Luggage Strap: Passenger Seat

furious_blue said:

I will be carrying a large heavy laptop around. To secure it I've looped a nylon strap under the passenger seat supports and will add to that (at least) 2 bungee cords, one at the passenger peg mounts and one at the grab rail. There is clear plastic film protecting the Silver painted tailsection from contact wear from the bungee cord.

This'll probably do until I try the Givi topcase solution that someone else posted.

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Looks a practical solution to a design that more or less ignores everyday reality:

Riders don't just ride; we need to carry things.

I once had a bike with a top box. It was certainly convenient, but not ideal. If I carried much it put weight in the wrong place, high and towards the rear. I disliked the aerodynamic feel too.

I have come to prefer the tank as the first choice for carrying things (still high, but central) then the pillion seat.

I have only once toured on a bike with saddle-boxes, a BMW K series. They were great, but it was quite a big bike. I don't know how they would affect the dynamics of a small bike like the CBR250R.

The most practical solution I have seen was on a version of the BMW F650, which has the fuel tank under the seat. The mock fuel tank in front of the seat had a depression in it and a rail to hook bungy cords to. Sensible design.

Michael said:

Looks a practical solution to a design that more or less ignores everyday reality:

Riders don't just ride; we need to carry things.

I once had a bike with a top box. It was certainly convenient, but not ideal. If I carried much it put weight in the wrong place, high and towards the rear. I disliked the aerodynamic feel too.

I have come to prefer the tank as the first choice for carrying things (still high, but central) then the pillion seat.

I have only once toured on a bike with saddle-boxes, a BMW K series. They were great, but it was quite a big bike. I don't know how they would affect the dynamics of a small bike like the CBR250R.

The most practical solution I have seen was on a version of the BMW F650, which has the fuel tank under the seat. The mock fuel tank in front of the seat had a depression in it and a rail to hook bungy cords to. Sensible design.

Click to expand...

The red paint on the 250 tank is so jewel-like that I just can't bring myself to mar it up with a tank bag, pads or protectors don't keep the finish pristine.. Looking at the bike for the first time today in bright light, Honda really pulled out the stops on the finish of this bike. It's really first class..

About a top box, one good thing about the Givi TopBox solution is that it sits were the passenger would sit so the weight is more centralized (but not as good as being on the tank). Hopefully, being right behind the rider will help with the air stream as the fairing and rider will channel a lot of airflow around the box..

I've admired the F650 design.. I've seen people locking their helmets in that 'tank' depression using the rails that you mentioned as lock points.. very nicely done.

furious_blue said:

The red paint on the 250 tank is so jewel-like that I just can't bring myself to mar it up with a tank bag, pads or protectors don't keep the finish pristine.. Looking at the bike for the first time today in bright light, Honda really pulled out the stops on the finish of this bike. It's really first class..

About a top box, one good thing about the Givi TopBox solution is that it sits were the passenger would sit so the weight is more centralized (but not as good as being on the tank). Hopefully, being right behind the rider will help with the air stream as the fairing and rider will channel a lot of airflow around the box..

I've admired the F650 design.. I've seen people locking their helmets in that 'tank' depression using the rails that you mentioned as lock points.. very nicely done.

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Yeah..... I admit that keeping a bike looking pristine has never mattered for me. I just like to keep 'em running and use 'em. My formative years on farm bikes are probably responsible for that. I'd had my MB100 for more than 10 years without doing anything other than necessary maintenance. My nieces wanted to make some money, so they offered to wash it.... for the first time.

After working away for a long while it was "Uncle Michael, we can't get all the dirt off your motorcycle."

I praised their effort and gave them the agreed fee.

That was about 15 years ago. The MB100 has not been washed since. I haven't used it for ten years, but some young fellows have been using it off road.

Re using a backpack: I discovered long ago that it is better to have the vehicle carry the load, not myself, even if it is only a small backpack. I know it looks dicky, but it works; I have a basket on the front of my bicycle (which doesn't have suspension), as well as a carrier on the back.

In hi-tech Japan there are millions of "sensible" bikes just like that. I worked there for a couple of years.

I cycle for everyday commuting, and a bit more. I use my motorcycle for high days and holidays. When riding, it always carries my backpack, not me.

The Givi topbox sitting in the pillion position sounds like a good idea.

There was a system called Pak Rak available some years ago (in NZ, I don't know about elsewhere). It was elegantly simple, using a fabric bag with a mounting pocket in it, and a carrier with a removable frame for the bag. With a pillion it could be mounted on the carrier. Without a pillion it could be mounted the other way around, on the seat.

Michael said:

Yeah..... I admit that keeping a bike looking pristine has never mattered for me. I just like to keep 'em running and use 'em. My formative years on farm bikes are probably responsible for that. I'd had my MB100 for more than 10 years without doing anything other than necessary maintenance. ...


Re using a backpack: I discovered long ago that it is better to have the vehicle carry the load, not myself, even if it is only a small backpack. I know it looks dicky, but it works; I have a basket on the front of my bicycle (which doesn't have suspension), as well as a carrier on the back.

In hi-tech Japan there are millions of "sensible" bikes just like that. I worked there for a couple of years.

I cycle for everyday commuting, and a bit more. I use my motorcycle for high days and holidays. When riding, it always carries my backpack, not me....
.

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My feelings about a bike's finish are 180
I think it's because my vehicle owning life started rather late, in my early 20's. I could barely afford to keep that shiny CB350 but I treasured it and kept it as clean as I could. I guess that experience formed the lifelong pattern to follow..

Slightly off topic..
Bicycle commuting. Glad to read about another cycle commuter on this board
The bike that I use is a folder. A practical necessity as it allows me to take it on public transport with minimal hassle.. The luggage carrying options for that bike are minimal.. plus, the laptop that I carry around costs more that the CBR250R does (!) I don't want any chance of it getting banged into something while riding in a side pannier or front rack. On my back is probably as safe a place as any to be (barring getting hit and being thrown to the ground or something).

It's funny. I think that road/street bicycle riding is good training for riding a motorcycle like the CBR250R because with the 250 there's no massive wollop of torque to get one out of trouble by speeding away, there's only heightened awareness and decent brakes to save one's hide, just like on a bicycle.

Top Box, Sport Side Bags?

Hi,
I too am a new rider and I love my CBR250.
I tend to go on little trips outside the city (Ottawa Ontario), and would really like to have somewhere to shove my pants/jacket/helmet etc. when parked.

Are there hard saddlebags for CBR250?
Same for the top box?

Any ideas?
Thanks, Paul