On a small Honda Enduro running a large top box off road can risk cracking your rear sub frame. Common occurrence among travelers. If you're just riding round town or commuting, a top box is very convenient. But on the road for months ... guys tend to overload them ... and that is when the trouble starts.

If going OFF ROAD or doing really crappy, beat up roads, a top box may stress it's mounting points or even break the subframe. (over time) If you use a SMALL, low profile top box and DO NOT overload it, you may be OK ... or not. :confused1:

Depends how fast and hard you attack the rough sections, how long they are and how much weight you've got in the Top Box and on the bike overall.

IMHO, soft panniers and a top duffel bag are best for travel. As mentioned, the security of a top box is illusory. A 12 year old with a screw driver can get into it in under two minutes ... and be gone. Been there, seen it happen.

Even strong GIVI and Pelican boxes can be broken into without too much effort by a determined amateur. But all luggage can be vulnerable.

Also, someone mentioned the fact that any hard items in your Top Box can be destroyed riding rough roads, as everything is shaken up badly and bashes against other hard items. It all turns to dust. Ask me how I know this!

Soft, throw over panniers offer more shock absorbing than hard boxes, either top or side boxes. Items are cinched down tight together, so can't jump round as much. Make sense?

It's a tough one to pack a 125 or 250 enduro for a long journey and not have it all look like Elvis's Garden shed:

Don't go here ...

I'd advise copying what other RTW riders have had luck with ... then get out and ride, see what works for you. In a year ... or three ... you'll have it figured out ... or not?




Not perfect but Nate's 100cc Postie bike made it from Oz to UK!