Top box or panniers?

**jesska** · 24th May 2010, 03:55

I have a hornet 600 - I put a top box on and it makes the handlebars wobble worse when slowing down - ie no throttle letting the engine dropping revs slowing me down...

actually its only if I take one hand off I can really feel it.. and the days of the no hander are probably over...

I say worse cos it always had a little bit of that about it - but was hardly noticeable most of the time.

Anither thing about panniers would they make filtering more difficult?

**banditrider** · 24th May 2010, 07:16

How is your front tyre condition? Worn fronts can often induce a little wobble (esp with 1 hand off the bars). I don't know what sort of topbox you've got or how well it's been installed but any decent topbox fitted correctly shouldn't be affecting your ride like that.

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 24th May 2010, 07:28

Originally Posted by jesska

I have a hornet 600 - I put a top box on and it makes the handlebars wobble worse when slowing down - ie no throttle letting the engine dropping revs slowing me down...

actually its only if I take one hand off I can really feel it.. and the days of the no hander are probably over...

I say worse cos it always had a little bit of that about it - but was hardly noticeable most of the time.

Anither thing about panniers would they make filtering more difficult?

Make sure the brackets holding it altogether are solid on the frame... nothing loose... which will amplify via the subframe of the bike if it is... (and can be worse if you have panniers as well) make sure nothing loose and is installed correctly... or no sheared bolts etc

**Mom** · 24th May 2010, 08:02

Check your tyre pressures too, my bike has a complete mind of its own when my pressures are down a bit. Does not have to be much either.

**Laava** · 24th May 2010, 08:16

Mate you need to fix whatever is causing the wobble, as Nighthawk said, the topbox can amplify the problem to some degree. But start with the front end.

**Gremlin** · 24th May 2010, 13:25

Different tyres (same size) can even change the handling. My hornet 900 started wobbling the bars ages ago, nothing appears to be wrong. Problem was very obvious with stradas fitted. Still have the strada rear fitted, but went back to PR2 on the front. Problem has definitely decreased, but still there.

Depending on the top box, size, weight, it can definitely alter the loading on the bike etc. Having an E52, often with a bit of weight in it, yeah, it changes things (damn front end being so light

)

**Jantar** · 24th May 2010, 13:46

Originally Posted by banditrider

How is your front tyre condition? Worn fronts can often induce a little wobble (esp with 1 hand off the bars). .....

I have also experienced the same thing with my top box. As soon as it happens I book the bike in for a new front tyre. Its a much better tyre guage than wear bars and suprisingly accurate for determining the amount of wear on the front tyre.

**Winston001** · 24th May 2010, 13:51

Topboxes are convenient. Logically panniers lower your centre of gravity and they are very useful for touring. However a topbox for sheer convenience is hard to beat. Check your tyres and maybe forks.

**DR650gary** · 25th May 2010, 08:23

I have all combos of the above, but have now settled on the Ventura bags. I have 2 that zip together and sit on the rack. Hated the Givi racks on the bike when there was nothing there and soft panniers always seemed to head to the muffler and melt. I like the two options of rack height and the ability to fit the grab rail when luggage is not needed. I also found that unless the topbox was full, everything rattled around and destroyed my cellphone casing. Once I forgot I had the side bags on and tried to filter past a courier van with bull bars. Very quick stop. I have 4 Ventura bags from the smaller Sport bag all the way to the expandable monster bag. More than enough for 2 of us. Did notice that a very full top box with heavy gear did have an impact on handling.

Cheers

**Devil** · 25th May 2010, 09:04

FYI, the max weight specified on the topbox hasn't got anything to do with the strength of the top box, but the negative effect on handling, specifically the front end. Symptoms include headshake.

Tyres as mentioned make a difference too... as does suspension.

**Pwalo** · 25th May 2010, 09:26

I guess it's a bit late but have you considered a tank bag? I've never been a fan of top boxes. I know that they are convenient, but I've never been keen on sticking any mass behind the rear axle of my bike.

I had the Ventura set up on one of my old GS's and it was handy, especially being able to put the bag over the rear seat, but for every day riding a small back pack does the job (and of course looks better on a sports type bike!).

**AllanB** · 25th May 2010, 09:39

Flag the top box or pack rack - I never liked all that weight up high and out the back unless it is a big dedicated tourer designed for them. -You can however reverse a pack rack and hang the pack over the rear seat on some models which gives better balance.
Tank bags and saddle bags are the way to go. Or look at a tail pack that attaches to the passenger seat.

Try this - remove the top box - try the bike - if it is improved then try it with a passenger on the rear - wobble?

**FJRider** · 25th May 2010, 09:50

Originally Posted by AllanB

Flag the top box or pack rack - I never liked all that weight up high and out the back unless it is a big dedicated tourer designed for them. -You can however reverse a pack rack and hang the pack over the rear seat on some models which gives better balance.
Tank bags and saddle bags are the way to go. Or look at a tail pack that attaches to the passenger seat.

Try this - remove the top box - try the bike - if it is improved then try it with a passenger on the rear - wobble?

I do this with my pack-rack bag (when I have no passenger) ... it moves the weight forward, it does catch the wind gusts with the gap between rider and the bag/top box if I don't. Panniers can cause problems in strong winds ... side winds especially.

**AllanB** · 25th May 2010, 10:08

Originally Posted by FJRider

Panniers can cause problems in strong winds ... side winds especially.

Good point - also with panniers if you are travelling with a female partner and you assign her a pannier for her gear that side will weigh at least 25 kg more than your pannier!!!!!!!

**FJRider** · 25th May 2010, 10:12

Originally Posted by AllanB

Good point - also with panniers if you are travelling with a female partner and you assign her a pannier for her gear that side will weigh at least 25 kg more than your pannier!!!!!!!

That is incorrect ... they will TAKE both panniers ... and "assign" YOU the tank bag, and any space in the pack-rack bag/top box she doesn't need ...