Top box or soft luggage ?

Planning a trip from the UK to France and Spain and was wondering what people prefer to use to carry their gear and for what reasons... I was thinking of a top box but have heard they can cause stability issues when traveling at motorway speeds.. Not really keen on using panniers, so it is between a top box and a tailpack..I already have a Renntec sports rack fitted...I will be traveling alone,so no pillion to worry about...

 

Soft luggage follows you around corners, where a topbox won't. My dad uses a topbox on his Varadero and he loves it (I think it looks hideous) whereas I use a Ventura rack and a Ventura pack. Ultimately, the choice is yours but I recommend a soft pack. Be sure to get a storm cover for it.

 

I was a hater of the top box until I got one, can't live withoot it now. As far as stability I can't even tell it is there.

 

I have actually just bought an Oxford sports tailpack on eBay today...new and unused with a rain cover and bungee cords, less than half price...I think that will be fine strapped to my sports rack. I will probably also get one of those mini tank bags as well..

 

I just installed a I believe a 36 litter Givi top box and use it much more than I thought I would. I don't even know it's there, can't see it in mirrors unless I'm looking for it and haven't noticed any stability issues. I figured I would but haven't. Can't beat the easy on/easy off of the top case!

 

id say the top case...i used to use dowco fastrax bags for my old bike and compared to the top case i got for my 6th gen...the top case is simply better. You can stuff alot of things into it and it is secure compared to the soft bags where you cant really stop worrying that someone will go through it and steal your possessions. the top case can also usually stuff bigger items since soft bags are limited to smaller items for the most part (i could stuff my helmet/gloves/jacket easily into my top case while i could only stuff my gloves and sometimes my jacket into the soft bag fully expanded and it would take up the entire space in one bag)

 

I bought a Shad rack and topbox off ebay. I LOVE IT!!! I also don't have any issues at highway speeds.

Jose

 

Ive driven at speeds in excess of what you will be doing with all 3 hard bags attached with no issues.

 

I've had the Givi panniers with top box on another bike and it was convienent but Wingish IMHO. Only stability issues it might worsen are gusty cross winds. Now I just use the panniers and a small tank bag for commuting and short trips. When I stray I've got one of those Sea Sac's (water proof bags), they come in 3 sizes and stay very stable with a net and a couple of straps. Great value for about $40, as long as you don't need the contents while riding.

 

I've got the full set of OEM luggage and I love it. I have the inner bags for them as well so if I choose to leave my gear in the panniers/top box everything is secure and when I want to take my stuff into the hotel or whatever I just lift out the inner bags and leave the cases attached to the bike.

I have ridden at quite high speeds all luggaged up and found no stability issuses whatsoever. The top box is the Honda "Floating" design where the box moves slightly as you corner etc unless there is a passenger leaning against it to keep it in one place. Also with a full set of luggage attached, car drivers seem to give you more respect/a wider berth as the bike seems so much larger to them.

It all clips on and off in seconds making removal easy and quick.

The only downside is remembering that the luggage is there when it comes to filtering through slow traffic as obviously it does make you bike wider so you need a bigger gap to fit through (and the extra expense over the "soft" option).

Soft luggage is OK but it is in no way as secure for your belongings. If you go into a restaraunt etc you have to be watching your gear all the time.

Carpy