What's best for quick handling: this or saddlebags?

[lather]

I agree with what Harold said about dragging pegs. I had to take may feelers off because I have peg lowerers. When I drag it is because I made a cornering booboo.

[ZG]

I often run my trunk without sidebags because for some reason the bike "does" feel more light and nimble to me like that...
 
But I usually have much less than 15 lbs in the trunk, if I were going on a trip I would probably run the side bags just to have more available space to use for whatever, water etc.
 
Either way I don't think it would really make that big of difference IMO, the trunks not like a 100 lb passenger.
 
Have a fun trip Haroldo, oh and that looks like a fun corner in your original post. 
 

 

[Tremainiac]

15lbs anywhere on a 670lb  bike + 170lbs of rider ain't going to affect much of anything.
Physics.

[B.D.F.]

Haroldo, I did not even realize how much I missed our repartee. Too much fun. 

But to answer your question honestly, I just do not know. Too many variables really to make any kind of assessment in my opinion. My gut reaction is still that it would be better to place any appreciable mass in the saddlebags but that is just a guess. I do think that you could find out which is better quite quickly if you exaggerate the situation and try it both ways; take two pieces of 20 lb. ballast (anything including raw meat if you want), put them in the top box and go for a ride. After a bit, move each weight into one saddlebag and continue the ride; my bet is that the weight will 'feel' better on the bike in the saddlebags. At least this is not an embarrassing experiment like that 'tape a garbage bag over the exhaust' one was. 

Now about your underwear: as I remember, you are from Brazil. I have seen photos of the folks on the beach at Rio de Janeiro. Assuming your (Brazilian) underwear is similar in design to your swimwear, as most societies' underwear is, then I have to say that I do not believe you have 15 lbs. of underwear. In fact, it would seem that no 10 Brazilians put together have had 15 lbs. of underwear in their entire collective lives. I believe you could put all of your underwear in the glove box and have room left for a garage door opener and a wallet. A big wallet. So your whole post is moot. <ROFLMAO three times>

Brian

Brian,

 You know me too well, without knowing me 

Yes, my life wasn't completely wasted, as I did indeed take Statics, Dynamics, Strength of Materials, Thermodymics, and probably some other ME  stuff I might be missing.

The problem is, like everything else I learned in school, I just don't know $hit anymore 

It makes me want to puke when I think of all the abstract problems I used to work out on my field in school (digital signal processing, RF, etc), and then, out in the real world, I ended up working with motors, robots, and control systems, and that's all I know now, and nothing else.

So, now here I am, asking the forum if my 15lbs of underwear should be put in the trunk or in the bags. Had I know that years ago, I would have spent the college money in booze and hookers instead (wife, if you are reading this, I'm just kidding. You're bautiful. Hookers are gross.)

Anyway, back on topic... I'd like you to consider more details in your assessment of the situation. You are only mentioning the luggage weight when you advise that it would be better on the bags.  Well, duh! I know that, even without my previous knowledge of Statics and Dynamics 

My question is taking into account the weight of the luggage (15lbs give or take) which is the same, regarless if bags or trunk is used, AND the weight of the actual container, which is trunk OR saddlebags, capiche?

So, in essence: what is best:

saddlebags plus 15lbs lower or 15lbs + trunk mounted higher?

Consider for your in depth calculations that the trunk weighs as much as one bag.


<snip>

[ZG]

Now about your underwear: as I remember, you are from Brazil. I have seen photos of the folks on the beach at Rio de Janeiro. Assuming your (Brazilian) underwear is similar in design to your swimwear, as most societies' underwear is, then I have to say that I do not believe you have 15 lbs. of underwear. In fact, it would seem that no 10 Brazilians put together have had 15 lbs. of underwear in their entire collective lives. I believe you could put all of your underwear in the glove box and have room left for a garage door opener and a wallet. A big wallet. So your whole post is moot. <ROFLMAO three times>

Brian

 

[stevewfl]

you are too kind, man. I was completely joking. I am guilty myself of bragging about dragging parts...sometimes unintentionally. Of course, the whole body positioning and corner lines thing are true, but I was just giving mainly SteveWFL a hard time, for humor sakes only. I was hoping the smiley faces would convey the tone, but it didn't. And plus, don't apologize if you are riding around dragging pegs! It's not a crime! 

This is all good for 2 main reasons:

1) he deserves it
2) he's used to it

But I wasn't bragging on "me", its the bike's/tire's mad capabilites, not mine that allow for the handling

[martin_14]

I was apologizing for coming off as a cocky "young" rider (that is how I thought you took it).  I don't drag pegs just to hear em' scrape, I look at it this way, I paid for my tires and I'll be danged if I don't try to wear them out from edge to edge.  I'm not an adrenalin junkie (well maybe a little ) but instead I am a tightwad that likes to get the most I can, out of everything I buy. 

Jeremy, I take yours as a very responsible, eco friendly, tree hugging, laudable attitude. In these times of saving our planet's resources (remember the 3 Rs: reuse, recycle, reduce) using the complete profile of your tire, from left to right, before changing them, is the way to go  No way you're bragging, man!
Now, Steve...

[RiderRich]

I often run my trunk without sidebags because for some reason the bike "does" feel more light and nimble to me like that...
 
But I usually have much less than 15 lbs in the trunk, if I were going on a trip I would probably run the side bags just to have more available space to use for whatever, water etc.
 
Either way I don't think it would really make that big of difference IMO, the trunks not like a 100 lb passenger.
 
Have a fun trip Haroldo, oh and that looks like a fun corner in your original post. 
 

Good looking motorcycle. I like black, but I avoid owning them. (show too much)  But that is a nice looking motorcycle. That exhaust looks so much better than what comes on the Concours. I'm surprised that Kawasaki didn't do this on the Concours. The ZX14 has two pipes and it looks good.

[Haroldo_PSF]

Haroldo, I did not even realize how much I missed our repartee. Too much fun. 

But to answer your question honestly, I just do not know. Too many variables really to make any kind of assessment in my opinion. My gut reaction is still that it would be better to place any appreciable mass in the saddlebags but that is just a guess. I do think that you could find out which is better quite quickly if you exaggerate the situation and try it both ways; take two pieces of 20 lb. ballast (anything including raw meat if you want), put them in the top box and go for a ride. After a bit, move each weight into one saddlebag and continue the ride; my bet is that the weight will 'feel' better on the bike in the saddlebags. At least this is not an embarrassing experiment like that 'tape a garbage bag over the exhaust' one was. 

Now about your underwear: as I remember, you are from Brazil. I have seen photos of the folks on the beach at Rio de Janeiro. Assuming your (Brazilian) underwear is similar in design to your swimwear, as most societies' underwear is, then I have to say that I do not believe you have 15 lbs. of underwear. In fact, it would seem that no 10 Brazilians put together have had 15 lbs. of underwear in their entire collective lives. I believe you could put all of your underwear in the glove box and have room left for a garage door opener and a wallet. A big wallet. So your whole post is moot. <ROFLMAO three times>

Brian

I read this last night, and showed it to my wife because I just had to. We were rolling laughing. I can't begin to tell you how spot on you are on this!

I was going to post a picture of me in my natural habitat (i.e. hairy guy in speedos holding a beer at the beach in Brazil), but I thought that I might scar some people for life, and that image might get stuck in their minds forever, causing irreversible phsycological problems.

Touche, Brian! 
..

EDIT: I just changed my mind about the picture.

[okxd45]

MUST..........NOT.........LOOK.........AT.........PICTURE!...............ugh I did.

[Rhino]

I go on long trips with a T-bag attached to the passenger back rest and don't really notice it at all on the C14. I also have a DR650 that I do some adventure riding with camping gear. At first I piled everything on top and strapped it down (see pic). Since then I made panniers from large ammo cans and carry the same gear but put everything but the sleeping bag and pad in the panniers. Same weight but lower CG. In fact probably higher weight with the cans. That made all the difference in the world on how the bike handled especially off road. Far superior with the lower CG.

[B.D.F.]

ROFLMAO!

Too funny. But that photo isn't bad, I was really talking about those people wearing bathing suits that look like they were made from dental floss and a box of Band Aids....  Even that might be OK until you see them being worn by old, overweight people. It is a retina burning experience, and I am scaring myself just thinking about it.

 

I am just glad we didn't ruin this thread. 

Seriously though, great to see you back again. Glad you are still riding that Kawi too.

Brian

I read this last night, and showed it to my wife because I just had to. We were rolling laughing. I can't begin to tell you how spot on you are on this!

I was going to post a picture of me in my natural habitat (i.e. hairy guy in speedos holding a beer at the beach in Brazil), but I thought that I might scar some people for life, and that image might get stuck in their minds forever, causing irreversible phsycological problems.

Touche, Brian! 
..

EDIT: I just changed my mind about the picture.

[stevewfl]

I go on long trips with a T-bag attached to the passenger back rest and don't really notice it at all on the C14. I also have a DR650 that I do some adventure riding with camping gear. At first I piled everything on top and strapped it down (see pic). Since then I made panniers from large ammo cans and carry the same gear but put everything but the sleeping bag and pad in the panniers. Same weight but lower CG. In fact probably higher weight with the cans. That made all the difference in the world on how the bike handled especially off road. Far superior with the lower CG.

NICE!

[Barry]

@OP...

On the street, top case vs. side bags is not an issue.  You are thinking too hard on this.  RIDE.

[maxtog]

That exhaust looks so much better than what comes on the Concours. I'm surprised that Kawasaki didn't do this on the Concours.

See, ZG, I didn't say a word!!!   

[cRAsH]

and forgot to mention the rear tire was PLUGGED.  No matter how high/heavy you load the bike, you won't ride past the limits of the PR3s. Unless you lay it down or you're Valentino Rossi.

I wonder what kind of tires that Valentino fella would recommend these days?

[ZG]

See, ZG, I didn't say a word!!!