I use a 30L Givi Dolomiti Monokey top case when I am riding to work or staying closer to home. It's smaller but the lower profile is nice and it carries just enough of the essentials to do the job. I throw my laptop bag in it and can use it to grab some smaller items at the store if needed. I already had it on my Triumph Street Scrambler and just adapted it on my Perun Moto rear rack when I installed that on my DDX. I became so used to it that I just left it on for longer rides rather than using my Mosko Moto Backcountry 40 Duffle. It hasn't affected the handling at all in my experience but it is a lower profile than many top cases.

 

I'm running the Givi Domomite too, and it works great. I replaced the passenger seat with a Kriega 10L drybag for tools. For multi-day trips, the top box holds clothes and food.

 

Looks like I will be heading that way too. The low profile might just allow me to be comfortable to use it for long distance. Thanks for the detailed response.

 

You're welcome. I'd also suggest the Nylon Rack that Givi makes for the case. I sometimes will lash a jacket or small bag there if I have the case too full. I just noticed that they have the case and all the accessories 10% off at their US website. DLM30B 30LTR DOLOMITI MONOKEY BLACK CASE

 

Top case is the worst place to add any weight to a motorcycle. Try to avoid them as impacts handling.

 

Whether a topcase affects handling really depends on a few factors.

Most important is where your rack is located.

If it is on top of the rear wheel, that's actually the best place for it to be, as it puts weight where traction is normally needed when accelerating: above the driving wheel.

However, most rear racks are placed behind the rear wheel, to leave the pillion seat available. This is the worst place for a topcase to be, because then the rear wheel becomes a fulcrum to lever your front tire off the ground. This would definitely affect handling, most notably turning, as the front wheel becomes a lot lighter than what the original design of the motorcycle was intended for.

I had a Givi Maxxia 52L topcase on my old R12GS, it was mounted behind the rear wheel. Because it was 52L, I put 52L of stuff in it, and it was super-heavy. Inadvertent wheelies were a constant danger on steep hills.

Even if your rack and topcase is behind the rear wheel, other factors affecting the handling are how aggressively you ride and how much the topcase+contents weigh.

If you are not an aggressive rider in the twisties, you may not notice any difference as you do not rely on front end grip as much as someone who corners to the limit of adhesion.

Also, if your topcase and its contents don't weigh much, it won't lever the front as much as a heavier load, so handling may not be as affected. After a lot of close-calls, I left my 52L topcase pretty much empty when travelling, only loading it with groceries at the end of the day back to the hotel and storing lighter items like clothing in it.

 

I have a Harley Davidson Fatboy with a set of panniers and a touring box installed. The only time I've ever been able to wheelie that bike was with a passenger on and the luggage overloaded. Not the funnest riding experience but definitely memorable. I completely get what you are saying here and I felt light in the corners the whole time.

 

I’ve had my top case loaded with 1m quality 16mm security chain & padlock, heavy disk lock, xlite u-lock & groceries (6pints milk , 4 pints juice plus sundries ) so a fair amount of Kgs & cant say I’ve noticed any detrimental handling issues . I tend to run rear preload at or near max as I also regularly carry a pillion & CBA to keep changing it.

 

Any weight higher than the seat or past the wheel axles is definitely detrimental to handling. Not my opinion, simply a fact. Same goes for wide panniers.

Often top & side case are a necessary evil for touring, but I have learnt to get by with 2 x 20L saddle bags for anything up to a week.

 

100% agree.

There are other circumstances that mitigate the physics of leverage, like rider+pillion weight, but even if you don't feel the effects of having a lever work negatively against the interests of your front wheel, it is still there.

If you don't ride aggressively enough or on variable terrain/loose surfaces for it to matter then great, but your wheels are not at it's optimal weight distribution, if that's important to you.

 

If the point of the ride is touring then the general flow of the ride is more casual and relaxed for me. In this context, I've never had an issue with a top box or tail bag causing me any handling issues where I was concerned about it being there. I've also always been cautious about the size and weight of the top box to ensure I never had to be concerned. That's why I stuck with a smaller 30L to limit that amount I can keep and have a somewhat lower profile. I also don't go stuffing my heaviest items into the top box as that would definitely cause issues.

If the point of the ride is to go hard and fast then I don't put any luggage on the bike at all. This is what I do when I am just riding for fun and I am out for the pure joy of it. In this context luggage definitely causes issues with the handling. I would never want to ride aggressively with a bunch of crap on the back of the bike. I also don't go with luggage if I am planning on riding in any rugged terrain, but I also don't usually take the DDX to ride that sort of stuff. I have a KTM Enduro for that single track and hill climbing mayhem. The DDX is for the longer BDR style rides and for hitting the dirt roads I have in my area.

Obviously it's always a trade off and there isn't a way to have your cake and eat it to. I think it wiser to go with the less is more approach while attempting to balance convenience and function with performance. This is why I am sure many of us have ended up with multiple setups and different luggage etc while trying to figure out what works best for our riding style and purpose. I have the Mosko Moto Backcountry Pannier setup and I've never completely filled them so that tells me I don't likely even need the top case but I like having it and find the trade off worth it.

 

Obviously it's always a trade off and there isn't a way to have your cake and eat it to. I think it wiser to go with the less is more approach while attempting to balance convenience and function with performance. This is why I am sure many of us have ended up with multiple setups and different luggage etc while trying to figure out what works best for our riding style and purpose.

Agreed.

I have a three box setup on my R1250GS when I'm in touring mode, SW-Motech Trax, like the OP:

But when I'm doing gravel, it's normally a duffel strapped to the rear seat:

When I got the DDX, I knew I was going to do more dirt than pavement with it, so I never went down the rack and panniers/topcase route. The rackless luggage to me is the best of the mass-centralization luggage solutions. The bags sit tight to the body, and can be centred between the axles for good weight distribution and balance or right over the rear wheel for good traction.

I have a Mosko Reckless 40 that I took off my enduro and used on the DesertX for a few weekend rides. Good feeling, but didn't hold enough for camping:

Right now, I'm in the middle of a cross-continent run on the Trans-Canada Adventure Trail and I got a Reckless 80 for that purpose. Still handles quite well in the gnar and it's just enough storage to carry tents, supplies and tools. Very happy with this setup: