Luggage on a sports bike

[Desert Eagle]

Well heres the situation, In a few weeks ill be going from Christchurch to Hamilton, then from Hamilton back to Palmerston North for a couple of weeks.

I can travel pretty light, but ill still need to take a fair bit of luggage, So Im thinking of using a tankbag/ rear panniers combination (open for discussion).


The catch is that it is a Hyosung gt250r, with a 2 meter tall, 100kg rider...

So the question is:
should I be concerned of getting something too big and the bike will struggle?
Also are there any lessons learnt especially from people who have toured on 250's

Im planning to go and take a look at bags from a few local places over the weekend.

[Ender EnZed]

The bike will be fine. You only need to worry about making sure nothing falls off.

[blackdog]

Pack rack and pack?

[dogsnbikes]

I can travel pretty light, but ill still need to take a fair bit of luggage, So Im thinking of using a tankbag/ rear panniers combination (open for discussion).
The catch is that it is a Hyosung gt250r, with a 2 meter tall, 100kg rider...
So the question is:
should I be concerned of getting something too big and the bike will struggle?
Also are there any lessons learnt especially from people who have toured on 250's.

Or you can use the pack-rack option,with pack's that zip together like venture have,

Or carry the basics and courier the rest....

It really comes down too what your budget is for luggage,if you want panniers try the Oxford 1st timers proberly cost you around $150 and maybe you can strap a bag on the back off your bike remembering that the panniers will give you extra width

Just remember what ever bags you look at and end up with,look at bags that expand,recommended weights,pack your bags accordingly too where you will have them on the bike if your having a tank bag make sure you can see your instruments and use it too store lighter gear and gear that you will need at short notice,keep weight low on your bike..

Take your bike when looking at luggage and try it on the bike and sit on your bike no point getting something then finding out it hinders your riding ...

[Gremlin]

Look at protecting your paint work with soft luggage. A strap moving around for a few thousand km is an excellent sander, whether you wanted it or not. Pack the panniers evenly, to limit the potential for them to move up or down.

Be careful when putting the luggage on the bike, and make sure no straps could move around, get fed into a wheel/chain/sprockets etc. I don't think I need to enlighten you on what a locked wheel might feel like at 100kph.

Where you pack the luggage has pros and cons. A tail pack will keep mass central, but higher up. If you only use one side for a bag, swing the pack rack around and put the bag on your rear seat. This helps keep the weight inside the wheelbase. If you're using both sides (thinking of Ventura here) put the heavy stuff on the pillion seat side. You can also buy tail packs that strap to your rear seat. Just make sure they are secure.

Using panniers will keep the weight lower down, but further from the centre of the chassis. Could use both as well, depends how much stuff you're taking. Panniers will make the bike wider, so bear it in mind if you suddenly want to split through traffic.

Tank bags are another option, generally keep them for light quick access items like wallet, ear plugs, spare gloves etc. Make sure it's not too tall so you can see the display, and that the bag doesn't inhibit your steering. Magnetic or strap, pros and cons again. Magnetic are easier, if your bike has a metal tank, but make sure there is no metallic debris on the magnets, as that will scrape the tank real quick.

Another option again is a backpack, but not recommended. Riding with a backpack will tire you out faster and limit your mobility. It will also present a danger to your back/neck if you decide bouncing is more fun than riding.

[Spearfish]

Look at protecting your paint work with soft luggage. A strap moving around for a few thousand km is an excellent sander, whether you wanted it or not. Pack the panniers evenly, to limit the potential for them to move up or down.

Be careful when putting the luggage on the bike, and make sure no straps could move around, get fed into a wheel/chain/sprockets etc. I don't think I need to enlighten you on what a locked wheel might feel like at 100kph.

Where you pack the luggage has pros and cons. A tail pack will keep mass central, but higher up. If you only use one side for a bag, swing the pack rack around and put the bag on your rear seat. This helps keep the weight inside the wheelbase. If you're using both sides (thinking of Ventura here) put the heavy stuff on the pillion seat side. You can also buy tail packs that strap to your rear seat. Just make sure they are secure.

Using panniers will keep the weight lower down, but further from the centre of the chassis. Could use both as well, depends how much stuff you're taking. Panniers will make the bike wider, so bear it in mind if you suddenly want to split through traffic.

Tank bags are another option, generally keep them for light quick access items like wallet, ear plugs, spare gloves etc. Make sure it's not too tall so you can see the display, and that the bag doesn't inhibit your steering. Magnetic or strap, pros and cons again. Magnetic are easier, if your bike has a metal tank, but make sure there is no metallic debris on the magnets, as that will scrape the tank real quick.

Another option again is a backpack, but not recommended. Riding with a backpack will tire you out faster and limit your mobility. It will also present a danger to your back/neck if you decide bouncing is more fun than riding.

+1
especially if the pack is a little loose and moves around on your back when up at cruising speeds.

[CRM]

Regarding soft panniers, my daughter toured through NZ on her 250 Ninja and used soft panniers plus bungied a small pack on the rear seat. What we did to stop rubbing paint off was get some 3M clear film from an auto paint shop - get a half meter or so. It's the stuff they use on bonnets to stop stone chips. Then it's a 10 minute job to cut and fit to any panels that may get rubbed. If you do a good enough job you can leave on permanently - or just remove when you finish your trip if it looks a bit rough. The hyosung 250 is a great bike and should get you round fine so long as you prep it well (chain, tyres, fluid levels etc).

[Sable]

Backpack and bungee a plastic crate to the back seat. Easy.