We needed a top box as were two up on our trip and we needed the space. Personally I had no issues with the topbox on the GS: it had my camera kit it in as well as camping gear. Not the best place, but the camera did not suffer and it was all locked, too. The top box also locked the panniers shut, too.

We had two panniers, a top box, a tank bag and two roll-bags over the panniers. Retrospectively, a ridiculous amount, but when prepping: your minimum is always less than you realise!
This got wittled down over the course of the trip as we realised that we did not need it all, leaving us with one half full roll bag, up over the top box. Not the best place, but the most convenient at the time.

I agree that packing light is a good plan (although you might not believe it when I packed for the trip). If we had not needed the box, it might well have stayed at home. That said, it doubled as a back rest for the other half!

Bottom line is we went on some pretty nasty surfaces and the GS survived, despite weighing over 450kg with riders and luggage. If you can do without, great, but I think you learn to adapt and it is a useful storage area: use if for lighter stuff perhaps, or stuff you use frequently, like sleeping bags, stove and food.

Consider your bike, and consider the frame strength and bike weight to see if the added weight will be a major disturbance to your ride, or a risk to the frame. Top-boxes do not have to be a 50ltr jobby: they can be small, too.

If you DO need it, just ride accordingly: it will not make your journey impossible.

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Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

I agree wholeheartedly with Frank & Margus. Better use the space - even if you're two-up - for a luggage roll. The biggest rolls take 80L. Keep the camera in the tankbag for quick access.

IMHO the top box is also potentially dangerous in the case of an accident. Something soft behind you is safer. On rough terrain many people even prefer soft bags instead of metal panniers for safety reasons.

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Only when we pause to wonder
do we go beyond the limits of our little lives.
(Rod McKuen)

Thanks everyone, will look out for a tankbag suitable for my camera, possibly the one Touratech do.

Margus has said it all really. And if you had a topbox, where would you put your tent and stuffsac?

Also, you couldnt find a worse place to put a box if you tried. Too high, too far back, and less importantly, too ugly.

Actually I would only carry a camera in my pocket or a small backpack, unless it was incredibly well cushioned.

a camera in your pocket will cause injury if you have a crash Dennis!
if you dont have a pillion put the tent and stuff sack on the pillion seat and use em as a back rest!

and as for being Ugly and badly positioned.... your talking crap again arent you Cammy? how can a Top box be worse than having a pillion? the little amount of weight in a topbox, say 10Kgs that far back and a bit higher than the seat has much less effect on handling than a pillion sat behind you directly over the rear wheel.

I think what you meant to say is.... " Im a dedicated follower of fashion, so have to do what all the others do otherwise they may laugh at me"

We still love you Cammy! Me n "sheepy" Ede are still your friends even if you do have strange ideas wether a top box is sexy or not!

Martyn

My GoldWing would look ugly without a topbox ;-)

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Jan Krijtenburg

My bikes are a Honda GoldWing GL1200 and a Harley-Davidson FXD Dyna Super Glide

My personal homepage with trip reports: https://www.krijtenburg.nl/
YouTube channel (that I do together with one of my sons): motormobilist.nl

Fixed! ;-)

Martyn

You cant make a silk purse out of a pigs ear

Crappiest accessory ever to adorn any bike.

John

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Nostradamus Ate My Hamster

you still suffering from Itchy Piles and Pre Menstrual Tension then Cammy?

I see your sense of Humour bypass operation was succesfull too!