Top box weight?

[Swooper]

Having just borrowed a 48-litre Kappa topbox and carrier I thought I would check the BMW handbook to make sure I did not overload the bike.

According to the manual the weight on the rear carrier should not exceed 5 kgs!

My trusty bathroom scales suggest that the empty top box and a couple of pair of sock will do almost 5kgs no problem.

Am I mistaken?

Will the frame brake? or will I simply wheely everywhere?

What comments do you guys out there have in terms of a sensible weight?

Any practical experience or any words of warning?

 

[Mike Werner]

That's like the overhead lockers on an airplane shouldn't carry more than 20 Kgs !!! Yeah right..... I've seen people sleeping in them...

I've got a topcase on my 1150GS, and on our trip to barcelona, it was very heavy loaded, PLUS I had used bungee cords to put other stuff the ladies had bought in Andora. No problems there.

Only thing to watch out for is if you on a steep climb and you do have a lot of weight in the back. Lean forward....

 

[Gecko]

Swoop - I think you'll find that is one pair of socks only.....

Play it safe - load wisely and put lightest possible stuff into the topbox and pread the rest aorund in the panniers - heavist into the tank bag if you are using one.

I tend to put things like sleeping bag, water proofs, camera and other light wieght or needed bits of kit but it's always more than 5kg. There have been stories of the sub frames cracking but let's face it , your pillion is going to weigh anywhere from 60kg upwards so a top box has got to be good for 15 to 20 by my reckoning. The rule is - as light as possible in the top box and you won't be wheelying too much and getting worried about your bike breaking in half

 

[Gecko]

Oh yeah - B*W also say don't drive more than 120kph with the panniers fitted .......yeah right !!!!!

 

[City Slicker]

BMW legal department put a ridiculously low limit on it to cover themselves.

The aluminium carrier is likely to break if loaded up too much before going over a big bump.

It is also possible to break the frame at the triangular joint near the rider footpegs if the rear of the bike is overloaded.

I probably put 10-12Kgs in on a trip with a pillion leaning against it and I'm not too worried, but don't push it too much if you can help it. Gecko's right about what goes in there.

A heavy topbox will strain at the points of attachment when you go over bumps; the more play in the attachment the more danger that wear and fatigue will occur. Reduce any free play in the attachment and if you can't eliminate it, find some dense foam rubber to damp any points where you can reduce the shock.