weight luggage

[ynotbiker]

hi going round europe in 4 weeks time with my daughter alps ect will be camping ect so working out what to take side panniers are full, its what is on the luggage rack that is a bit worrying,tent air beds ect it comes to about 12kg the bmw manual says do not exced 5kg does not seem a lot to me, will it be ok,im not into 100 miles a hour in straight line,but we will going over of plenty of passes will the bike still be stable with this weight on the back, im thinking yes, but some advice off some experienced travellers would be appreciated,just a bit worrying when ive got me daughter on the back thanks tony

 

[Big Lee]

Have you packed all the heavy stuff as low as possible? Have you packed what you WILL need not what you think you`ll need?
Post the kit list & I`m sure someone will have some ideas how to reduce weight etc

 

[John Armstrong]

IMHO if you add up the weight of your pillion and add the weight of the luggage you should keep below the max auw. If you do you should be ok, all in MHO, YMMV.

 

[ynotbiker]

rack

was just the back rack just thinking it might be top heavy,its tent air beds bad back 2 stools towels sleeping bags wine opener

 

[Fanum]

Take it all out, ditch half of it and you'll still not use half of what you take withyou

For a start, the air beds can go......get a pair of Thermarests or similar, and a pair of seat adaptors...then the folding seat things you have can go too

Go to Primark and buy cheapo pants....wear, then bin.....

(Yeah we all know the one about making one pair last x days by tueningthem inside out/back to front )

Minimise stuff.....travel tubes of toothpaste, a bar of soap rather than showergel etc.....no aerosols, substitute solids......wash kit on the go or buy cheap t shirts and bin them etc.....

I've taken a hell of a lot more the recommended amount on my back rack, and do frequently....but none of us are going to tell you it's ok 'cos if it breaks on you, it was over the recommended

Don't stress about it...use common sense and pack heavy low, light high as said....and enjoy

 

[ColBol]

Excellent pratical advice Fanum. Will adopt your thinking for the Stella in July. Thks

 

[JAY]

You've all missed the original question which I think is, will the rear rack take more than 5kgs that BMW recommend! I wouldn't have thought 12kgs too excessive handling wise bearing in mind the size of some pillions I've seen although is the plastic rack too fragile is another matter.

I'd junk the stools myself or strap them lower down onto the panniers.

 

[wilbjr21]

Chairs are always a problem; usually too big and fragile. Stools don't support your back and do you really want to sit on the ground with the Thermarest adaptor (you may want to use the excellent Exped mattress)?
This is the (expensive) answer. Quality kit.

www.kermitchair.com

 

[ynotbiker]

thanks

thanks jay sussed it

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Where to put the weight

I would think that anywhere else than on the fragile plastic rack on the back!
Anything heavy as low as possible - can you not fill your topbox with light items? If you don't have a topbox and intend to carry items on the rack then you can support them on the pannier tops as well and that will help considerably; (just make sure your panniers are fitted really tightly - often people loctite the adjusting screw at the top.) I don't think that you will notice much difference in handling fully laden if you adjust tyres & suspension correctly. I have often travelled hme from the local market fully laden,( both panniers, topbox,tank bag + wife on pillion) by a road that is as 'difficult' as any you will find in the Alps and it feels as stable as ever. However I will say that your passenger needs a firm backrest if you have no top box otherwise she will be hanging on grimly! If you come this way (South of Lyon) give me a ring. 0474854995 Best of luck.