Fore to Aft Luggage Review--The Top Box/tail bag

Good evening all. This will be the final instalment of the luggage overview series I started. I should point out that I've never intended to coverall of the uses, just the major applications. I've seen a lot of other bits and pieces hung off bikes in my travels. For example, small tool kits hung under the front light, bags attached to the engine guards, bags mounted on the handle bars, gas cans strapped to the outside of the panniers and the list goes on. This article focuses with tail bags and top boxes.

I think we can all agree that it seems natural to carry a stuff behind us, either mounted on the tail or on a rack. What kinds of choices do we have:

• Tail bags. These are a non permanent solution to the storage problem. They are very much like tank bags in their functionality and options. They tend to be made out of ballistic material or leather depending on the application. There are some of them now being made with more stiffeners and prop up panels to help them maintain their shape. As a mater of fact, quite a number of tank-bags can be mounted at tail bags. In effect you could have two tank bags; one mounted before you and one aft. A number of companies build a whole set up with a tank-bag, saddlebags and a tail bag to give you a complete matching set up. These bags can be easily mounted and dismounted. When combined with a tank bag you can temporally turn a sport bike or UJM into a sport touring rig. If there was a disadvantage it would be that many of these bags infringe on the passenger seat and may negatively effect your ability to carry a passenger or their comfort.

• Top Box. A top box is a hard piece of luggage mounted on a rack. It has a number of advantages over soft luggage, including being waterproof not just water resistant. It will be securely fastened to the bike and fully lockable. They come in a wide range of materials and shapes from boxy medal to streamline plastic. Quite often now it is a standard OEM offering, though this does tend to be a bit expensive. Most companies that build top boxes will make a rack specifically for the bike you are looking to add it to. This boxes also provide a backrest for your passenger and can be equipped with extra brake lights to aid in making you visible. The installation is straight forward and easy to do. They come in a variety of weight ratings. Givi's line is broken into the Monolock and the Monokey line. This allows for light weight luggage rated for 3kg or a more robust system rated to 10 kg. In this case the box is of heavier construction and the mounting plate and rack are designed to handle the higher weights. If you look over the Givi line it will give a good idea about what is possible and the questions to ask if you select another manufacture like Shad. As far as size goes these boxes range from 32L to 55L in size, or in other words from holding one full face helmet to two.

Installation of a Topbox light kit.

In either case, with the addition of a top box or tailbag, you will significantly increase the functionality of your ride for those longer trips. A top box gives you a place to put your lunch and backpack for the ride and a place to store your helmet, and other gear when you get there!

I hope this series helped to provide you with a general overview of the luggage options for your bike. Enjoy the ride!