

Jonathan Olson
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2009, 09:09 AM   #3
Michael Hackett
Dojo: Kenshinkan Dojo (Aikido of North County) Vista, CA
Location: Oceanside, California
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,253
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

I know this is a serious inquiry, but I just keep flashing back to the scene in one of the Indiana Jones movies where a umbrella is jammed in the spokes of a pursuing Nazi motorcycle. Please try not to set a distance pole-vaulting record!

Michael
"Leave the gun. Bring the cannoli."
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2009, 09:39 AM   #4
Nick P.
 
Nick P.'s Avatar
Dojo: Sukagawa Aikido Club of Montreal
Location: Montreal
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 641
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

Quote:
Michael Hackett wrote: View Post
I know this is a serious inquiry, but I just keep flashing back to the scene in one of the Indiana Jones movies where a umbrella is jammed in the spokes of a pursuing Nazi motorcycle. Please try not to set a distance pole-vaulting record!
Ta ta ta daaa, ta ta daaaa
Ta ta ta daaaAAA, ta ta ta ta ta!

Funny thing is my wife is a huge Harrison Ford fan, and is of German descent. This makes your comment even more funny!

Jonathan: thanks for that.

  Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2009, 10:00 AM   #5
phitruong
Dojo: Charlotte Aikikai Agatsu Dojo
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,944
United_States
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

don't have a sport bike, but i think i could rig up a PVC tube on my highway bar of my cruiser. it should be able to hold a jo, bokken, javelin, possibly a spear.

ride home the other weekend and a turkey ran out near me. wish i had a javelin. it would have been an early thanksgiving dinner.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2009, 10:41 AM   #6
Aikibu
Dojo: West Wind Dojo Santa Monica California
Location: Malibu, California
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,295
United_States
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

BuJin Designs makes a nice weapons bag that I just strap diagonally on my back and it works well.

William Hazen
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2009, 01:37 PM   #7
Janet Rosen
 
Janet Rosen's Avatar
Location: Left Coast
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 4,339
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

I've had folks carry my cotton denim and twill bags slung across bandolier style on motorcycles very comfortably, but they wouldn't really do in inclement weather.

Janet Rosen
http://www.zanshinart.com
"peace will enter when hate is gone"--percy mayfield
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2009, 01:53 PM   #8
chunie
Dojo: Sho Shin Aikido Dojo
Location: Amsterdam
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 27
Netherlands
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

Quote:
William Hazen wrote: View Post
BuJin Designs makes a nice weapons bag that I just strap diagonally on my back and it works well.

William Hazen
Just don't fall of your bike and land on your back. The weapon will break up and pieces of wood will enter your back. Carrying them on your bike is preferable, although I don't know a ready solution, or you can put them in a hard metal tube. Sorry if I cause you extra anxiety while riding your bike, although one can see it as an extra exercise on zanshin
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2009, 02:54 PM   #9
Janet Rosen
 
Janet Rosen's Avatar
Location: Left Coast
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 4,339
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

The PVC has served many folks very well for checking in weapons on airline flights so may be the best plan.

Janet Rosen
http://www.zanshinart.com
"peace will enter when hate is gone"--percy mayfield
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2009, 04:18 PM   #10
ikkitosennomusha
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 241
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

Get a weapons case and wear it on your back across your body.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2009, 07:49 PM   #11
Tim Griffiths
Dojo: Nes Ziona Aikikai
Location: Suzhou, China
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 188
China
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

Quote:
Chuntug Taguba wrote: View Post
Just don't fall of your bike and land on your back. The weapon will break up and pieces of wood will enter your back.
Only if you have cheap weapons! I'm willing to bet my bokken against anyone's spine!

I wear the weapons bag across my back, and then put a rucksack with my clothes on top of that. It stops it sliding around. The only problem on my bike was the end of the PVC weapons bag would sometimes touch the pipes, leaving me to clean burnt plastic off them regularly.
And yeah, if you come off the bike while carrying them you're so screwed...

Tim

If one makes a distinction between the dojo and the battlefield, or being in your bedroom or in public, then when the time comes there will be no opportunity to make amends. (Hagakure)
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2009, 10:00 PM   #12
seank
Location: Victoria
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 132
Australia
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

I'll concur with the idea of carrying them across your back. Whenever I'm on the bike I use dojo weapons (a poor compromise but I'd much rather not take the risk).

Why someone can't come up with a screw together bokken and jo a la the collapsible billiard cue I don't know.... oh yeah, it'd probably break somewhere around the join
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2009, 10:06 PM   #13
aikibudo
 
aikibudo's Avatar
Dojo: tohkon judo club/strand aikido
Location: Aurora,Il/Myrtle beach,Sc
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 32
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

I don't like putting my weapon bag across my back when im on the harley, but someone seriously needs to make a device to carry your weapons that bolts on to motorcycles.

Respect,
Aaron
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2009, 10:06 PM   #14
crbateman
 
crbateman's Avatar
Location: Orlando, FL
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,502
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

Quote:
Nick Pittson wrote: View Post
Funny thing is my wife is a huge Harrison Ford fan,
Not really a good idea to say your wife is huge...
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2009, 12:47 AM   #15
Michael Hackett
Dojo: Kenshinkan Dojo (Aikido of North County) Vista, CA
Location: Oceanside, California
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,253
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

Nick,

In all seriousness, I was looking at an old Harley a few weeks back at a dealership. This particular bike was from World War II and it had a rifle scabbard mounted along the forks on the right side of the bike. It had a springer front end instead of the more modern telescopic shocks and I didn't look closely at how it attached. That might be a better way to go than trying to carry your weapons strapped to your body. Going down on a bike with something strapped to you could be really unpleasant. It ain't all that much fun with leathers on dirt, now that I think about it.

Michael
"Leave the gun. Bring the cannoli."
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2009, 12:52 AM   #16
Michael Hackett
Dojo: Kenshinkan Dojo (Aikido of North County) Vista, CA
Location: Oceanside, California
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,253
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

Nick,

Thinking a little further back, I remember that the El Monte, California Police carried shotguns on their motors. As I recall, they mounted them vertically behind the rider. There were a number of articles written about it at the time as they were the first to have shotguns for their motor officers. It might be worth a few minutes of research to see how they did it. I just don't recall most of the details as this was probably around 1975-1980.

Michael
"Leave the gun. Bring the cannoli."
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2009, 07:20 AM   #17
Keith Larman
Dojo: AIA, Los Angeles, CA
Location: California
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,604
United_States
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

I was a long term motorcyclist up until I got too nervous around where I live.

My solution -- don't. Sorry, I can see carrying things up to even a bit bigger than a bokken. But a jo... Just something else to get tangled with when things go wrong (and they always do). The last thing is having something that makes you less maneuverable/more vulnerable/ a larger target. I would rather have a second set and get permission from whomever to keep them hidden away at the dojo. For trips to seminars, well, USPS, UPS, or ask nicely if you can borrow when you arrive.

Bokken can be worked with. Stitch a small bag yourself with a strap you can wear diagonally across your back. Or maybe figure a mount to hold it vertically on the bike itself (preferable). But even then I still don't like the idea at all. I don't want anything attached to me if I go down that isn't body armor and nothing extra on the bike to poke or whack me at highway speeds.

Just my $.02.

Keep the rubber side down.

Last edited by Keith Larman : 06-26-2009 at 07:22 AM. Reason: clarification

  Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2009, 07:32 AM   #18
Nick P.
 
Nick P.'s Avatar
Dojo: Sukagawa Aikido Club of Montreal
Location: Montreal
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 641
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

Excellent pointers everyone...especially NOT calling my wife huge. Touché.

My Google-Fu is failing me, as any police motorcycle searches at best come back with BMW R1200 flashlight or baton open vertical mounts. I'm going PVC this weekend, and see what I can fenangle.

If it were for short trips around the city, agreed, across the back they would go. But the times I would transport weapons it would be for 2+ hours at highway speeds; it's a small bike (yes, have thought of upgrading, but plates here in Quebec cost $650 per year for 400cc+, this one costs me some $320) so this bike is easily affected by wind resistance and loading as it only weighs 320 lbs. Not tiny, but not as stout as some bigger bikes.

  Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2009, 10:17 AM   #19
phitruong
Dojo: Charlotte Aikikai Agatsu Dojo
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,944
United_States
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

Quote:
Nick Pittson wrote: View Post

If it were for short trips around the city, agreed, across the back they would go. But the times I would transport weapons it would be for 2+ hours at highway speeds; it's a small bike (yes, have thought of upgrading, but plates here in Quebec cost $650 per year for 400cc+, this one costs me some $320) so this bike is easily affected by wind resistance and loading as it only weighs 320 lbs. Not tiny, but not as stout as some bigger bikes.
you live in Canada, why not ask the Mountie on how they carry riffle on their horses? personally, i want to be able to carry a couple of javelins so i can throw at some of these bastard drivers cutting in front of me. wonder if there are laws against carry javelins.

i seemed to remember in the Kill Bill movie where the gang has some contraption to mount the katana on their sport bikes. of course i also want to fly on whatever that airline that has katana holder by the seat too.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2009, 11:28 AM   #20
Dan Richards
Dojo: Latham Eclectic
Location: NY
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 452
United_States
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

Quote:
Nick Pittson wrote: View Post
I rarely need to carry weapons, but if I do, it would be for rather long rides (2+ hours).
I travel frequently and need objects/things/stuff I'd rather not travel with at my destination when I arrive. I ship them insured UPS Ground. Never had a problem.

If you're going to a camp or a dojo, just take your well-packed bokken and jo into the local UPS office, and send them off to the address where you'll be going. They'll be there waiting for you when you arrive.

When you're done, ship them back to your address. (You can even schedule a UPS pick-up) And, again, there they'll be all safe and sound - when you arrive safe and sound.

My 2¢.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2009, 04:18 AM   #21
Walter Martindale
Location: Edmonton, AB
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 802
Canada
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

I'd be nervous about transporting anything resembling a weapon visibly on a Canadian highway. A friend, walking to the dojo (500 m in a university district) was challenged by Regina police for his jo and bokken in their bag slung on his back.
A Polish tourist was tasered multiple times by 4 (I believe) RCMP ossifers because he was agitated and holding a stapler, in the arrivals area of Vancouver airport - he didn't know any english and was stuck behind customs or immigration for a few hours.. Heck of a way to end up when you go to visit your mother in a strange country...
Maybe in a PVC pipe...
Maybe the suggestion to ship by UPS/FEDEX/CANPAR is best...
Walter
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2009, 09:07 AM   #22
Nick P.
 
Nick P.'s Avatar
Dojo: Sukagawa Aikido Club of Montreal
Location: Montreal
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 641
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

Guess I shouldn't mention I would be crossing US (then Canadian on the return) customs, huh?

Diagonally across the back seat fit surprisingly well (again, small bike, so was worried), Here is my original idea, and in the bag are both jo and bokken. Mockup pics only, secure lashs/tie-downs required. PVC sleeves represent a real challenge for the bokken, as diameter moves up to 2" to accomodate the bend.
PVC mockups last night would have one tube on each side of the seat, but that 2" is a pain for sure; might try some 1" with some 22-degree bends...note removal of side fairings,as though they are nice to look at, obstruct criticial lash points for soft luggage, and increase overall width of the back.




  Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2009, 02:03 PM   #23
Lyle Bogin
Dojo: Shin Budo Kai
Location: Manhattan
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 588
United_States
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

Dude that rig is right out of Snow Crash! You should get some ski goggles and hold the jo out like a lance, a la Akira style. *cue drums*
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2009, 04:30 PM   #24
Jory Boling
 
Jory Boling's Avatar
Dojo: A.K.I.,Misakikai Dojo
Location: Yokosuka, Japan
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 192
United_States
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

the 3 minute scooter commute to one of my dojos is by wearing them on my back in a weapons bag but i've seen a lot of scooters and cyclists with surfboard mounts over here. maybe something like that could work... but your mock up seemed to do the job.
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2009, 03:09 PM   #25
Nick
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 563
United_States
Offline
Re: How to transport jo and bokken on a motorcycle?

Quote:
William Hazen wrote: View Post
BuJin Designs makes a nice weapons bag that I just strap diagonally on my back and it works well.

William Hazen
That.
  Reply With Quote

Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
aikido bokken / kenjutsu ESimmons Weapons 15 06-19-2009 02:31 AM
Kingfisher and SDK supplies comparison pics JRY Weapons 8 01-15-2009 04:50 AM
bokken comparison (long post) linvincible Weapons 11 08-23-2005 02:30 PM
Bokken vs Bokken DustinAcuff Techniques 3 08-14-2005 03:11 PM
Further advices regarding Bokken, anyone? Daniel Brandt Weapons 23 12-05-2004 11:13 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:18 PM.



vBulletin Copyright © 2000-2024 Jelsoft Enterprises Limited
----------
Copyright 1997-2024 AikiWeb and its Authors, All Rights Reserved.
----------
For questions and comments about this website:
Send E-mail
plainlaid-picaresque outchasing-protistan explicantia-altarage seaford-stellionate