Top box sizes and weight limits

[Ripp3rCrust]

Hi,
I am looking to buy a top box but am a little lost in terms of knowing what to buy!
Basically, I use the bike to commute to work and currently use a backpack to carry lunch and a change of shoes etc.
However, I travel one day a week to Bradford (from Sheffield) to study and previously caught 2 trains. Now I have a bigger bike I intend to ride up; my question is as to whether a top box would be suitable for carrying food, shoes in addition to university work? I know there is weight restrictions with top boxes but surely what I intend to take shouldn't be a problem?
Also I am unsure at what size I would need, I would like the top box to be able to hold my helmet boots and preferably waterproof trousers securely, I think putting jacket in also is a little optimistic! The bike is a Bandit 600 so up to what size do you reckon I could go to without jeopardizing the bike's physics? Is filtering much of a problem with top boxes?
Thanks for any advice!

[johnsmith222]

I would recommend givi monokey top boxes second hand if you can.

They have recommended weight limits, but can be overshot by silly amounts.

I have carried 2 crates of beer in my topbox multiple times. (had to open the second and stuff cans down the sides) without problem.

[Ripp3rCrust]

[Rogerborg]

The weight limit will be down to the rack, not the box. You may want to ask

BANDIT 600: WHICH RACK?

I have a "rack" bodged together from some bits of spare steel bar that I had lying around, plus a shedload of cable ties. I've had something like 5kg in the top box without problems, although I do tend to put the light stuff in there and anything heavy in the panniers and tank bag.

If you're going for properly heavy stuff, a tank bag (or tail pack on the pillion seat) is the way to go. That's where my cat litter / bottles of Irn Bru go.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Kickstart]

Hi

The limits can be very low. The top box on my 600 Divvy was only meant to carry something like 3kg, but the volume it could carry was enough for FAR more than that.

Load it up and the handling became interesting.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Derivative]

You can get any size you like, the mass loaded in it will affect the handling more so than volume. Stuff them with light clothing and you'll likely not notice. Stick a concrete block in and you'll struggle.

My CB500 has pretty much the largest Givi boxes available. 52L, 41L, 41L.

https://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/mredgey/cb500-wings-back.jpg

Does it look ridiculous? I don't know. I don't really concern myself with these things. To me, having 52 litres of shopping on two wheels with just a top box is a win.
Then again, I don't own a car.

At the BCF BBQ I had 36 cans of beer plus crisps and chocolate bars in the top box. You could tell it was there (the back feels heavier under cornering) but I had no qualms riding it 5 miles or so.

When you load them 'normally' (i.e., stick to sub 10kg) handling is affected slightly but is manageable.

When they're unloaded, I don't really notice.

edit: So yeah, the key point is - while the bike is stationary, you can put in as much as you'd like within reason. I suspect the weight limits are set low to protect against hitting bumps in the road and to prevent instability under heavy cornering.

A 50+ litre top box will not make any significant difference to handling at normal road speeds when unloaded.

[cdlxxvi]

[barrkel]

Fairly heavy weights over small distances at urban speeds shouldn't be a big issue. Slightly lighter over the front, maybe more tendency to wheelie if you push it.

You don't want heavy things sliding around if you're cornering hard. So don't do that. When touring, I keep my luggage in a bag strapped to the pillion seat with non-elastic luggage straps; top-box only for waterproofs.

Ride gently and smoothly at safe speeds and you'll be mostly alright.

Top box doesn't really affect filtering. If your box is very wide, and you're doing heavy lean angles switching lanes between stopped cars, you may touch the box against a car. But I've never had a problem with normal filtering; mirrors / handlebars are still the widest things. Can't say the same thing for side panniers.

I have had racks snap from metal fatigue over longer trips. Givi racks generally have various rubber bits to dampen vibration, which seems to help. Cheaper racks, not so much.
____________________
Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[Derivative]

[Ripp3rCrust]

Cheers for all your advice guys, reckon that I'm going to go for one of the 45L MonoKey ones.

Got another question though! I'm a little confused with all of the options in attaching it to the bike. Basically, I will need the specific Monorack for my bike in addition to one of the plates right, where the plates will fit certain boxes?

Ta

[Derivative]

[Ripp3rCrust]

[stuartt]

i've got Krauser panniers for my busa there good & solid although they do cost quite a lot