Going with a top box?

[kei]

Hi all,

I'm completely new to motorbike travel but I have some friends doing an epic journey.

When it comes to storage space on the bike, all my friends (and many of you here) don't have a top box. But to me having a top box makes things much more convenient, and I can still tie the bags on the rear seat. I just wonder if there are some serious considerations about this, or it's just personal preference? What are the pros and cons for long distance traveling?

I'm going to use a small Honda enduro.


Thanks!

[juanvaldez650]

I use only a top box, advantages, less wind drag, convenient. Disadvantages, smaller volume and the load is higher.

The Rubbermaid Actionpacker makes a cheap, sturdy topcase. It is lockable and waterrestant.

[backofbeyond]

For me (and I stress the me bit) - it depends. :confused1: I currently have one "travel" bike (a 125) with a top box and a couple of others (bigger) without.

There are pros and cons. Here's my list of why and why not -

Yes:

It's convenient to stuff things into so you're not filling your pockets or hanging bags from the handlebars.
You can lock things inside it when you're away from the bike.
You can use it as a backrest (or a pillion can anyway)
You can strap other stuff to it, either on top or in front.
You can use it for other things - a sink for example.
It tends to be waterproof so you can keep stuff like paperwork dry
You can cover it in stickers, nationality plates, extra lights etc

No:

On a quicker bike it can affect the high speed handling
If you fill it with heavy stuff it can affect the high speed and low speed handling (= speed wobbles, head shakes and wheelies).
If you really overfill it the rear end of the bike can suffer (or snap off - ask me how I know )
It's a magnet for anyone with a screwdriver to force their way into if the bike's left untended.
If you just chuck stuff in it can end up as a complete mess inside when things gets shaken around.
On a small bike it makes you look like the local plumber (that may or may not be a good thing )

[Threewheelbonnie]

I hate the things but it is personal choice. Weight in the wrong place, false sense of security etc. but above all they always seem to be in the way when getting on and off. The only time I enjoyed the free one that came with a bike was when I finally kicked it into a rubbish skip!


Andy

[mollydog]

Originally Posted by kei

Hi all,
I'm completely new to motorbike travel but I have some friends doing an epic journey.
When it comes to storage space on the bike, all my friends (and many of you here) don't have a top box. But to me having a top box makes things much more convenient, and I can still tie the bags on the rear seat. I just wonder if there are some serious considerations about this, or it's just personal preference? What are the pros and cons for long distance traveling?

I'm going to use a small Honda enduro.
Thanks!

On a small Honda Enduro running a large top box off road can risk cracking your rear sub frame. Common occurrence among travelers. If you're just riding round town or commuting, a top box is very convenient. But on the road for months ... guys tend to overload them ... and that is when the trouble starts.

If going OFF ROAD or doing really crappy, beat up roads, a top box may stress it's mounting points or even break the subframe. (over time) If you use a SMALL, low profile top box and DO NOT overload it, you may be OK ... or not. :confused1:

Depends how fast and hard you attack the rough sections, how long they are and how much weight you've got in the Top Box and on the bike overall.

IMHO, soft panniers and a top duffel bag are best for travel. As mentioned, the security of a top box is illusory. A 12 year old with a screw driver can get into it in under two minutes ... and be gone. Been there, seen it happen.

Even strong GIVI and Pelican boxes can be broken into without too much effort by a determined amateur. But all luggage can be vulnerable.

Also, someone mentioned the fact that any hard items in your Top Box can be destroyed riding rough roads, as everything is shaken up badly and bashes against other hard items. It all turns to dust. Ask me how I know this!

Soft, throw over panniers offer more shock absorbing than hard boxes, either top or side boxes. Items are cinched down tight together, so can't jump round as much. Make sense?

It's a tough one to pack a 125 or 250 enduro for a long journey and not have it all look like Elvis's Garden shed:

Don't go here ...

I'd advise copying what other RTW riders have had luck with ... then get out and ride, see what works for you. In a year ... or three ... you'll have it figured out ... or not?




Not perfect but Nate's 100cc Postie bike made it from Oz to UK!

[schenkel]

on a trip to Africa My Givi top box was essential to me as I used it as a KITCHEN...easy to access and I used to stop by the side of the road and have a snack or a brew....worked for me. Mind you I dropped the bike once and couscous was all over the place

[PanEuropean]

Hi Kei:

The advantages of a top box are self-evident and have been well explained above.

I have found that there are two big disadvantages to a top box, and for this reason, I don't use one. They are:

1) It raises the center of gravity of the moto. In theory, we should only put very lightweight stuff in a top box... all the top box manufacturers stress this in their literature and installation instructions. In practice, though, we tend to overload the top boxes (by weight), and because they are quite high up on the moto and thus exert a significant moment of inertia, they make the moto more cumbersome when stopped. If the moto starts to tip, the presence of the weight in the top box makes it more difficult to stop the tip sideways.

2) They have a significant effect on the aerodynamics and handling of the motorcycle at speeds above about 80 km/h (50 MPH). The extent of this varies by motorcycle & top box design, but it should not be discounted.

My suggestion to you is that if you travel solo on your bike, you pick up a waterproof rucksack and strap it to the passenger seat of your bike. This will give you the same storage, but without the higher C of G problems and without the aerodynamic problems.

If you ride two-up, the aerodynamic problems associated with the top box are diminished (the passenger acts as a fairing for the box), but the higher C of G problems still remain.

Michael

[ta-rider]

Well the rider is the biggest aero dynamic problem. If you are using a tank bag and storing your tent behind you and your Topcase, the aero dynamic issue will be solved. Side boxes are much wors.

For me a Topcase is very importend in daily life, as i can store helmed and gloves in it and then walk around like a normal person. With a topcase your bike stays small and you will still be able to squeze through between cars during the rush hour. This way you are much faster then any porsch who is stuck in the traffic.

When i bought a bike in South America, it came with a rear frame so i installed a Top box and that was it. I dont like soft panniers because they are not 100% water proof and dont protect my laptop in case i crash the bike. Still when i have my big bike i prefere side boxes on a long trip because of the lower weight and if i tip my bike it does not fall on to my legs:

Build your own panniers made easy

[kei]

Thanks for all of your suggestions!

I reckon that the load of a top box will make handling more difficult, especially to a junior rider like me.

And it's also a question whether it will survive after months of torture.

I'll try to figure out what's best for me.

But you know, the convenience of a top box is hard to resist......

[juanvaldez650]

I travel pretty light and don't have a problem with a topbox on a Gen I KLR. One of the problems with panniers is the overhead. A pannier set up will weigh 35 -40 lbs or more empty. For that you get 50 - 80 l without topbox. The aluminum diamond plate top box I'm taking to Ushuaia weighs 13.5 lbs and holds about 5 l. The little Actionpacker weighs about 4 lbs and holds 32 l.

[backofbeyond]

Originally Posted by mollydog

Nothing wrong with Elvis's garden shed








A very old pic taken in France en route to Rome - before I learnt about the advantages of a top box ! (or many of the other things I now take for granted)

[rltoddster]

I have grown to appreciate hard saddlebags and panniers with top box
i store things like rain gear/ clothing not used every day, tools, spare parts,
tire repair stuff etc. when i reach destination theyre locked and remain on the bike, i also secure small items on top of the boxes and a small cooler on the topbox.
regular clothing is kept in a waterproof canoe bag.
when i stop for the night i take the waterproof bag in the motel and leave everything that can be locked on the bike

[Fern]

Hi

I have a 37ltr givi copy top box, along with soft adventure spec panniers, and an ortleib roll bag on the back seat.

The top box doesn't drastically effect the handing of the bike for me.

Riding solo, its the safest place to store my valuables.. I only keep light things in it (sleeping bag) and then laptop and carnet. I keep some space free to throw fresh food into.

Its bloomin handy when I go swimming, I attach my topbox key to my swimsuit. I lock the rest of the bike keys in the topbox. Very handy when leaving the bike. I regularly to this when I go to beaches or waterholes.

[oldbmw]

I use a top box for my clothes and a few other light things (tea bags) inside plastic bags to be sure they stay dry. Leave it empty enough so I can store my helmet and gloves in it. No weight in the thing. the heavy stuff is in throw over bags, these rest on the seat which helps absorb shock but not guaranteed to be waterproof. keeps weight low (below seat height and as far forwards as possible. My VERY large sleeping bag is carried strapped above the throw over bags on the seat. plus tent and bed. This setup has evolved over several years. The throw overs have external pockets where I keep the gaz stove, water and my tea making stuff.

[ridetheworld]

Top boxes on sub 250 enduros, are for pizza delivery and not much else. Soft luggage all the way for minimal tourers. Remember the mount itself will be heavy even before the box goes on. Better finding super light grill and then strapping on some sort of Ortlieb. Hard not to recommend a Giant loop or some other form of rackless luggage solution. Best part if buying a top box for my xr250 will be leaving it behind when I finally get back to my bike after recovering from a bad fall in the dirt (hint hint). Different story for big, heavy twins or cruisers that weigh 220k dry.