OK, given a choice of using the saddlebags or a topbox to carry the same amount of weight, I would choose the saddlebags if the best possible handling was the goal. Especially because the same amount of material that will fit in a top box will not fill both saddlebags so the C.G. will be even lower. There will be some increased resistance to rotating the bike (entering and leaving a leaned condition) but not as much as if the same weight was placed much further away from the C.G. directly above that C.G.
But you knew that Haroldo from way back in dynamics, right? I mean sure you choose to waste your life tinkering around with electrons but you did take some useful classes (mechanical) along the way, right? Actually if you treated the acceleration as a fixed amount, you could really reduce it to a statics problem. Now for the humor lacking, that was a joke. But if you really take exception then you are right- EE's are <real> engineers, it is the ChE's that pray to the false gods. http://zggtr.org/Smileys/default/ROTFLMAO.gif[/img]
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.
@everyone else "dragging pegs"
Dragging pegs doesn't mean you are going fast. It means you are leaning too much. Leaning too much is a symptom of bad body positining and bad lines through a corner...Just saying..beware of what you're braggin' about
...
Now, if you are all saying that your body position is optimal and perfect (meaning, your knees are on the ground), and your line is optimal and perfect (meaning, you are a professinal racer), and STILL are dragging pegs, then you are excused