Sidecase balance: skinny left, fat right?

[TheCabinetMan]

OK, wise-n-worldly folks...

I have another (mis-located) thread going on over here where I got some good assistance finding Wendell sidecases. Now I have a question about "balancing" the cases left-to-right.

I see folks with skinnier cases on the left and fatter cases on the right. (Due to the left-routed exhaust, of course...) This skinny/fat scheme balances the "outer" dimensions of the cases, even if it looks a little weird from the rear of the bike. (That said, given the inherent 2" rack offset, it's gonna' look weird no matter what.) From the front and top, I assume skinny/fat produces a nice even/balanced look.

So my question is: Aside from the aesthetic, does this skinny/fat balancing act produce any other benefits? Assuming they're packed properlyly, does it offer better weight balance? Is there some benefit in evening-up the left-to-right wind resistance?

The reason I'm asking is that Wendell's skinny case is down 7 liters from their fat case. That seems like more'n a little to sacrifice just for aesthetics.

Help?

TCM

 

[snakebitten]

The happy trails racks are equally spaced on the bike. So the bike stays symmetric regardless. Of course that leaves a space on the right side to store something in the place of the muffler void.
Happy trails even sells a shelf to go there.

 

[TheCabinetMan]

The happy trails racks are equally spaced on the bike. So the bike stays symmetric regardless. Of course that leaves a space on the right side to store something in the place of the muffler void.
Happy trails even sells a shelf to go there.

In this case (pardon the pun), I'm trying not to spend any more $$$ than I need to. I already have the SW Motech racks, which I like 'cuz they work pretty darned well. They have the 2" offset, though, which creates the whole "visual balance problem" to begin with.

I'm just trying to figure out the benefits -- if any -- of balancing the outer dimensions of the sidecases. If there isn't any real benefit, I'm probably going to get both cases in the "fat" form factor.

TCM

 

[toompine]

The happy trails racks are equally spaced on the bike. So the bike stays symmetric regardless. Of course that leaves a space on the right side to store something in the place of the muffler void.
Happy trails even sells a shelf to go there.

+1 on this. I have installed a Rotopax bracket there. The area is big enough for a 1 gallon Rotopax

 

[snakebitten]

Oh, didn't know you already had the racks.
HT racks + those muffintops = impressive value.
Same with your setup.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I see folks with skinnier cases on the left and fatter cases on the right. (Due to the left-routed exhaust, of course...)
So my question is: Aside from the aesthetic, does this skinny/fat balancing act produce any other benefits? Assuming they're packed properlyly, does it offer better weight balance? Is there some benefit in evening-up the left-to-right wind resistance?

Not an issue. You won't ever notice, even hands off and loaded down.


Something not mentioned in that other thread of yours is that a big convenience with the top-loaders of almost any make is how easy it is . . . to load them. You can fit 2-3 cloth shopping or grocery store bags in each, which makes it easy to take your clothes into the tent or hotel room.

 

[TheCabinetMan]

Not an issue. You won't ever notice, even hands off and loaded down.

Roger that. Two 41-liter Wendells will be ordered today.

Something not mentioned in that other thread of yours is that a big convenience with the top-loaders of almost any make is how easy it is . . . to load them. You can fit 2-3 cloth shopping or grocery store bags in each, which makes it easy to take your clothes into the tent or hotel room.

Yeah, using clamshells for sidecases is, well . . . . . . . . . let's just say that I've chewed the flavor out of that gum. The Missus has some Givi Trekkers on her Wee-Strom -- they're kinduva' clamshell/top-loader hybrid. They're OK but I really like the look/design of the Wendells. (And their price!)


BTW, from your sig-line I see you're from Damascus, MD. Until about 10 years ago, I lived in Germantown and worked the I-270 tech corridor for many years: General Kinetics, Comsat, LSI Logic. (I think most of those places are gone or re-named these days...) Spent plenty of time hanging out at the Izaak Walton League up your way, too. I loved those western Monkey County roads but I sure don't miss rush-hour traffic. Ack!!

Cheers,

TCM

 

[toompine]

+1 on this. I have installed a Rotopax bracket there. The area is big enough for a 1 gallon Rotopax

Finally found the picture I was looking for. This should help you. Bags are narrower than the bars

 

[TheCabinetMan]

Oooooo, that is a purty setup!

I wish I'd known more about the options available to me when I started farkling this thing. I mighta' gone a different route...

Oh well -- maybe I'll start over when I hit the lottery!!

TCM

 

[toompine]

Oooooo, that is a purty setup!

I wish I'd known more about the options available to me when I started farkling this thing. I mighta' gone a different route...

Oh well -- maybe I'll start over when I hit the lottery!!

TCM

That setup carried everything I needed for the 21 day, 9,000 mile Alaska trip in June of 2012 All the camping gear; sleeping bag, tent, cot, mattress pad, pillow, was in the right pannier. The left held my clothes, extra gloves and electric heated gear. The top case was the food and cooking gear. The little soft top bags held emergency stuff and a compressor on the right and a 12'x 12' tarp and a bike cover on the left. Those bags were cheap, they are bicycle rear rack bags. There is also a small folding chair and 7' telescopic tarp poles in there. You don't need those giant Jesse's to pack for a big trip.

My motivation was being able to lane split with the panniers and keep it small so it limited the bulk (weight) I was carrying.

I will admit to being a bit obsessive about the research on all of this. I wanted light, tight and as inexpensive as possible. When I finally decided on the Happy Trials panniers and racks I figured it was cheap enough that if they did not work out I could l afford to replace them. 30,000 miles later everything is still working great. Would not change a thing.

 

[TheCabinetMan]

As promised, here are pics of the Wendell / Muffintop cases. I ordered them on 03/30 and they arrived 04/08. These are both 41L cases. The rack is an SW Motech unit. Even though it's still wide, overall, it's 2" narrower than when I had the 46L Givis mounted.

I used only existing holes on the rack. Getting everything lined-up and symmetric before drilling the cases was easier than I thought it would be. The bolts/washers/locknuts are all stainless steel and metric (M6), that way I don't need to carry inch-tools on the off chance I'll need to "service" them on the road.

I'd love to go on for hours about them but there's not much to say. They're very simply constructed with no fancy gee-gaws. The lids fit snugly against the weather seals and the latches appear to be bomb-proof. The locks are a little stiff but I'm sure they'll smooth-out over time. Based on what I was looking for -- plain'ole cases not tied to any rack system -- I could not have asked for a better setup.

Thanx for the tips, folks!

TCM

 

[Checkswrecks]

Looking great and lots of room for travel stickers.
::012::


One last tip in common with any seal. To prolong the life of the seals leave the tops off, or at least unlatched, when not in use.










Now as for walruses . . .
(boooo)

 

[tc339]

Thanks for the pictures! This is probably what I will be going with this summer. Did you have any issues with the cases not being straight when mounted? It seems when I have looked at some other pictures they look kind of angled out in the front due to the racks not being straight. Is this the case for you as well?

 

[TheCabinetMan]

One last tip in common with any seal. To prolong the life of the seals leave the tops off, or at least unlatched, when not in use.

Roger that!

 

[TheCabinetMan]

... they look kind of angled out in the front due to the racks not being straight. Is this the case for you as well?

Yeah, my racks do the same thing. The overall width at the rear of the cases is 39-1/2", at the front, 42". It's only obvious when I'm directly ahead of or behind the bike. I thought about swapping around the washers I used as spacers to fix the offset but 2-1/2" is a lot of difference to overcome. I'll just leave it the way it is. 'Perfect' is the enemy of 'good'...

TCM

 

[Omm]

+1 on this. I have installed a Rotopax bracket there. The area is big enough for a 1 gallon Rotopax

May I ask how you installed a Rotopax there? Can you send links of items used or did you have to fabricate something?