Top Case Too Heavy?

[Pneff]

Does anyone else feel that the large BMW Top Case for the RT 1200 is too heavy? I just returned from a 1000 mile trip, two up with my wife. We liked the ease of removal of all the luggage, but gosh that stuff is heavy. The top case especially, mounted so far back seemed unusually burdensome. I'm thinking of losing the top case and using a duffell bag. Anyone else feel the same? Any ideas on this heavy luggage issue?

[meese]

I don't know about the RT, but I can feel the difference when removing the LT's trunk. That much weight that high and far back has to have a noticeable effect.

[Pneff]

After interesting myself in this issue, I weighed the luggage. Each side case weighed 14 lbs. The top case weighed 20. So, 48lbs for empty luggage.

I can definately feel the effect of the top case. It is very high and very far back. When we came up the California coast (Big Sur) the bike really rode poorly. That's when I noticed. Of course the case was loaded with stuff, but I could not corner well at all. I had to slow way down and it was very easy to lift the front wheel when coming out of a tight curve. I felt as though the front wheel was unweighted.

Anyone else experienced this?

[fltclark]

I'm using a Givi V46 and like it, in fact, I'm thinking about going to the 52L. I really like the Givi's.

fletcher clark

[Dezrae]

Another thing to try is to put a large plastic bag in the panniers and the top box and fill it with helium and then seal the panniers. this should lighten the bike up.
do not put too much helium in the bike or it will float away on you...

[vproven]

Suggest you try the Givi E52. It looks great and is not as bulbous as the Beemer's. Also, it doesn't extend back any where near that of the BMW case. It can also be obtained with a brake light for added visibility.

Vince

[Bheckel169]

I purchased the Givi E460N which is a 46 liter top case and while filled, there is hardly a noticeable affect on riding. Clearly it's not the big mamas like the BMW cases and that's why I purchased it. Low profile and for a one up rider more than adequate to hold what I need along with the side cases.

[road_trip]

I just make sure to put my heavier gear in the side bags and only put light stuff in the top case.

[TMH]

I purchased the Givi E460N which is a 46 liter top case and while filled, there is hardly a noticeable affect on riding. Clearly it's not the big mamas like the BMW cases and that's why I purchased it. Low profile and for a one up rider more than adequate to hold what I need along with the side cases.
+1 on this same GIVI case. I need a topcase for my daily commute as my briefcase/computer do not fit in the side cases. So I typically only ride with the E460 installed, and the sidecases stay at home in the garage. For a ride last weekend I wanted to have a little more "fun", so I also pulled off the topcase and rode with a "bare" RT. Even though my calculated mpg's at the start of the ride were based on ~125 miles since I had last filled the tank, they rose by about 4 mpg by the time I had finished my 80 mile loop. Riding was pretty much the same as during my commute - Open highways, but just with a few more twists-and-turns.

So I'm thinking that the topcases (any) have a SIGNIFICANT contribution to drag, and therefore fuel mileage. I knew they would cause some adverse impact, but not this much!

Tom

[Lopaca]

I just did a 570 mile day ride (one up) last weekend with all the cases on (I just got the large BMW top bag). I do like the visual line of the BMW top case even though it is huge vs. the other after market models.

I was only packed for a day ride but I did not notice any difference at all in the handling of the bike (we did both highway and a lot of mountain twisties and we were pretty aggressive on those).

It could be the manner in which you are packing the cases - just a thought - as I am sure BMW designed those with the idea that they would be used for long road trips.

Just a thought.

[billybiker]

I've done 1000s of miles with both the top case FULL and the little roofrack bag FULL as well and can't say I notice any differance. Whats 10kg here and there when the whole lot weighs best part of 700Kgs??

[Mike_Benzon]

A couple of thoughts about top cases.
I usually do not pack anything in my top case and reserve it for my riding gear when I stop. When I rode my bike the day I picked it up, I noticed the bike handling strangely, so I checked my suspension settings and found I needed to increase the rear preload. Thanks to ASC, I set the bike up for two riders and that made a substantial difference. Could be that your suspension might not have had enough preload in the rear shock.
The other point to make about the top case is that my wife will not ride on any bike without some sort of back support. I usually find that a top box works best for this, afterall, besides providing back support it gives me additional stowage.

[ADulay]

Mike,

Same here. The rear top box gets some clothing in it, but mainly to protect the laptop that's laid flat in there. All the weather gear, tools, various fluids (for both bike and rider) and pretty much everything else gets stuffed into the side bags.

My significant other is similar to yours. She will NOT ride on the bike without the top pack installed.

Sometimes that's good, sometimes that's bad! :)

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