Top case

[J. W.]

Are there any disadvantages to riding with a top case? I am looking at adding a small case 31 liter for weekend trips and commuting. Will the case make a big difference on the handling of the bike?

Thanks,

JW

[storysunfolding]

Yep, any weight you add to the bike will change handling, especially above the center of gravity. The case by itself probably not much but be careful how you load it. It'll also catch the wind differently, both natural and the bursts generated by traffic like vans and semis. A side case is catching wind that your bike would mostly catch already but a top case adds alot more surface area.

It's not going to make it dangerous, but it will be different so keep that in mind for your first few weeks with it. Especially if you are taking it on and off constantly.

What brand of case is it?

[J. W.]

It is the BMW factory case 31 liter.

[storysunfolding]

It is the BMW factory case 31 liter.

Cool- what bike do you have it on?

[gsJack]

I put a Givi E33 top case on my GS500 in 04 and headed for the Smoky Mtns from NE Ohio and have been kicking myself ever since for all the money I wasted on soft luggage over the years. It hasn't been off since then except to carry it into home or a motel.

It's totally waterproof, tested in the monsoon type rains on top of the Blue Ridge Parkway. No more messing around with rain covers and wraping things inside the soft luggage to keep them dry as on previous trips. I use it daily.

To be honest I don't even know it's there as far as handling goes, it's size and weight are insignificant compared to mine. I travel the Interstates at 75-80 mph indicated and love the mountain twisties when I get there.



Left pic is with summer shield on bike parked in front of motel in Maggie Valley, NC and right pic is with winter shield and parked behind apartment in Willoughby, OH.

[J. W.]

I have a BMW F650 GS. Most of the side mounted luggage makes the bike wide in the rear and distracts from the overall appearance of the bike.

[gsJack]

I used some soft saddlebags over the years but they make it hard for me to get on and off the bike now. Only the top trunk plus a tankbag sometimes now.

I've been checking out the F650GS since I sat on it at the bike show last winter and was aware of their 31 liter trunk. The F-GS has a nice low seat height, I'm already 2" shorter than I was when I started riding and not ready to "lower" myself to a cruiser yet.

[J. W.]

The F 650 is a great bike it can cruise the interstates, take the rough back roads and get 70 miles to the gallon while doing it. The light weight of the bike also makes it good in city traffic.

[Lion_Lady]

I have a BMW F650 GS. Most of the side mounted luggage makes the bike wide in the rear and distracts from the overall appearance of the bike.

The problem with putting a hard case on that bike is that they'll have to add supports to the rear subframe.

Hard cases are heavy, so you can't carry as much INSIDE because the bag already takes up some of the 'allowed' weight.

For such a little bike, just get side cases. A top case on a 650 looks like a huge cancerous growth... one reason you rarely see them on that bike.

(I used to own an f650CS.)

P

[gsJack]

For such a little bike, just get side cases. A top case on a 650 looks like a huge cancerous growth... one reason you rarely see them on that bike.

I think one of Givi's larger 45-50 liter Monokey cases mounted on a Ninja 500 might appear to look like a hugh cancerous growth, this EX500 pic from Twisted Throttle always struck me as kind of silly looking:



But the 31 liter BMW case on the F650GS or a 33 liter Givi E33 case on a GS500 look to be in good proportion to me, quite suitable for such little bikes as the EX500, GS500, or F650GS which are all about the same size and weight: