Pack it right. Here’s how!!

These tips will help you travel safely and comfortably on your motorbike.

Focus

You often read that it’s important to load your bike as close to the centre of gravity as possible. And that’s absolutely true. But where exactly is the centre of gravity on an unloaded motorbike? As a rough guide, on most bikes it’s at the intersection of the bike’s longitudinal axis and the lateral axis at about the middle of the clutch housing cover. On BMW boxer models, the lateral axis roughly corresponds to the cylinder axis. This is a reliable estimate.

Next, it’s important to know that the centre of gravity can “shift”. What does that mean? The shifting begins as soon as the rider mounts the bike. Assuming that the human body’s centre of gravity is roughly at belly button level, the combined centre of gravity of rider and bike now moves higher – above the seat and slightly towards the rear.

In physics, all forces act at the total centre of gravity, which is the result of all individual centres of gravity. This affects acceleration, braking, and lateral forces. Added to this is the vertical lever effect between the motorbike’s centre of gravity and the new combined one. The greater this vertical distance, the harder it becomes to control the bike safely, because the tipping point moves higher. Everyone knows that wobbly feeling when you have a pillion passenger …

Bottom line:

It’s best to place your luggage as close as possible to the bike’s centre of gravity and to the rider to minimise the adverse effects of loading on riding dynamics.

Our ranking of the most suitable luggage options:

• Side-mounted panniers
• Tank bags
• Pillion luggage racks for solo riders
• Top bags for panniers
• Luggage racks
• Top cases

Stow heavy items as low and as close to the centre of gravity as possible. Make sure to distribute the weight evenly in your panniers. Lighter items belong on the rear rack or in the top case – both of which sit high and far behind the centre of gravity. More weight and a centre of gravity shifting upward and rearward noticeably affect handling. If you follow these tips, you’ll significantly reduce the negative physical impact on riding safety and dynamics.

Fluttering

Fluttering happens when luggage starts to vibrate in the wind. It’s often caused by inadequate fastening (see also Strapping down) or by soft luggage that presents a broad surface to the wind. This is especially common on long motorway stretches and at high speeds. The consequences can range from mild discomfort to dangerous riding situations if the fluttering affects the whole bike.

At Wunderlich, we combat any fluttering right from the design phase by ensuring structural stability – even for fabric-based luggage systems.

Strapping Down

Ideally, your luggage should be integrated into the bike and designed for your specific model – like panniers and tank bags. Soft luggage must be carefully strapped down to prevent shifting or falling off. Use proper tension straps and make sure nothing flaps. Luggage can settle during a ride, causing straps to loosen, so we recommend checking and retightening at every stop.

Wunderlich luggage racks, mounts, and panniers have solid lash points for securely strapping additional items. Straps should not stretch when wet, and ends must be properly secured to prevent them from getting caught in the rear wheel or chain. It also protects the paintwork if the loose ends aren’t flapping against the bike while riding.

Less is More

Last but not least: less is more. Back in the 1980s, motorbike travel required a lot of prep and storage space. Nowadays, compact tyre repair kits, smartphones, apps, and credit cards make things much easier, so you can travel lighter.

Practise the art of packing only what’s necessary – because both space and load capacity are limited. This also benefits your bike’s handling and safety.

Important

Don’t overload your bike. Always follow the manufacturer’s specifications for weight and top speed. It helps to get used to the changed handling at the start of the journey – or better yet, practise in advance to familiarise yourself with how the bike behaves when loaded.

If you frequently travel with heavy luggage, it may be worth upgrading your suspension to components that can handle your specific travel needs in the long term. Our Wunderlich Suspension experts are happy to offer personalised advice. This also applies to regular wear and tear – typically noticeable when your suspension has seen more than 30,000 km of action.

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